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What Can Solar Panels Be Used For?

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Danielle Biggs

As you are no doubt aware, solar panels are used to help generate electricity that is usually used in homes and business premises to provide power for things like lighting, electrical appliances, heating the home and the water. However, over the years, solar photovoltaic panels are being utilised for so many different things.

For instance, solar panels are used in some public car ports around the world where they are placed on roofs above cars so that the electric cars can be charged up. Here in the UK, we are seeing an increase in the number of AFVs (Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles) being registered so there is no doubt a need for more charging points to be available.

If you are a mountaineer or rambler and are walking off the beaten track then a mobile phone is a vital item to have should you get into difficulty perhaps due to having a fall. It is possible to buy a backpack that has a solar panel attached to it that has a mobile phone charger in it enabling you to recharge your phone if required.

If you are a keen gardener then you can buy solar powered lights to place in your garden to provide lighting to make your garden look more attractive or to light up a path. You can buy these in some DIY/garden centres for a reasonable price. You can also buy a pond pump that is powered by solar photovoltaic panels that can be used help pump water up the fountain and down a waterfall.

There will no doubt be a number of other uses for solar panels and over the next few years there will probably be other products that it is discovered solar panels can be used for. This form of renewable energy is obviously of benefit to the environment as it will help lower the level of carbon emissions both here in the UK and in other countries around the world.

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Proposal To Close Feed-In Tariffs Scheme

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Jeanette Plant

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has recently published the Consultation on the Feed-In Tariffs Scheme in which it proposes that the above scheme will be closed to new applicants from the 1st April 2019.

Apparently, the Government is keen to make sure that people who pay their bills are getting value for money. When the scheme was put in place it was forecast that the energy bills paid by consumers would go up by £440 million in 2020 but, apparently, this figure is well below the latest forecasted figure of £1,600 million. It is also worth pointing out that the Government does not feel that the Feed-In Tariffs scheme fits in with its future vision.

The above document refers to the fact that between 2010 and the 31st December 2017, renewable energy installations have grown in capacity from 9.3GW to 38.9GW. By March 2018 there were over 800,000 installations.

Obviously, this news has no doubt not gone down well with those involved in the solar panel industry here in the UK plus the likes of homeowners who have been considering having solar panels fitted in the coming months as they may need to make a decision in the not too distant future.

The Government has asked for feedback on such things as the impact on jobs and the amount consumers will be paying for their electricity.

The consultation closes on the 13th September 2018.

It is going to be interesting to hear what the Government decides to do about the Feed-In Tariffs scheme once it has received feedback by the above date. We will endeavor to keep our readers up to date in this respect. Presumably, if the FIT scheme were to close for new applications from the 1st April 2019 this would have a negative impact on the number of new solar panel installations taking place in the UK if a suitable alternative was not introduced.

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Global Solar Capacity Grows Significantly In 2017

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Peter

Those of you with an interest in solar power will be pleased to hear that on a global basis solar capacity increased by a considerable amount in 2017. However, this was not something that the UK benefitted from.

According to the Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2018 to 2022 report published recently by SolarPower Europe, last year the total amount of installed solar capacity around the world rose to a cumulative figure of 99.1 GW. Presumably, by the end of 2018, we will see this figure exceed 100 GW.

It is interesting that China accounted for more than 50% of the amount of installed solar capacity on a cumulative basis in 2017. In the last couple of years, China has certainly made huge strides in the volume of solar capacity that it has installed. The USA, on the other hand, has seen a drop in the amount of solar capacity installed when comparing 2017 with 2016.

However, it is very disappointing to hear that the number of new solar panel installations in the UK dropped by around a half in 2017. This is indeed concerning news and it is being suggested within certain areas of the solar power industry that the Government should be doing an awful lot more to assist the solar power industry here in the UK. This news is concerning especially when you consider that 21 of the 28 markets within the European Union actually increased their solar capacity last year in comparison to the previous 12 months.

It is to be hoped that here in the UK we see a turnaround in the fortunes of many businesses involved in the solar power sector as there have been significant job losses seen within the solar power industry. After all, we have stretching targets to meet with regard to the lowering of carbon emissions by 2020. We will continue to keep our readers updated as to how we do in this respect.

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Most Popular Brands Of Solar Panels

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Danielle Biggs

As with most products, there are numerous manufacturers of solar panel systems that both residential and commercial premises owners decide to have installed on their properties here in the UK. Which? has recently carried out a survey to establish the ones that are owned by a larger percentage of people.

The survey was carried out online in May 2018 with 2,163 Which? members who owned solar panel systems. The full survey can be viewed via the Which? website by their members.

It was found that the brand that was most commonly owned was Sharp with 8% of members of Which? owning them. In second spot was Sanyo with 7% of Which? members taking part in the survey saying that he or she owned them. In next place were LG and Solarworld with 3% of Which? members taking part in the survey stating that they possessed such solar panel systems.

Do bear in mind that the most popular brands of solar panel systems owned by people are not always the best ones as, apparently, the survey discovered. Those of you who are members of Which? can find out which brands are felt to be the best ones through the website of Which?

The survey also looked at whether people who owned solar panel systems felt that they produced enough electricity and it was interesting to read that 66% of those taking part in the survey felt they did. When looking at how financially beneficial solar panel systems were, 62% of owners of solar panel systems felt that they were.

The survey also looked at how much people had paid for their solar panel systems over the years. Prior to 2015, for a 3.6kWp to 4kWp system, the average amount spent was £9,671. However, in the last three years, the average amount paid was £6,672. It is pleasing to see that the cost of purchasing such solar panel systems has fallen.

If you are considering purchasing a solar panel system then you will no doubt wish to carry out your own due diligence with a view to finding a system that meets your requirements. As part of that process you may find the above survey of benefit. Here at Solar Panels UK, we can arrange to put you in touch with a number of suppliers/fitters of solar panel systems here in the UK so why not get in touch with us.

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Google To Assist Homeowners To Establish If Solar Panels Are Of Benefit

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Jeanette Plant

Google is involved in so many projects and has recently announced a service that may prove of benefit to some homeowners in various parts of the UK who are considering having solar panels installed. It is called Project Sunroof and it has been set up in conjunction with Eon who supplies energy to many UK households.

It is designed to help homeowners establish if having solar panels fitted to the roofs of their homes is a viable proposition. Apparently, it is not the only company to offer a similar service.

When considering whether it is a financially viable proposition to have solar photovoltaic panels installed on your home there are a number of things that will need to be taken into account such as how big a roof area you have to make sure it can accommodate the required number of solar panels, the angle of the roof and the direction at which the solar panels would need to be placed in order to be as efficient as possible.

If you arrange for one or more quotations from reputable solar panel fitting companies then as part of their service they will arrange to visit you at your home or business premises to discuss your requirements and consider the viability of whether it is financially worth your while to spend several thousand pounds to have solar panels installed and this would no doubt include giving you an indication as to how long it is likely to be before you may obtain a return on your investment.

Here at Solar Panels UK we can put you in touch with a number of solar panel suppliers and fitters who have excellent reputations for providing a quality product that is professionally installed. So, why not get in touch with us today and we can arrange for a number of them to make contact with you to assess your requirements and provide a quote without any obligation.

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Premier Inn To Install More Solar Panels

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Danielle Biggs

Many of you may have spent the night at a Premier Inn with numerous such properties located in various parts of the UK. Over the years, the well known TV star Sir Lenworth George Henry better known by he name of Lenny Henry has advertised these inns on television.

Well, the hotel business is to have more solar panels fitted to another 70 of their properties providing an additional capacity of 1.6 MW. The company already has 113 of their hotels fitted with solar panels so this is a big increase.

We are sure that you will agree, it is pleasing to see such a large business show commitment to lowering their carbon emissions and utilizing more renewable energy here in the UK.

It is being forecast that Premier Inns should have reduced their carbon emissions
by up to 50% by 2025. It will be interesting to monitor how successful Premier Inns is at lowering such omissions and we wish them every success in this respect. It is also being forecast that the company could lower carbon emissions by anything up to 88% by the time 2050 comes along.

In recent years, there have been many major companies that have invested in solar panels. You may have come across one or more of them when you have been out and about. For instance, Sainsbury’s’ Supermarket has invested in solar photovoltaic panels in recent years. There will no doubt be other large businesses that take on board the installation of solar panels here in the UK and we will continue to keep you informed about other interesting solar power projects.

If you are considering having solar panels fitted to either your home or business premises or indeed to both then why not let us put you in touch with a number of respected, experienced solar panel businesses who can meet to discuss your individual requirements and provide tailor made quotations for your perusal and consideration.

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Solar Power Car Port Being Built By Bentley Motors

Posted on May 9, 2018 by spuk

Many of you will be aware that Bentley Motors manufacture luxury cars here in the UK to exacting standards. Well, the company has recently started to build a very big solar powered car port for its colleagues to park their cars under.

Apparently, the car port is going to be the biggest of its kind in the UK that is covered with solar panels. In fact, there will be in the region of 10,000 solar panels installed. The solar panels will have a capacity of in the region of 2.7 MW.

The car port is being built at the company’s factory in Crewe. Bentley Motors is already a supporter of solar power as back in 2013 it had over 20,000 solar panels fitted to some of its roofs. Apparently, the amount of energy produced once this latest project is completed would be capable of providing sufficient electricity for in excess of 1,750 homes. It is also estimated that this new installation could lower carbon emissions by as much as 3,300 tonnes.

We are sure that you will agree that the above sort of solar power project is to be welcomed here in the UK. It would be great to see a lot more of them as such schemes will go some way towards helping the UK achieve its targets for lowering carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy over a period of time.

There are many interesting uses of solar panels and we have previously mentioned a number of them. For instance, a small solar panel has been inserted onto a ruck-sack that could be used by the likes of a walker to help charge up a mobile phone that could be used to call emergency services in the event of getting into difficulty. We will continue to keep you updated about any other interesting solar power projects that come to our attention.

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Large Solar Panel Plant For Mexico

Posted on April 26, 2018 by spuk

Readers will be interested to hear that a huge solar panel plant has been inaugurated in Mexico that, when completed, will be the largest in the Americas. The plant was inaugurated by Enel Green Power Mexico on the 22nd March 2018. This business is the biggest operator of renewable energy in Mexico.

The solar power plant will be capable of producing in excess of 1,700 GWh of electricity over a 12 month period once the plant is fully built during the last 6 months of this year. There will be a staggering 2.3 million solar panels in situ covering around 2,400 hectares.

The 754 MW solar power facility is 41% operational so great strides have been made in its construction.

We have previously written about a number of other large solar power projects in various parts of the world. Such schemes will make a considerable difference to the amount of energy produced using solar power in many countries around the world. It is schemes like the above one that will no doubt make significant inroads into the success of renewable energy and in particular solar power in the coming years. Such schemes will also no doubt assist in the reduction of carbon emissions thus helping improve the environment in which we all live.

It is no secret that countries have been set challenging targets as far as renewable energy is concerned including reducing carbon emissions. To help achieve such targets this will no doubt involve countries having solar panels fitted to both residential homes as well as commercial premises in towns, cities and villages as well as many solar farms being constructed.

Here at Solar Panels UK, we are pleased to inform you that we will continue to keep our readers updated about any interesting solar power projects that we hear about both in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

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Solar Power When It Rains

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Danielle Biggs

It is believed that more energy is generated by solar panels when the sun is shining as the sun’s rays help produce electricity than when the skies are clouded over making it a dull day or when it is dark. Therefore, wouldn’t it be lovely if the amount of electricity generated in large amounts could also be produced when it is raining.

Well, whilst it may be some time before commercial production takes place, researchers at a university in China believe that they may have come up with s potential solution in this respect.

Researchers at Soochow University in China have produced a solar panel that uses TENG technology. This sort of technology incorporates a couple of extra layers on top of the solar panel. When rain falls and the drops roll off the solar panel covered layers the friction helps generate electricity.

Apparently, it may take a few years before this technology is at a level that can be made commercially available. We are sure that you will agree it would be good news if this technology did become available at a price that makes it affordable to the majority of consumers. In this respect, it will be interesting as to what those people who have already had solar panels installed do. For instance, could it be possible to adapt existing solar photovoltaic panels to include such technology or, if they do want to use it, would that mean having new solar panels installed and, if so, would it be cost effective to go down this route.

Obviously, we will continue to keep our readers who have an interest in solar panels up to date with any developments in respect of the above or indeed any other interesting inventions relating to solar power. Over the years we have reported on some interesting uses of solar panels such as panels being fitted to backpacks used by walkers who have used the solar power to charge up their mobile phones.

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Slow Growth In UK Solar Panel Installations

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Peter

Figures for the deployment of solar photovoltaic panel installations here in the UK published by the Government indicate slow growth but at least there continues to be take up of solar power. It has to be said that we do not see a huge number of installations on the roofs of houses in comparison to what we were seeing 3 or 4 years ago.

Figures as at January 2018 indicate that there have been 939,872 installations here in the UK on a cumulative basis. The total capacity of these installation amounted to 12,799.6 Mw on a cumulative basis.

It is interesting that 46% of solar capacity is from larger installations of more than 5Mw with 20% coming from smaller installations with a capacity of 1Mw to 4Mw. The latter figure, in the main, will no doubt relate to solar panel installations on the roofs of residential properties. This just goes to show how much reliance there is on solar panels being fitted to the likes of commercial premises such as supermarket roofs and the number of solar farms that have been built in the UK in recent years.

It would be great to hear about more commercial solar panel developments being installed as they could make quite a difference to how the UK performs overall with regard to the installation of solar panels. There certainly appears to be less public interest in solar panels when compared with 3 or 4 years ago with one of the factors affecting that no doubt being the changes made to the Feed-In Tariff scheme with that scheme proving of a lower financial benefit to home and business owners.

It will be interesting to see if the Government decides to do more to help boost the interest from the public in solar power. The more solar panel installation then the greater the reduction in carbon emissions both here in the UK and in other countries around the world which is something we want to see.

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