Why Solar Panels Make Sense and Cents
Solar energy is one of the most advanced and easily accessible options for green energy production. If you’re considering ways to go green – and save money at the same time, solar panels on your roof may be one of the wisest investments you can make.
Solar Panels Are Clean and Green
Solar PV systems create electricity using energy from the sun. They consume no fuel and burn no carbon. They don’t move the air, nor rely on wheels and other devices placed in the water to produce energy. They’re not completely carbon-footprint free – the minerals for making them must be mined or produced in some way, as must the materials for making solar panels, and the panels and components must be transported. The carbon footprint for those activities, however, is much smaller than the carbon footprint for most other forms of generating electricity.
The Cost of Solar Panel Production Has Dropped Considerably
In 2009, solar experts estimated that the cost of producing solar panels would reach $1 per kilowatt production by 2013. Less than a year later, scientists announced that they had broken the $1 per KwPs, thanks to cheaper production methods and technological breakthroughs. While the cost of a solar PV system varies greatly depending on size and type of panels used, it’s now possible to have panels installed for L6,000 to L10,000.
Solar PV Systems Work with the Existing Electrical Grid
Most solar PV systems installed in the UK are grid-tied systems – that is, they are connected to the existing electrical grid. That allows the homeowner to draw on solar power when the solar panels are generating electricity and fall back on grid power when the family is drawing more electricity than their solar panels generate. It means that homeowners can have electricity around the clock without resorting to a backup battery system, which is considerably more expensive.
Solar Can Reduce Your Electricity Bill by Up to 50 Percent
Because your home uses solar-generated electricity first, you’ll pay less for electricity because you’ll be using less electricity from your supplier. For every kilowatt hour of electricity that your solar panels generate, you’ll save the cost of one kilowatt hour of electricity that you don’t have to draw from your electric company. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, that could end up saving you as much as 50 percent on your electricity costs over the course of a year.
You Can Get Paid for the Electricity Your Panels Generate
The government has committed to increasing the percentage of renewable energy used in the UK. The Feed-in Tariff Scheme is part of the effort to increase renewable energy generation. For every kilowatt hour of electricity that your panels generate and you use, the government will pay you a fixed amount. In addition, the government will pay you an additional amount for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by your solar panels and fed back to the grid. Depending on your electrical usage and the efficiency of your panels, that could amount to hundreds of pounds – or more – every year.
If you’re looking for the most economical and efficient green energy alternative, call a solar installer in your area to learn more about the advantages and benefits of solar PV systems for your home.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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