Whether you’re considering solar PV for your home or business premises, the benefits of going green and embracing all the perks of solar panel installation are many. With solar panels, you could slash sky-high electricity bills, cut your carbon emissions to help the wider planet, and even make money by selling any extra energy your panels generate to the grid.
But, with sunshine rather limited thanks to the great British weather, is solar panel installation really an investment worth making? In this blog post, we tackle that very question, and the answer may just surprise you!
Solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV) as they are officially referred to, harness sunlight. The solar energy emitted is absorbed by the conductive PV cells within each panel. The cells use this energy to generate an electrical charge, which is powered further still by the energy from the sun.
The charge creates direct current or DC electricity, which - although unsuitable for powering appliances and other household electricals - passes through the PV system’s inverter to become alternating current or AC, which can be used.
Contrary to popular belief, solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to operate and generate electricity. Solar PV systems even work on overcast or cloudy days, which means they’ll be able to convert any sunlight into electricity whatever the time of year or the weather outside.
During winter, sunlight is still accessible, despite the sun’s lower position in the sky. Solar panels absorb energy from any level of sunlight as long as it’s visible to the naked eye.
The reduced daylight hours of winter do reduce output. This will mean panels won’t generate as much electricity during winter as they do in the summer months. Cold weather however has been proven to have no impact on a solar panel’s performance.
Come rain or shine, your solar panels will be working hard to absorb and convert solar energy. In fact, light rain showers actually remove the dirt and debris that can inhibit absorption to make panels work even better.
Reaping the rewards of solar panel installation is simpler than you think, with fitting taking just 1 day, and all work undertaken by our trained and approved professionals. Get in touch to find out more!