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By Tiffany Wheble, of South Downs Solar.

Research from the Energy Saving Trust found that 60% of people considering making their homes ‘greener’ had not done so, because they did not have the knowledge or understanding on what to do.  The aim of this new solar blog is to dispel the myths and provide clear information and key facts on the benefits and value of getting solar installed.

Throughout history, sunlight has been used in many ways for power, warmth and to help grow food.  Now, in the twenty-first century, solar power is becoming an essential source of energy, because as natural resources become depleted and fuel prices rise, consumers and businesses are forced to assess other options for getting their electricity.  In the UK, our national emissions are well above the world average, however they are not too dissimilar from much of Europe.  Although they have fallen in recent years, this has largely been as a result of a rapid change from coal to gas for electricity generation.  We could, and should, do a lot more to reduce our energy use and encourage the development of truly renewable energy resources.

A key to solar jargon

• PV = photovoltaic
• Modules = panels
• MCS = Microgeneration Certification Scheme
• FiT = Feed-in Tariff
• kWh = Kilowatt hours
• KWp = peak power under full solar radiation

Some of the benefits of having solar installed

• It’s good for the environment – A 2kWp system will prevent 1 ton of Carbon Dioxide from entering the Earth’s atmosphere every year, thereby helping you to reduce the effects of global warming.
• Receive government backed incentives – With the recently introduced ‘Feed in Tariffs’ that the Government introduced in April 2010, there’s never been a better time to get financially rewarded simply for generating the electricity. Your South Downs Solar adviser will provide you with up to date advice and information on the latest rates available to you via this lucrative Government backed incentive. If you have a 2kWp system installed, this will earn you over £900 per year tax free.
• Sell your electricity back to the grid – Any energy that you generate but don’t use will automatically be fed back to the grid. For this you will receive 3.1p per kW fed back ensuring that no electricity is wasted and that you will receive additional payments. This figure is also index linked meaning that as prices go up, so will the money that you receive.
• You’ll feel good – You’ll be helping the environment and you’ll literally be ‘watching the money coming in’. And it will all be guaranteed for 25 years. Feeling good already?
• In the last 10 years, the cost of getting solar installed has almost halved, making it a much more accessible option for many people.  As more competitors come to the market, prices have been driven down, giving customers much more choice.

Around the world, solar power is becoming a common addition to many residential and commercial properties.  Some countries, such as Germany and Spain have had a Feed-in Tariff for many years already, and at the start of 2011, the number of properties with solar installed in the UK was only 3% of how many Germany had.

According to Which? magazine in the last 18 months the number of small-scale solar installations in the UK has grown by 400%, a massive increase, which may be due to the generous Feed-in Tariff, which is part of the Government’s initiative to get more people to generate their own electricity.  Many utility companies have increased their prices again in September of this year, pushing people to considering alternative ways of generating power.

However, the UK is still very behind some of its European neighbours when it comes to the number of installations, with Germany leading the way for the most in the world, and has over 17,000 mW cumulative capacity to date.

As with all renewable energy sources, the environment is one of the biggest winners when it comes to understanding the value.

Solar is not only good for the environment as it eliminates the need for paperwork, the Feed-in Tariff has proven to be quite a desirable investment for people who have the funds to be able to get panels installed.  Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) became available in Great Britain on 1st April 2010 and isn’t available in Northern Ireland – although this is under review. Under this scheme energy suppliers have to (compulsory for big six suppliers) make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity panels (PV). At the moment, a 4kW install can start at around £13,000 (including VAT), although it will depend on the brand of panels used.

It looks like the future of solar is going to be increasingly brighter, and although the Feed-in Tariff is said to be reducing slightly in April 2012, there are more options of panels becoming available, with higher efficiency and shorter pay-back time.

The government has a continued focus on renewable energy and building efficiency for both domestic and commercial sectors. Grants are now available via the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) for homes and businesses to install renewable heating options such as air or ground source and solar thermal. With the start of the Green Deal at the end of 2012 we will see further government grants that will help improve building efficiency through additional wall or loft insulation as well as the sealing of heat loss through poor windows and entrance or exit points.

Some facts about solar power

• Solar installations can also be ground-mounted, instead of on a roof
• Payback time of an installation can be as little as 8 years
• You can use solar to heat your water by having a thermal system installed
• The amount of sunlight that reaches the earth in one hour is more than the entire population of the world uses in a year
• More than 44,000 solar installations have already been registered in the UK
• Fossil fuels, which are non-renewable, are expected to run out within the next 10 years
• In the BBC’s ‘History of the World in 100 Objects’, a solar lamp was named as the 100^th object, due to its ability to give electricity to those who had not had it before

These are exciting times for renewable energy sources, and there is a very strong case for why solar power is the best way forward for generating electricity.  It is also a booming industry, which brings good news to an economy which has been in recession.  The number of solar installation companies is increasing day by day, with over 3,200 companies currently registered on the MCS installer database in the UK, which highlights the demand for the service.