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Solar panels are our answer to generating clean and green energy all the while lowering our energy costs. With the world already facing the wrath of climate change, it’s time we bid adieu to burning fossil fuels for electricity generation and opt for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy.
When it comes to generating renewable energy using solar panels, a huge chunk of the population, both in the residential as well as commercial sectors, is making the switch to it. The reason is that they are a long-term investment that helps reduce carbon emissions. The reduction in their price is also a contributing factor.
However, despite their popularity in recent years, many people and businesses are still sceptical about making the switch due to the high initial investment and the pressing question of whether to invest in them now or wait for more technological advancements and price reductions.
Read on to find out more about solar panels, why they are a great option for homes and businesses, and why now is the right time to invest in them:
Solar panels, also called photovoltaics (PVs), use the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use to power your homes and businesses. They are a popular choice for many home and business owners as installing solar panels allows you to generate your own renewable energy off-grid.
Solar panels are made up of several layered cells of semi-conducting material, typically silicon, that convert solar energy into electrical energy when light shines on them. Although they can work with indirect sunlight, they are most efficient when the sun is bright and direct. The stronger and brighter the sunlight is, the more electricity will be produced.
A complete solar system is made up of several panels, with each panel generating a certain amount of energy, which is measured in watts (W). The panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, which is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity using an inverter. The resultant AC electricity can be used to power your property, saved for later use, or sent back to the grid.
There are many benefits of investing in solar panels including:
Generating your own electricity means that you either will be using less energy from your electricity supplier or going completely independent of the grid. In either case, you can save quite a lot. You can also make additional money by selling the excess, unused energy back to the grid.
Compared to other energy sources, solar energy has the least impact on the environment and is a great option if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint. It neither produces any greenhouse gases nor does it pollute the water. Solar panels are also noiseless, making them perfect for residential settings and urban areas. A typical home solar PV system in the UK could reduce carbon emissions by around 1 tonne every year.
Electricity peak hours are around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which means that electricity consumed during these hours typically costs more. But if you have solar panels installed, you don’t have to worry about this issue as there are no peak hours. In fact, it is during these hours that the sun usually shines the brightest and the solar panels work most efficiently.
Solar panels last a long time, with most solar panel installers offering a 20-to-25-year guarantee. Once installed, they require very little maintenance and can be used without any issues. You may need to replace the inverter after a few years, but that is a relatively lower cost. The main components, which are the panels, should look after themselves and require minimal care or investment on your part.
The only thing required for solar power generation is sunshine. As long as the sun is shining, solar panels can be installed virtually anywhere. This is particularly useful for remote areas with no access to electricity from the grid. Solar PV systems can benefit such areas and improve the lives of millions of people all over.
Solar energy is one of the most popular and fastest-growing sources of renewable energy in the world, including the UK. In recent years, the UK has seen a massive shift towards the usage of solar energy in the residential, commercial, as well as industrial sector.
The UK has set a target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 and the use of solar PV systems is expected to help achieve this goal.
What was previously thought of as a thing of the future is now a reality.
Currently one of the leading countries in Europe with respect to solar energy usage, the use of solar panels throughout the UK has grown exponentially in the last decade and is expected to continue to grow.
This growth in the use of solar energy is partly due to a growing awareness and sense of responsibility towards the environment, and in part due to government incentives that make the investment easier.
In addition to this, the decreasing cost of solar panels is also one of the reasons that has encouraged homeowners and businesses to invest in solar panels.
In recent years, the cost of solar panels has dropped considerably, making them relatively economical compared to when they were initially launched. As a result, solar panels are becoming a common sight on rooftops, especially in areas where there is plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
This surge in demand for clean and green energy that also offers cost savings is leading to technological advancements in the field of solar energy generation and it continues to grow at an incredible speed.
The current state of solar energy in the UK is a positive one, with more households and businesses investing in it and eager for better technology and innovation in the field. With that, the future also looks as bright as ever!
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN SOLAR ENERGY
With the increase in demand for solar panels, experts predict that the industry will keep on growing with technological advancements imminent in the coming years. As of 2023, the UK generates around 7.8% of its total electricity using solar power. By 2030, solar energy could account for around 20% of the UK’s total electricity generation.
As discussed above, this increase in growth will be fuelled by decreasing costs, an increasing demand for clean energy sources, and of course, efficiency improvements.
In recent years, there have been increased technological developments in solar energy with progress in solar cell technology showing no signs of slowing down. More efficient, low-cost, and easily installable lightweight solar panels may be just a few years away.
The efficiency of solar cells in solar panels is becoming better every year, and scientists are hard at work trying to make them capable of producing more electricity while minimising costs even further.
One other key trend is the development of better storage technology to allow homeowners and businesses to store the excess energy produced by the solar panels during the day for use during high-demand times or the night. This excess stored energy can also be sold back to the grid for a handsome pay.
Solar battery storage systems are a relatively new technology that is certainly worth considering if you have or are planning to invest in solar panels. They help you use more of the electricity you generate and allow you to go 100% solar. They increase both the reliability and flexibility of solar energy and are a hot item in the market at the moment.
With the rise in demand for these solar batteries, the cost continues to decline and more advancements are in the pipeline that will offer battery storage systems with a bigger battery size, higher power rating, higher round-trip efficiency, and a lengthier battery life cycle.
Community solar is another trend in the solar energy industry that is picking up pace. Community solar is a type of solar farm system that allows a group of individuals or organisations to pool their resources and invest in a solar energy system shared by all the contributors.
Solar farms are the perfect solution for people who do not have the means to install solar panels on their property due to limited space or other restrictions, and they also encourage sustainability on a large scale.
In terms of government policies, the UK government is committed to achieving its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and in order to achieve that goal, they continue to make policies and incentives to encourage the growth of the solar energy industry.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a great example of a government incentive that allows homeowners as well as businesses to export excess solar energy produced by their solar PV systems to the grid. This has not only helped save money but also offset some of the installation costs of the solar panels.
Future government policies such as changes to building codes for solar panel installation and the introduction of low-carbon energy zones could further support this shift towards cleaner, greener, and cheaper solar energy in the UK.
When it comes to investing in solar panels, there are a few things you need to consider in terms of the initial cost, the expected savings, and the return on investment. It is very important to invest in the right type and size of solar panels to get the most out of the system, and for that, it is best to consult with a professional solar panel installation company like Calder Electrical.
If you’ve made up your mind about investing in solar panels but are unsure whether you should do it right away or wait it out, here are a few factors to help clear the doubt in your head:
The efficiency of solar panels refers to how good they are at converting sunlight into electricity. According to recent statistics, most residential solar panel installations in the UK are around 10 to 20% efficient, with some systems reaching up to 25%.
While this is a good percentage for now, there is still a long way to go to reach the solar panels’ full potential in harvesting the sun’s energy. Also, at the current efficiency levels, although you can fulfil your home’s energy needs, you will have to wait for a higher level of efficiency to see substantial savings.
The more efficient the solar panels are, the fewer panels you will need to install to provide the same level of output. However, while this technology continues to see improvements, the current trajectory of growth is not expected to yield any significant short-term savings.
The watts produced per panel have seen an increase over the years, but with that, so have the costs per panel. Since more efficient panels are more expensive to produce at the moment, there is no clear benefit of waiting to install solar panels based on their expected increase in efficiency.
With improvements in equipment and installation costs, as well as the manufacturing technology of solar PV systems, the overall costs of these systems have reduced drastically over the years.
This, coupled with support from the government, has made solar panels cheaper than they have ever been, and this is giving hope to people that the cost will continue to drop.
According to Researchers at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, PV systems could become cheaper by up to 50% by 2035.
Now, although the equipment and installation costs could be much lower, there’s the issue of rising energy costs and electricity bills that will have accumulated over the years, which brings us to our next point.
With energy bills climbing through the roof, it’s best to use that rooftop for something better: a solar PV system. Although it is a fact that solar panel costs are expected to decline in the future, it is also true that the price of electricity will continue to rise.
Depending on where you live in the UK, you could see a substantial spike in your electric bill in the foreseeable future. To avoid these looming price increases, you can invest in solar panels now and start saving right away. You can even offset some of the initial investment by selling excess energy back to the grid.
Now comes the big question: Should you buy solar panels now or wait for the technology to improve? Our answer to this pressing question is: Invest now! Don’t wait for solar technology to improve.
Keeping all the above-mentioned points in mind, every year that you don’t invest in solar panels is a year’s worth of lost potential savings. The cost of electricity will get higher and higher, and the more you delay investing in solar panels because of potential technological advancements and price drops, the more time you will waste that could have been used to save money in terms of energy costs.
Solar panels are a long-term investment that requires little to no upkeep and maintenance over the years. Therefore, they are an investment in renewable energy long into the future.
Plus, the climate change issue is a serious one with a literal timer on it. The more you delay playing your part in reducing your carbon footprint, the worse the situation will get.
It doesn’t make much sense to wait for a miraculous technological advancement in solar energy that, you never know, might never even happen!
The good news is that the current level of technology used in solar PV systems can already help you benefit so much in terms of lower energy costs, higher efficiency, and cheaper solar panels and installation.
Calder Electrical Services provides a wide range of solutions to help you play your part in making the world a more sustainable place.
If you wish to have solar panels installed on your commercial property, our experts can conduct a site visit to determine your requirements and propose the best location to install them.
We also offer solar battery storage installation so that you can minimise any wastage of the energy you create. This will help lower your energy bills and make you more independent from the grid. Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 3001 to talk to our experts right away!
Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash
