Solar Panels: A Guide

What Is Solar Power & Will It Suit My Home?
Installing Solar Technology

We don't get much sun in the UK, so are solar panels a worthwhile investment? Find out here.

By Josephine Smit, editor of Building4change.com

Look along a street of homes in the towns and cities of southern England and the chances are that you'll spot a large black panel on at least one of the roofs. That's an indication of how popular solar panels are becoming, especially for eco-conscious urbanites. If you live in a built up area, it can be difficult to find a way of using renewable energy, but solar technologies are suitable for many locations and there are a number of different ways of benefiting from the sun's rays.

What Are Solar Panels

People use the term solar panel as a catchall for solar technology. But to get technical, there are several different forms of technology: solar panels which generally provide hot water and photovoltaic panels and tiles which provide electricity.

How Does The Technology Work?

Solar and photovoltaic technologies work in very different ways.

Solar panels heat liquid which is passed through an evacuated tube or flat plate panel - they're similar to a radiator, but collect heat from the sun rather than giving it out. This liquid then warms the water in your cylinder. There are some technologies available that can contribute to your heating as well.

Photovoltaic panels and tiles incorporate silicon cells that produce a voltage between their terminals when exposed to sunlight. These cells are wired together to give enough power for use, and either take the form of a large panel, or special solar roof tiles that are designed to integrate neatly into a roof.

Is Solar Heating Right For My Home?

The most common place to site solar technology is on the roof of your home, although it is actually possible to put a panel on the ground. The important factor is to make sure the technology gets the most sunlight, so you will get more from your technology if you live in a sunny location like the south coast. Your roof must not be in a spot that is overshadowed by trees or other buildings. Ideally, the roof should be south-facing, although the technology can still be effective if your roof faces towards east or west.

You should check out the degree of slope of your roof, as the panel will get the most sun if it is set at the optimum angle, and you may need to check that your roof can support the weight of the panels. As a basic rule of thumb, the optimum angle for your solar panels is the same as your latitude north of the equator, so if you live in London the correct angle for maximum efficiency would be 52 degrees from the horizontal and if you live in the north of Scotland it might be 56 degrees, but in practice a normal roof pitch is close enough to be satisfactory

If you are building a new home or having work done to the roof of an existing home, it is much more cost-effective to install solar technology at the same time.

How Do I Decide Between Solar & Photo Voltaic Power?

Your choice may depend on whether you want to get hot water or electricity from the technology, and on what's most suitable for your home.

One factor in your decision might also be cost, as solar panels are much cheaper than photovoltaics. If cost is not a constraint and you have the space, you can always install both of course.