The UK is renowned all around the globe for its grey and cloudy weather – even in the summer months you are sure to experience a fair share of wind and rain! In the absence of weeks of glorious sunshine, you might therefore be surprised to learn that in 2010 over 25,000 domestic properties installed solar panels – but why?

Do solar panels work in the UK?

Well, the short answer is that yes, solar panels do work in the UK.  Solar panels are designed to absorb any kind of reflected daylight – so even on an overcast day some light energy still filters through those black clouds.

Why install solar panels?

More and more people are coming to terms with humanity’s over-reliance on fossil fuels – sooner or later we are going to use them up, and while projected dates of around 2050 sound a little early considering recent eco-friendly endeavours, it probably isn’t that far off the mark. Fortunately, solar panel technology is no longer reserved for the filthy rich – these days just about anybody can afford some sort of basic system. So if you fancy reducing your energy bills and helping the environment, why not look into installing new solar panels? 2011 proved to be one of the warmest years in recent memory for the UK, so now is as good a time as any to having this technology fitted to your property.

There are two main types of Solar Panel System available to homeowners:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels – these produce electricity through a cell-method of absorption, where the light energy is converted into electrical units for home use. The energy is made to pass through an internal Converter before use, so the DC-current harnessed from outside can be changed into AC-current (the type of energy used by most home appliances)
• Solar thermal panels – are used to heat water. Solar thermal panels are hooked up to your main boiler and hot water tank or cylinder, or your combi boiler; the energy absorbed by your new panels is filtered into evacuated tubes, which hook up to heat up the water in your boiler or connect to an immersion tank, where the energy can be saved for later

Is your home suitable for solar panels?

Before you choose which type of solar panels you would prefer, however, you need to make sure your home is suited to the installation of panel technology – both on the outside and inside of the property. Before making a decision, for instance, you should carefully think about the following factors:

• The size and slope of your roof – is your property large and sturdy enough to support and accommodate solar panels? Thirty square metres is usually the minimum surface area required for solar panels, although this isn’t always necessary for basic, single panel installations. A south-facing roof, not blocked by any trees, telegraph poles or street lamps is also preferable
• Neighbourhood/age of property – as a bulky, unsightly addition to your home, some neighbourhoods are simply too picturesque for solar technology. If you live in a small village or Old Town district neighbours might disapprove of your new building venture, and despite your good intentions you could also find yourself in breach of the law – under UK restrictions Listed Buildings cannot be altered or adapted without the Councils say-so; so don’t get ahead of yourself until you are absolutely certain about what you can do to your property

How much do solar panels cost to install?

Although you should view installing solar technology as an investment, there’s no getting round the fact that initial costs can be expensive; often falling somewhere between the £3,000 to £5,000 price range, depending on the size of your roof. Make sure you budget well beforehand, and to get the best deal compare a number of different quotes from a variety of different companies and contractors.

Solar Feed-in Tariff scheme

You can now earn money for every kilowatt hour of electricity your solar PV panels produce through the government Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme. A similar scheme for solar thermal panels called the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is also being launched for domestic installations in 2012. Currently, you may also be able to get a grant for solar thermal panel installation or even get your panels installed completely free of charge through a ‘rent a roof’ style scheme.

Once you have planned and budgeted for your new solar panel Installation, your contractor should have everything running and fully-fitted in a matter of weeks – ready for you and your family to start reaping the rewards as soon as possible!