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Monthly Archives: June 2011
Cuts Affect Solar Energy – But Not For Households
Any solar installation that produces more than 50kW of energy will soon be getting far less from the government’s feed in tariff scheme. The changes are due to take place from August 1. This is not going to have any effect on normal households that are using, or want to use the technology though. Indeed the aim is to make sure that individuals will be able to make more use of the scheme, by limiting how much businesses can.
Solar installations of this size will no longer be eligible for high rates from the feed in tariff.
Bad For Business
This change will be bad for solar energy companies looking to build large solar plants in order to sell the energy to households. It will also be bad for more medium sized projects as well though, for example hospitals or community projects. There is a general feeling that the limit on the amount of energy produced may be too low for this reason.
In general terms though it is questionable whether this is even going to make a difference to the main aims of the scheme, which is to have more solar energy produced. After all, it does not matter to the planet whether the energy comes from the roof of someone’s house, or from a field that has lots of solar panels in it. Indeed, from an economic outlook, it might even be better for businesses to sell the solar energy, as then people who cannot afford the installation costs would also be able to use it.
Good For The Environment
One way in which it is good, however, is in terms of the UK’s environment, and in particular land usage. There was a situation going on whereby fields that could be used for farming were being rented by solar energy companies who wanted to be able to build a solar plant there. In principle that would be fine, but what also has to be taken into consideration is that land would not be able to be farmed then.
When the solar panels are being put on roofs of course, that is space that is not being used for anything else so there is no problem. Indeed the reason that some consider the figure of 50kW to be too low is that large buildings are able to fit enough solar panels on their roofs to make more energy than that, so those sorts of projects are also being put at risk. If the threshold was a little bit higher, then the issue of proper land usage would be dealt with, without affecting the possibilities of using solar energy on roofs.
Solar Energy UK
If you’re interested in using solar energy yourself then at the moment the highest rates for the feed in tariff are still in effect, so this is still the best time to get solar panels. The rates will be going down on a yearly basis soon however, so the sooner you are able to afford an installation, the more you will be able to make out of it. And whatever rate you start at, that is the one that you are going to have for the entire 25 years that it is guaranteed for.
If you would like a free quote for a solar installation from our expert solar installers, then you can get in touch on our freephone number or by filling in the online form.
Coventry Cathedral To Utilize Solar Energy?
A planning application is being put in the works by the staff at Coventry cathedral, and if they get the go ahead theirs will be the first cathedral in the country, and possibly the world, to have solar panels on their roof. The project will cost £100,000 and will mean getting 178 panels, which will cover 200 square metres.
The flat roof of Coventry cathedral makes solar panels a realistic option, despite its status as a listed building.
Will It Be Approved?
At the moment the planning is still in the early stages, but if approved they should be working by the end of the year. The problem with getting planning permission for this sort of building, of course, is that it might be felt that this will ruin the look of it. It is a listed building due to its age and heritage, and for most buildings of that type, permission would be refused.
What Coventry cathedral has in its favour, however, is that it has quite an unusually shaped roof. Instead of the slanting roof that most cathedrals have, this one has a flat roof, meaning that the solar panels would not be visible from the ground. It is due to this factor that the staff at the cathedral are hopeful that the plan will be approved.
Environmental Concerns
The main reason stated for wanting to use solar energy for their cathedral is to help protect the environment from the dangers of climate change. Their hope is that this installation will not only help in terms of the renewable energy that it creates, but that it will act as inspiration for others to also get solar panels installed.
The more people use solar energy to power their homes, or their businesses, the less energy they will be demanding from fossil fuels. And of course it is the fossil fuels that cause all of the problems, not only creating local pollution in the areas in which they are burned but also by contributing to global warming. The effects of this warming could be catastrophic, and will be particularly hard for the poorest on the planet who may not be able to afford to relocate if necessary.
Financial Benefits
However good it is for the environment though, the financial implications cannot be ignored either. The good news in that regard though, is that while the costs for an installation are high (although for most people’s homes it will be nowhere near what the cathedral has to pay) those costs can be made back and then some with savings made on energy bills and through the feed in tariff.
The savings that you will make on energy bills are self explanatory, because if you need less electricity from your normal supplier then of course you are not going to have to pay as much. There is an addition to this though, in that the feed in tariff from the government also pays you for the solar energy that you produce. This means that you’ll be able to pay off the installation costs, and then be in to profit territory, much sooner than you would otherwise.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in getting solar panels for your own home, the friendly and qualified staff at Solar Energy UK will be able to give you a free quote.
Solar Cells UK
If you’re in the UK and you’re thinking about having solar cells installed, you’re undoubtedly going to have a lot of questions that you want answering. Questions like how much energy they will be able to produce, considering the UK is cloudy much of the time. Also things like how much they cost, and whether you will ever be able to make that money back. These are some of the questions which we will attempt to answer today.
Have your questions about solar energy answered by Solar Energy UK.
Will Solar Cells Work in the UK?
The simple answer to that is yes.
You probably want to know a bit more than that though. The truth is it really doesn’t matter what the weather conditions are, it could be a thunderstorm outside and as long as it is still daytime you will be able to generate solar energy. That’s because solar panels rely on the light from the sun for their energy, so as long as it is light outside they are going to work.
Having said that though they do work better when the sun is out. It is also necessary to have them facing as close to south as possible because that way they will be getting the most from the sun all through the day. If your roof is west or east facing then they will also work but it’s best to avoid putting them on north facing roofs.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
First of all it is important to understand that you are not just paying for the panels themselves, you are going to have to pay for the whole solar installation. That means hooking them up to your current electrical system, and putting in other devices and metres as well to make sure that it all works.
It depends what company you go with, how many solar panels you want and how long it takes to install them as to how much it will actually cost. That is all quite expensive though, so it will be several thousand pounds.
Will You Make Your Money Back With Solar Energy?
The good news is that, although the solar installation is quite pricey, you will be able to make your money back. In fact after a little while you’ll even be making a profit. There are three ways you are going to be making money.
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Through savings on electricity bills.
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Being paid for your solar energy through the feed in tariff.
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Selling the electricity you don’t use to your normal supplier.
The feed in tariff is a government scheme which is the main factor making solar energy a much better investment than it was before.
Considering all of those factors you can expect to make in the region of £1,000 a year.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in getting involved with solar energy and have any more questions you would like to be answered, the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Solar Energy UK will be glad to help. If you decide to make the investment, we can also guarantee the cheapest solar installations.
Financial Benefits Of Solar Energy
What most people think about in terms of the benefits of solar energy are the ways that it helps the environment. This is of course the most important reason that it be implemented in as many ways by as many people as possible, but it is the financial benefits which are going to make this possible. In fact if using renewable energy were made cheaper than using fossil fuels, then our problems with that aspect of the environment would be all but over.
You can make money with solar panels.
Making Money With Solar Panels
The way to solve just about any problem in a free capitalist society is to figure out a way that we can make money from it. Without a government each product and service would have to stand on its own merits, but with the existence of a government it is possible for them to push certain things. This is what they are doing with solar cells.
The way that the government has made it more attractive to people to get solar panels is by producing a financial incentive. They have done that in this case by creating the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you use from solar panels. This means that you don’t simply have to rely on the savings you make on your energy bills. What this has meant is that after about 8 years you will actually be making money with solar energy.
Why Is Solar Energy Important?
Most people know the reasons that renewable energy is so important now, however it never hurts to go over them again. Actually the one that most people are aware of is the fact that they reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which are what causes global warming. The effects of global warming could include things like rising sea levels. This could lead to certain coastal cities being drowned. Even more importantly, it could lead to the destruction of ecosystems, which would effect our ability to grow food and feed ourselves.
The aspect that not everyone is so conscious of is the fact that non-renewable energy is running out. Of course this should be evident from the name, but what nobody knows is how long they are going to last for. This is just as serious an issue though because without cheap energy, the economy would not be able to function as it is now. It is only by having such a large economy that we are able to sustain such a large population, so the effects of running out of cheap energy would be just as disastrous.
The answer to both problems, of course, is to use more renewable sources of energy like solar energy.
Solar Energy UK
Whether you are interested in helping with our environmental problems, or you are just looking for a good financial investment, by getting a solar installation you can help. Solar Energy UK offers cheap and efficient solar installations by our government approved solar installers. Find out more by looking around the rest of the site or by giving us a call on our freephone number.
How You Can Make Money In The Fight Against Global Warming
If the science is correct, then global warming is one of the biggest problems in the world today. This is something that is recognised by most people, and yet they don’t feel that they can do very much about it. However by using solar energy, that is one way that most people are able to make a difference. What’s more, they can make money doing so with the Feed in Tariff that the government offers, as well as through the savings made on energy bills of course.
Ordinary people are now able to help fight global warming by making money with solar energy.
The Problem Of Global Warming
The problem of global warming comes from the increased amount of carbon dioxide being released into the air through the burning of fossil fuels. That’s because it is a greenhouse gas, meaning that it contributes to the warming of the world. The way that works is that the sun’s rays mostly bounce off the surface of the planet, and so if we did not have any greenhouse gases then it would be too cold to inhabit. However if it is too warm then ecosystems can be put out of balance, and sea levels can rise, leading to disastrous results.
Unfortunately though we are unable to simply stop burning fossil fuels. We need them for our cars, to power our homes and even to get the food that we need to survive. Instead of using less energy, therefore, we have to get it from a different source instead. That source is going to have to be renewable energy, of which solar energy is one of the best and most popular kinds.
How To Make Money Fighting Global Warming
As soon as you have solar panels installed on your roof you will start making savings on your energy bills. However, due to the cost of solar installations and the relative inefficiency of solar cells at present, that is not a great financial incentive on its own. However, with the Feed in Tariff, you also get money from the government for the solar energy which you produce. This means that within just a few years you’ll be able to pay off the cost for the installation and start making profits.
In this way then, even if you were not concerned about global warming at all, it would still be a good investment to start using solar energy for your home. Installations are fast and relatively inexpensive from a company like Solar Energy UK, so you could be making money very soon if you decide to have solar panels installed. Even if your primary objective is to help fight global warming, the fact that it is now financially viable means that more people can join the fight, and contribute to saving the planet.
Feed In Tariff
As stated, the Feed in Tariff works by paying you for the energy that you produce. At present the highest rate is at around 43p per kilowatt hour. Over the course of a year this adds up to about £1000 for a standard installation. Additionally though, you can make even more money by selling the solar energy that you do not use to your electricity supplier, who will pay about 3p per unit of energy. That means that you’ll be making money all the time that the sun is shining on your solar cells.
Ingenious Uses For Solar Energy
There are many ingenious uses for solar energy, and this article will explore some of the ways that are already in effect, and the sort of thing we can expect in the future. Of course in terms of what ordinary people can do, the best way to make use of solar power is still to have solar cells installed on the roof. Not only is this good for the environment, but it is financially productive as well, especially when the Feed in Tariff is taken in to account, as this pays you for your solar energy production in the UK.
A train tunnel covered in solar panels.
Transport
If we are really going to get away from fossil fuels for good though, we are going to have to do more than just use renewable energy to power our homes, it is also going to have to be used for our transportation needs as well. To that end, a railway line in Belgium has recently started using solar panels to generate much of the power that it requires. It is not being used to run the trains themselves, but is being utilised for things like signalling, lighting and heating in the stations.
There are cases though when the actual means of transport is being powered directly by energy from the sun. For example a prototype solar car has been made which runs off the solar panels on its roof. There is also a yacht that has been made which runs off solar energy, and the US military has even designed an unmanned plane which can stay in the skies for years at a time due to the utilisation of solar power.
Portable Devices
The pocket calculator that is powered by little solar cells has been around for a long time of course, and there promises to be many more portable devices that can be powered in this way in the future. In development at the moment is also a solar toothbrush, which actually uses the way that solar energy is generated to clean your teeth, so no tooth paste is needed.
The way that many more electronic devices should be able to use solar cells in the future is with the help of nano technology. This is still in the testing stage as well, but in theory you are going to be able to get a spray can and spray minuscule solar cells out onto a device, which will then be able to get its power from the sun’s light.
Solar Panels For Houses
While there are potentially many different ways to use solar energy, the ones in use at the moment are still the most important. There is continuing research being done into making solar panels for houses more efficient and better value for money. If this research is going to continue then it is going to do so most effectively when there is a demand for it from the public. This demand is best shown in the form of using existing solar panels in the form they are in at the moment.
Although there is a long way to go in terms of efficiency, they are already very valuable additions to any house. They lead to significant savings on energy bills, and with the Feed in Tariff which is now in effect, you also get paid for your solar energy production as well. If you would like solar panels for your own home, then contact Solar Energy UK for a fast and efficient solar installation.
First Solar Powered Car Manufacturing Plant In UK
One of the keys to renewable energy becoming an effective solution to our dependence on fossil fuels is that it be used for manufacturing. Of course it is also crucially important that many more people get solar installations for their own home, but if the economy is really going to be able to keep going then manufacturers are going to have to make the switch as well. That is why it is such good news that the Toyota manufacturing plant in Burton is soon going to be powered with solar panels.
These are the first solar panels that will power a car manufacturing plant in the UK.
17 000 Solar Panels
The Toyota manufacturing plant is going to be powered by 17,000 ground mounted solar panels, which will fill a space larger than four football fields. They will produce enough energy in a year to be able to make 7,000 cars.
This is going to have benefits not just in terms of the fact that of course solar energy is completely clean, but it will cut down the demand for fossil fuels by a proportional amount as well.
Benefiting The Environment
One manufacturing plant changing over to solar power is not going to make a huge amount of difference of course. Just as one house powered by solar energy will not make very much difference either. However in the same way, taking a cup of water out of the Ocean will not make any noticeable difference, and yet with enough cups of water it would be possible to drain it completely. So when we think about all of the different solar producers, that adds up to a lot, and change has to come one house, one solar plant, and one factory at a time.
The benefits to the environment of using renewable energy are two-fold. On the one hand we have the global warming issue, which threatens to create chaos all over the world. In the worst case scenario, it might even make the planet uninhabitable. We also have the issue that we will inevitably run out of fossil fuels one day as they are non-renewable energy sources. By switching to solar energy, and other renewable sources, we will be able to avoid the disastrous results of either of these situations coming to pass.
Financial Benefits
Neither businesses nor individuals can afford to ignore their own present financial situation though, as this is what allows them to survive now and into the future. There is good news on this front as well, however, because not only will you save money on energy bills by using solar energy, you can also make money now with the government’s Feed in Tariff scheme.
Of course the cost to have solar installers fit solar panels is not insignificant, but these costs can now be offset within just a few years from the money made from the solar energy produced. This makes them a very good investment, especially at a time when energy bills are rising at increasing rates.
Solar Energy UK
If you want to become a cup in the ocean securing our energy future, then at Solar Energy UK we can provide you with solar panels for you house or place of business with our government-approved solar installers. If you want more information about solar installations, or solar energy in general, please feel free to get in touch.
