Facts about Solar Energy

Many people are aware of the benefits of Solar energy, the only thing that puts them off is the solar panel cost. What people don’t realise is that the initial outlay is returned in savings multiple times over in the course of the systems life.

Solar energy has many applications

Solar energy is not just good for heating and lighting houses. It has also been used to heat swimming pools, power cars, fans, calculators and other smaller appliances.

Quick Facts about energy usage

- About 30% of a households total energy consumption is used to heat water.
- In one hour more sunlight falls on our earth that what is used in solar energy by the whole population in a whole year.
- Electric ovens, microwaves and air conditioning systems consume the most energy when running.

Quick facts about the Sun

- The Sun is 109 times bigger that the Earth.
- The Suns average temperature is 5700C
- The Sun is 150 million km from the Earth.

About your Solar panel system

Remember that although you have the system and solar panel cost to consider at the beginning you will reap the rewards!

Panels are usually mounted on a roof that is unobstructed by trees or buildings. It needs to installed facing North so as to receive maximum amounts of sunlight. An average system usually consists of 10 to 12 panels, a battery, inverter, charge controller, wiring and a support structure. You are able to store excess solar energy in batteries for use at a later date.

Solar energy usage across the world

Worldwide productions of solar cells increased by 60% in 2004 alone! However the material these cells are made out of, Silicon, has been in short supply ever since. One of the biggest solar power plants is in Bavaria and has 1,400 movable solar panels providing power to 3,500 homes. The largest is in the Mojave Desert in North America. Its Solar panels cover 1000 acres! A large solar power plant is currently being built in Israel and it is planned that it will supply more than 200,000 Israeli’s with electricity.

Attitudes must change for solar energy to take off

Solar energy is more than just being willing to install a system and put up with the solar panel cost. It is about our attitude toward renewable and unrenewable power that must change. We live in a throwaway society. Things are easily bought and are just as easily discarded. More and more people are beginning to live greener lives but it will take a worldwide collective effort to really make a change!

For more information see solar panel cost.

Facts about Solar Energy

Many people are aware of the benefits of Solar energy, the only thing that puts them off is the solar panel cost. What people don’t realise is that the initial outlay is returned in savings multiple times over in the course of the systems life.

Solar energy has many applications

Solar energy is not just good for heating and lighting houses. It has also been used to heat swimming pools, power cars, fans, calculators and other smaller appliances.

Quick Facts about energy usage

- About 30% of a households total energy consumption is used to heat water.

- In one hour more sunlight falls on our earth that what is used in solar energy by the whole population in a whole year.

- Electric ovens, microwaves and air conditioning systems consume the most energy when running.

Quick facts about the Sun

- The Sun is 109 times bigger that the Earth.

- The Suns average temperature is 5700C

- The Sun is 150 million km from the Earth.


About your Solar panel system

Remember that although you have the system and solar panel cost to consider at the beginning you will reap the rewards! Panels are usually mounted on a roof that is unobstructed by trees or buildings.

It needs to installed facing North so as to receive maximum amounts of sunlight. An average system usually consists of 10 to 12 panels, a battery, inverter, charge controller, wiring and a support structure. You are able to store excess solar energy in batteries for use at a later date.

Solar energy usage across the world

Worldwide productions of solar cells increased by 60% in 2004 alone! However the material these cells are made out of, Silicon, has been in short supply ever since. One of the biggest solar power plants is in Bavaria and has 1,400 movable solar panels providing power to 3,500 homes.

The largest is in the Mojave Desert in North America. Its Solar panels cover 1000 acres! A large solar power plant is currently being built in Israel and it is planned that it will supply more than 200,000 Israeli’s with electricity.

Attitudes must change for solar energy to take off

Solar energy is more than just being willing to install a system and put up with the solar panel cost. It is about our attitude toward renewable and unrenewable power that must change. We live in a throwaway society. Things are easily bought and are just as easily discarded. More and more people are beginning to live greener lives but it will take a worldwide collective effort to really make a change!

For more information see solar panel cost.

3 Things to consider about Solar Panels.

Solar panels capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity. This electricity can then be used to run household appliances and lighting. Solar Panels don't need direct sunlight to work which means you can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day. Solar panels cost money but they do really end up saving you much more.

1. Is it suitable for your home?

There are a few questions you should ask yourself when considering suitability. You need to find a space for your panels that faces within 90degrees south and that is not overshadowed by any large trees or buildings.

Less energy will be generated if the panels are shadowed over during parts of the day. You also need to consider if your roof is strong enough as solar panels are quite heavy. The last thing to think about is whether or not you will need planning permission. Most people don’t but it best to check!


2. How great are the savings?

Solar energy will not only cut your carbon footprint but it will also save you money. It is a safe and renewable energy source that emits not carbon dioxide. A typical system will save around 1 tonne of CO2 a year being emitted! Obviously you don’t have to pay for sunlight so once you have paid the initial solar panels cost you can then begin saving.

A system would usually produce around 40% of a household’s electricity in a year. There is also the option to sell surplus electricity back to the Grid or to store it up for a time when you will need it.

3. Is a Solar Panel System maintainable?

The average solar panels cost around £12,000 for a system. You need to make sure that you keep your solar panels clean and that there is no tree growth, for example, that will cause them to be overshadowed. Your panel manufacturer should give you a recommendation of how often they should be cleaned. You should also use common sense!

Some areas can be dustier than others so obviously the panels should be cleaned more frequently.

Do your bit

At a time when the environment and our carbon footprints are pressing issues on most government’s agenda we should try to do what we can. Solar panels are a great way of reducing CO2 emissions and it is a renewable energy source that is within everybody’s reach!

For more information see solar panels cost.