Solar Electricity - also known as Solar PV (Photovoltaic)

Solar electricity systems are those which harness and convert the sun's energy to provide a clean and cost-effective source of power for households throughout the world. In these environmentally conscious times, the demand for renewable energy sources is growing constantly.

The traditional process of burning fossil fuels has the unfortunate consequence of emitting harmful carbon dioxide gases into the atmosphere, which have been found to damage the Earth's protective ozone layer.

Therefore, solar energy provides a clean, efficient and renewable alternative to methods that have been employed for centuries, which have quite literally been destroying the planet's capacity to sustain human life.

How Solar Electricity Systems Work

The sun's energy is captured by solar panels, which can be installed on rooftops across the world and in large solar electricity farms, which are designed to capture very large quantities of energy for commercial use.

Solar energy is absorbed using photovoltaic cells, which convert solar energy into electricity in much the same way as a plant leaf uses sunlight for photosynthesis.

These cells comprise at least one layer of silicon, or some other kind of semi-conducting material, across which an electrical field is created when sunlight falls on the cell.

The intensity and longevity of the sunlight invariably determines how much electricity is produced, although the photovoltaic cell will be limited to a certain amount of energy that it is capable of producing in full sunlight, which is measured in kWp (kilowatt peak).

The Benefits of Using Solar Panels

Solar panels have been available on the market for some time now, in addition to being widely deployed on a large commercial basis as energy companies and governments aim to reduce carbon emissions whilst seeking cleaner, renewable forms of energy.

Ultimately, because solar panels capture what is a completely free, natural and renewable form of energy to produce electricity in a way that does not produce or release any harmful gases into the atmosphere, they are able to reduce a household's carbon footprint – the damage it causes to the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions – by around 1000 to 2000 kg of carbon dioxide annually. On a global scale, this can help benefit the environment.

Solar electricity also enables consumers with solar panel installations to save money. Whilst the initial costs of an average solar electricity system can appear relatively high (typically in the region of £4,000-20,000) consumers are able to produce their own electricity, which obviously reduces the cost of bills and alongside a solar hot water system can add significant value to your home.

Furthermore, solar electricity can be sold back to the National Grid if it is produced in excess, which may not be as unlikely as it seems because it should be noted that the panels will invariably be working at their peak performance (during long, hot summer days) when the house is using its least electricity.

Finally, solar panel installations are entirely suitable for domestic use on many different types of building, provided it's has a south facing, unshaded aspect. The solar electricity systems sold in the UK are made specifically for use in the Northern hemisphere and work whenever conditions are sunny or cloudy. Furthermore, solar panels can either be large installations that are separately attached to rooftops or they can be installed as individual solar cell roof tiles that give the appearance of any ordinary roof tile.

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