Residential or home solar panels offer a great way to generate free power for your home. Better yet, you can get paid each quarter from the government's FiT scheme.

Solar panels, also called solar modules, photovoltaic modules and solar PV panels, convert natural sunlight into electrons or electricity. Solar panels achieve this by utilizing what is known as the photovoltaic effect and semiconductors such as crystalline silicon naturally display the photovoltaic effect.

Many of the solar cells that solar panels are constructed from are made with crystalline silicon or other semiconductors that display the photovoltaic effect such as cadmium telluride. Solar panels for the home present an excellent opportunity for households to make incredible savings by generating free solar electricity.

In addition, these solar powered homes are positively contributing to the effort to replace the burning of dirty fossil fuels for energy production, to sustainable and renewable methods.

Residential Solar Panels

Residential solar panels are usually fitted to roof tops in a way that they do not spoil the aesthetic appeal and solar panel systems have become a politically correct statement for homeowners about how they are committed to positive change in the environment.

The electricity generated by residential solar panels has to be converted from DC (direct current) voltage to AC or alternating current in order for it to power most household appliances. A solar panel system for the home comprises of solar panels, batteries, an inverter and a regulator to convert, store and deliver smooth solar electricity. Some UK suppliers are offering free home solar panels to UK homes.

Home Solar Panels With No Up-front Cost

The specialist PV solar installation experts, Engensa have formed a collaboration with Hitachi Finance to offer UK homeowners a highly competitive loan package for the finance of their solar installations. The unsecured loans will be available for up to £50,000 at a rate of 7.9% APR for a 10 year term. Customers will have the option to repay the loan earlier should they choose to do so with no penalty fees charged, as is the case with many other lenders.

Householders will have to meet a minimum of criteria; they must be the owner of the property, be in employment and undergo a credit check. The property must also be rated as Band D or above and be in possession of an EPC (energy performance certificate).

Those taking advantage of the scheme will be the owners of the solar system and will be eligible to retain all of the income generated through the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and Export Tariff schemes. This offers a huge advantage over the 'rent a roof' initiatives which have been popular in the past but which have proved problematical with mortgage providers and some financial institutions.

Despite the recent reduction in the government's FIT rates from a one time high of 41.3p per kWh when first initiated, to the present 16p per kWh, homeowners will be able to enjoy an 8 -10% ROI (return on investment) from the scheme when the Export tariff of 4.5p per unit of energy is factored in.

The Energy Saving Trust & Planning Permission

Organisations such as The Energy Saving Trust promote the use of solar panels, explain the way in which photovoltaic cells work and dispel the myth that they need sunshine to generate electricity. Solar panels work best when fitted on a 90% south facing roof so that they do take maximum benefit from any sun there is however.

If your property is within a conservation area or your house is a listed building planning or listed building consent will be needed. Full details and advice are easily found on the main UK planning regulation site.

Solar Panel Suppliers

Finding the best and most reputable solar panel suppliers in the UK can be a daunting task especially using the internet as it can be hard to know which suppliers are rated as the best unless a solar energy company comparison website is used.

The Eco Experts solar energy comparison website will be able to connect users with highly rated solar panel suppliers that are able to supply and fit solar panel systems to homes throughout the UK. We offer free quotes or you can just talk to us to find out more about what your needs are.

Taking the Plunge

With the installation of an MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) approved PV solar array now available for costs from £4,000 - £8,000, there has never been a better time to take the plunge and commit to a cleaner, greener future. Solar panel manufacturers have developed the highest quality products with excellent levels of efficiency, whilst prices for the cells and their installation have never been lower.

Solar panels for the home can achieve huge energy bill savings by generating free electricity while reducing its impact on nature. As Chairman of the Solar Association, Alan Aldridge says: "As long as the sun shines, solar will prove to be a good investment."