What if every house in the UK had solar panels?

In 1921, Albert Einstein won his first and only Nobel prize for his work on describing the photoelectric effect. 

Light (a beam of particles) knocks loose electrons from the solar cell, the solar cell then directs these electrons along a current – creating electricity. The electrons leave a ‘hole’, the electrons can then be sent back to the solar cell by completing the circuit. In theory, solar panels could last forever as there are no moving parts.

Below is a useful graphic from National Geographic describing how solar cells work. Between 60 and 72 solar cells are combined to create a domestic solar panel. 

Recent improvements in technology mean modern premium panels will have half-cells  (120-144) to make up a solar panel – this improves efficiency. You can fit more cells in a given area and enable better shading and low light performance.

How solar panels work

 Video transcript:

How do solar panels work? step by step 

Did you know?… In 1921, Albert Einstein won his first and only Nobel prize for describing the (solar) photovoltaic effect. 

A solar cell has two layers. the top layer has a positive charge, the bottom layer negative… 

When light hits the silicon molecules, an electron is knocked loose… these electrons are attracted to the top positive layer and repelled by the negative layer… 

Electrons travel through the top layer to metallic strips that collect them and send down a wire to provide power 

This flow of electrons is electricity! the electrons can then be sent back to the metal backing of the cell…completing the circuit.

In theory, solar cells could provide power forever.

faq’s about solar panel systems

One for the zoom family quiz!

In 1921, Albert Einstein won his first and only Nobel prize for his work on describing the photoelectric effect.

In a nutshell, light (a beam of particles) knocks off electrons from the solar cell; the solar cells direct these electrons along a current – creating electricity. In theory, solar panels could last forever as there are no moving parts.

 

Find out more

Solar power panel efficiency has increased significantly over the last ten years so you might be surprised at how much electricity even a small roof could generate.

The smallest system we would recommend would be 9 x 380W panels, covering an area of 17 square meters. (4m x 4.25m).

 

How many solar panels do I need?

No. It’s a common myth. Whilst south facing is the most optimum facing position, as a rule of thumb – an identical East or West facing roof would generate 85% as much energy as the south-facing roof.

You may prefer to have an east and west facing roof than the south and north-facing roof as you could fit twice as many electric residential solar panels on the east/west roof than just south facing.

Even a North facing roof will generate approx 55% as much energy as a south-facing roof. For example, a 20 year old 10% efficient south-facing solar panel would generate approximately the same amount of energy as a modern north-facing solar panel.

 

How do solar panels generate electricity

The installation of solar panels on residential buildings are considered permitted development so you do not require planning permission if they comply with the following conditions.

There are necessary limits and conditions which must be complied with to benefit from permitted development rights.

  • Solar panels should not be installed above the highest part of the roof and should not project more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall surface.
  • Installers should not install solar panels on a building that is within the grounds of a listed building or on a site designated as a scheduled monument.
  • If your property is in a conservation area, or a World Heritage Site, you must not install solar panels on a wall that faces a highway.

Feel free to reach out to us to buy solar panels in the UK & switch to a sustainable lifestyle. Give us a call at 01273 286 627 and request for a free design and quote.

 

Planning Portal

The district network operator (DNO) is the company responsible for distributing electricity from the national grid to your home. Installers must inform the DNO of your installation within 28 days after the date of installation. Leoht will handle this for you.

You do not require permission for systems under 16 amps per phase (3.68kW single-phase or 11.04kW three-phase supply). All of the residential solar panel systems that we install fall into this category. System sizes are based on the AC inverter rating rather than the peak DC output of the solar system.

“By following bad advice regarding output limits you could be costing yourself £000’s.”

 

Find out more

Not on their own. But it is possible when combined with a time of use tariff and energy storage – depending on the time of use tariff and smart export guarantee rates.

For example, Octopus Go tariff pays 5.5p/kWh for every unit exported and charges 5p/kWh for off-peak use from 00:30 – 04:30. You could install solar panels that generate the equivalent of 100%+ of your electricity consumption and earn 5.5p/kWh for every unit exported to pay for topping up the batteries in the winter at 5p/kWh.

Your bills could even go negative if you can generate more than you use!

Time of use tariffs are why we have smart meters so expect them to become more common in future.

Yes. Solar panels are worth the cost. We believe that solar pv panels systems are an excellent investment for both you and the environment.

Our solar power panels systems cost between £5000 to £9000+ VAT, depending on the size and location of your home. This may seem expensive, but by installing a solar system we aim to reduce your electricity bill by up to 100%. Where else could you earn 9-13% per year tax-free on a low-risk investment, whilst protecting against rising energy prices and helping the environment at the same time.

Our solar panels are durable and come with a 25-30 year warranty. If well maintained, our solar panels can last for more than 30 years. Our solar panels are modern and blend well with any roof. A premium solar panel installation acting as your home’s own energy supply is likely to increase the value of your property.

Solar panels are largely maintenance-free. Over time, however, they may be affected by environmental factors – dead leaves, for example, may block sections of the panel. We recommend that solar panels are checked every few years to ensure maximum efficiency and cleaned once or twice a year.

Solar panels need sunlight to generate energy, so they do not work at night. However, you can install a battery to store excess electricity generation during the day to then be used later at night.

Negative electricity bills

Generating more energy than you use could turn your electricity bills negative.

The marginal cost of adding panels to a 4 kW solar system is negligible, you may as well use the space available and go larger.

Find out how much you could save with solar

Our cost and savings calculator can help you find the right solar specification for you and how much you could save!

Step 1

Which system are you interested in?

0%

Learn more about solar

A study by Rightmove showed that adding solar panels to a house increased its value by an average of 4%....

A solar inverter’s maximum output DOES NOT relate to the solar capacity able to be installed. Getting AC output confused with the DC capacity of the solar array

...

An electric car will on average travel 3-4 miles per kWh, depending on driving habits and driving conditions. I have had my Tesla model 3

...

The solar panel inverter is the most important part of your solar system – choose a good one. Solar panel inverters convert DC electricity generated by

...

Are flat roofs suitable for solar panels? When would you consider a flat roof solar panel system? Flat roof solar panels are used to maximise

...

How to compare solar panels We’re all taught to believe that, for the most part, bigger is better – and you’d be forgiven for thinking

...

How many solar panels do I need? Most domestic installations fall between 6 – 24 solar panels. You will need 10 solar panels to generate

...
A study by Rightmove showed that adding solar panels to a house increased its value by an average of 4%....

A solar inverter’s maximum output DOES NOT relate to the solar capacity able to be installed. Getting AC output confused with the DC capacity of the solar array

...

An electric car will on average travel 3-4 miles per kWh, depending on driving habits and driving conditions. I have had my Tesla model 3

...

The solar panel inverter is the most important part of your solar system – choose a good one. Solar panel inverters convert DC electricity generated by

...

Are flat roofs suitable for solar panels? When would you consider a flat roof solar panel system? Flat roof solar panels are used to maximise

...

How to compare solar panels We’re all taught to believe that, for the most part, bigger is better – and you’d be forgiven for thinking

...

The Feed in Tariff ended in 2019 and was replaced by the Smart Export Guarantee. Octopus Outgoing currently pays 15p/kWh and as high as 30p/kWh

...

In 1921, Albert Einstein won his first and only Nobel prize for his work on describing the photoelectric effect. Light (a beam of particles) knocks

...

Solar panels in England will generate between 15-27% as much electricity in the winter compared to their summer peak, depending on the direction they face,

...

Installing solar panels and battery storage will make an immediate impact on your energy bills, no matter what tariff you choose. Did you know that the

...