Solar Panels for Home

In 2022, most solar panels are made from silicone and enclosed in transparent glass. The idea of harnessing solar energy was envisioned over 100 years ago by French physicist Edmond Becquerel. 

He proposed a theory called ‘The Photovoltaic Effect’ and suggested that solar cells could convert sunlight into electricity. Becquerel’s idea was the catalyst for several scientific advancements, such as the invention of the first solar cell in 1893.  

Forty-eight years later, the first silicon solar cell was released, quickly followed by the first silicon solar panel in 1954. The rest is history: solar panels allow us to power homes and commercial buildings and grow food and crops. They are one of the most revolutionary inventions of modern times!

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can power other electrical loads. 

When the solar panels absorb the energy produced by sunlight, they enter the electrical field generated by the solar cells. 

The free electrons pull into a current and are then ready to be used to power your home: this is called the Photovoltaic Effect!

Solar panel installation is a worthwhile, long-term investment for those wanting to save money. You can even make the payback time on your investment quicker by reducing your energy consumption at home. 

To become more sustainable and less reliant on the National Grid, try using certain appliances at the sunniest time of day. This way, you can harness the electricity from your newly installed solar panels. 

You can even make money from your solar panels from a scheme launched by the government in 2020. 

The Smart Export Guarantee (or SEG) means that every unit of power you don’t use is returned to the National Grid. You will then be compensated for your contribution to the energy supply! 

Yes, we also work with businesses to help them install solar systems. At Project Solar, we know what it takes to run a business. Office electricity costs are not cheap, and with energy bills on the rise, we’re sure you’ll be looking for alternative ways to keep costs low. 

That’s why at Project Solar, we are proud to offer our services to companies in need. We will work with industrial and commercial businesses, local authorities, housing associations and more.

Our professional and knowledgeable team are ready to help you become more sustainable while cutting costs. With our services, we want to put control over energy costs back into your hands. 

To determine how many solar panels you need, find the answer to this calculation: multiply your household’s hourly energy requirement by the peak sunlight hours for your region and divide that by a panel’s wattage. 

Access a free online calculator or work with your chosen installer to determine how many solar panels you need. Remember that the size of your roof, how much sunlight it gets, and the direction it faces will also affect this calculation.

First, your solar panel installer will erect scaffolding around your roof to ensure the installation team stays safe. The next step is to set up a solar panel mounting system that will act as the base of the panels. 

Once complete, your solar panels will rest on the mounting structure. But wait, we’re not finished yet! Your installer will then have to activate the electrical system. The solar inverter and battery must connect to a consumer unit that will generate power. 

Once all these components are up and running, your solar panel installer will turn on the system. Your new solar panels are ready to start saving you energy and money!

Due to advancements in photovoltaic technology, the energy efficiency of solar panels has risen dramatically in the last 15 years. Over a decade ago, solar panel efficiency rates were only around 10-12%.

Now, solar panels function with 15-20% efficiency! With the invention of longer-lasting solar cells, panels that work during the night and those that can track the sun in the sky, we are consistently raising the bar with solar technology.

If your home meets the requirements, solar panel installation can fall under ‘permitted development laws’: you do not have to seek permission from your local authority. However, there are exceptions to the rule. 

Installing solar panels onto a flat roof would require you to gain planning permission. For the sun to reach, the panels would need to be angled 0.2 metres above the slope: this breaks one of the central requirements for permitted development (‘the system cannot protrude more than 0.2 metres beyond the plane of the roof slope’). 

Any dwelling considered a monument or a ‘listed building’ cannot have solar panels installed without planning permission. You would require both listed building permission and planning permission. 

In conservation areas (places of architectural or historical interest), you may be able to install solar panels without planning permission. However, if you want to install them on a wall in front of a motorway, you must make an application.