Solar Panels
Solar panels are to able to absorb sunlight directly and convert it into safe, usable electricity that is reported tom be the cleanest method of energy production. Solar power is absolutely free and requires little or no maintenance once a professionally designed and fitted solar panel system has been installed. Solar panels use solar cells constructed from semiconductors that display what is called the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect causes semiconductors like mono-crystalline silicon or polycrystalline silicon to react to sunlight by generating electrons and is the principle upon which solar panel technology rests. Although solar panels can provide ample power to households, commercial solar panels can achieve huge savings for businesses in the UK.
Commercial Applications
Solar panels can be used to create massive solar panel system installations that are capable of supplying electricity for a wide range of commercial uses. Michael Eaves of Worthy Farm (Glastonbury Festival Site) installed the largest private solar panel installation in the UK in November 2010. Using UK built solar panels, Michael Eaves was able to further reduce the carbon footprint of the project by using solar modules not requiring international shipping and the resulting environmental impact.
Cash from Commercial Solar Panels
With the solar panels fitted to the barn of a cowshed that protects cows during the Glastonbury Festival, 1100 solar modules with a combined power output of 2000Kw are expected to earn Michael Eaves £60,000 per year from Feed in Tariffs (FITs) for renewable energy. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) introduced FITs in April 2010 to incentivize businesses and households to invest in solar panels. Up to 41.3p per kilowatt hour of electricity generated is paid to commercial and household installations whether this electricity is used at source or sent to the national under Export Tariffs. Export Tariffs add an initial 3p per kilowatt hour of electricity generated on top of the 41.3p.
Solar Panel Cost
Commercial solar panel cost in the UK can range from a few hundred pounds up to over £1,000 per module, depending on the power and configuration requirements. Commercial solar panels will usually be set up as a solar panel system with anything up to and above 1000 solar modules interconnected to achieve a specified power output. Commercial solar panel systems in the UK can cost as little as £10,000 for a small business, up to and above £100,000 for larger installation applications. Worthy farm was reported to have cost Michael Eaves more than half a million pounds to buy and install although the system is estimated to earn around £1.5 million over the 25 year Feed in Tariff scheme, apart from the huge energy bill savings gained by producing free solar power.
