What Are Solar Panels & How Do They Work
Solar Panel Grants:
Solar Panel Installations
What Are Solar Panels
Solar Panel Grants For Homeowners
Solar Panel installations are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners who want to take advantage of one of nature’s most powerful yet free resources: the energy produced by the sun. There are two types of Solar Panel installations, these are:
- Solar Thermal (hot water)
- Solar PV (electricity generation)
Due to the increasing demand in solar panel installations, prices have dropped considerably over the years and as technology develops, the efficiency of solar panels has got better over time. Whilst there is not a great deal of solar panel grants available, there are a number of ways homeowners can generate an income through the energy they produce, most notably via the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Grant Funding For Solar Panels
SOlar Panel Grants
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a scheme put together by the U.K. Government in April 2014 as an incentive for homeowners to installation low carbon heating systems, such as Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar Thermal installations. Unlike a grant, the RHI is a financial support programme that pays out for 7 years on a quarterly basis for the energy generated by the low carbon heating system.
Please note: the RHI is closing to new applicants from March 31st 2022
Domestic Solar Panel Grants
Domestic Solar Panels
Whilst the renewable heat incentive is due to close to new applicants at the end of March 2022, the positives of installing domestic solar panels still heavily outweigh the disadvantages.
- Solar PV and Thermal are a clean way of generating energy. Both types of solar panels do not rely on any other source of energy generation to work. Whilst low carbon systems such as Heat Pumps are very efficient, they still require electricity to run.
- Solar panels work pretty much all year round and most important, are free. They require very little maintenance and can still generate energy on cloudy days.
- Solar panels for both hot water and electricity will reduce your energy bills throughout the year. When adding battery storage units with a Solar PV installation, it is possible to generate
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
The cost of solar panels really does depend on a number of factors. Firstly, installing Solar Thermal panels are cheaper, however, the return on the cost of the installation is longer. For example, a dual panel system with a 170 litre solar cylinder would cost roughly around £6000 to install. The savings on you heating bill will roughly be around £80 – £100 per year.
The cost of installing a Solar PV array can be anything between £6500 to £12000 depending on the number of panels and whether you include battery storage. However, when looking at the potential savings, installing a Solar PV can be more beneficial in the long run due to the cost of electricity per unit being 3 times as much as gas (at the moment).
Solar PV Systems
Solar Electricty (Photovoltaics)
Solar pv systems are a popular renewable energy choice for both homeowners and businesses. On average, more than 4,000 solar panels are installed in the UK each month. The growing popularity of solar panels means that the prices have gone down by 60% over the past decade. Solar panels generate clean, emission-free electricity to power your home all year round, while their long life span of more than 25 years makes them a long-term good investment.
For more information regarding Solar PV installations, please follow the link below or call us on 01827 870 950
Solar Thermal Systems
Solar Thermal (Hot Water)
A Solar Thermal installation is a relatively straight forward installation that works alongside your existing heating system. By mounting solar collectives on your rough (ideally south facing), the heat generated from the panels can be used to keep your hot water topped up during the day. When more heat is required, your boiler will kick-in to top up your water heat, which will be stored in a solar cylinder.
Grants and Incentives
From April 2022, homeowners who want to install low-carbon heating measures in their properties in England and Wales could receive a £5000 grant from the Government to help fund some of the costs
So what does this mean for homeowners – When The Clean Heat Grant (Boiler Upgrade Scheme) is launched in April 2022, customers will need to contact an MCS (Micro Generation Certification) accredited organisation to carry out the installation. If you are interested in finding out more information about renewable energy technologies or how Renuvo can support you to ‘go green’, please follow the links.
