Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installations
With our trained dedicated staff we can undertake all of your renewable energy requirements, Solar PV is becoming more and more popular and as a registered contractor we can undertake all sizes of installations and offer a completed design and installation service.
What Is Solar PV?
Solar Photovoltaics, or Solar PV for short, is a technology in which daylight is converted into electrical current. It uses energy from the sun to create electricity that can be sold back to your energy provider or will operate electrical appliances and lighting in your home.
Solar PV requires only daylight, not necessarily sunlight, and is therefore capable of generating electricity on cloudy days. Solar PV works equally well in urban or rural locations. It can be installed on the roof of most homes that can support the equipment and can be easily connected to a building’s electricity supply.
Solar modules are easy to install and supply direct current during daylight hours. This is then transformed by an inverter into alternating current and can then be fed back into the grid. A total generation meter records all the electricity produced from your system and this will determine how many units of electricity you will be paid for when the feed in tariff is available.
When in use, Solar PV does not generate greenhouse gases or cause pollution. Each kilowatt-peak (kWp) of electricity produced can save approximately 455 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions compared with electricity generated from fossil fuels.
The amount of available sunlight in the UK varies with the latitude of the site. The south of the country has more available light than the north. The total annual energy available varies from approximately 1,259 kWh per metre squared per year in the South-West of England to 850 kWh per metre squared per year in Scotland. The light energy also varies during different seasons of the year with more daylight available in the summer than in the winter.
Solar PV panels that are electrically connected together are often referred to as an array. A grouping of Solar PV panels can be fitted in different configurations depending on the local conditions e.g. to follow the shape of a roof or to avoid a roof light. Solar Panels usually have a backing sheet that is opaque but the backing can be transparent, allowing some light through and creating a dappled effect.
Solar PV panels can be attached to pitched roofs or flat roofs, fixed vertically onto external walls or located on the ground. They can also be integrated into patent glazing or rain screen cladding systems. They should work efficiently in most locations as long as no part of the panel is shaded from daylight.
By installing a PV solar system you will be rewarded for your environmentally friendly enterprise with the generous feed-in tariff. All which is required is a south facing unshaded roof with a minimum surface area of 10m² to operate your own solar power system – silently, cleanly and economically.
Contact Us
For more information or to to discuss your requirements please contact us on 01603 483307 or email us at info@lecway.co.uk.