It’s almost impossible to watch the news or read a newspaper at the minute without coming across a story about the impact of climate change or the rising cost of living. 

It’s no surprise that 74% of adults in the UK report feeling worried about our changing climate, and 60% of people have concerns about their household bills. 

Neither problem is an easy one to solve, and we’re not going to pretend that there’s any ‘silver bullet’ that will suddenly make everything okay. 

But there are steps that everyone can take to become more sustainable in our everyday lives and help reduce your home energy bills. 

Solar panel installation is one of these steps.  

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the growing popularity of solar panels, how they work, the benefits they can deliver, and how you can take the next step in the process of getting solar panels installed. 

A brief explanation of solar panels and their growing popularity

In really basic terms, a solar panel installation converts the energy from the sun into usable electricity for our homes.
 
With the sun being a virtually unlimited renewable energy source, the installation of solar panels in your home can help you reduce reliance on electricity generated by fossil fuels, and help you reduce your overall carbon footprint - which is great for the environment. 

The concept of solar panels isn't new. The first solar panel installation in a domestic property linked to the National Grid was way back in 1994. 

It’s fair to say that when they first became available, the take up of solar energy by homeowners wasn’t huge. This was largely down to the cost of solar panels, and also the fact that they weren’t incredibly energy efficient at the time. 

Developments in technology over the last few decades have improved efficiency and also brought down the cost of solar panels significantly - as a result, there’s been a dramatic increase in solar panel installation across the UK since 2010. 

At the minute there seems to be a renewed enthusiasm for solar energy in the UK, with 4.1% of UK homes currently generating electricity from solar panels and more than 50,000 new solar panel systems being installed across the country in the first three months of 2023. 

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels typically contain a number of photovoltaic (PV) cells that are made from a semi-conductive material like silicon.

When sunlight hits these PV cells, the photons from the sun's rays knock electrons from the silicon atoms, which causes an electric current to flow. This is often referred to as the photovoltaic effect. 

But the electricity that is produced isn’t ready to use immediately, as it is a ‘direct current’ (DC). To make it useful within your home, it needs to be converted into alternating current (AC) by something known as a solar panel inverter. 

Once the electricity has been converted, it’s ready to be used to power your home! 

There’s a commonly held misconception that a solar panel installation is only effective when it’s really sunny - this simply isn’t true! Of course, the sunnier it is the more effective they are - but it’s still possible to generate electricity when it’s cloudy. Ideal for the typical British weather!

What are the benefits of installing solar panels at home?

Honesty and transparency are at the heart of our business - and we’re not going to skip around the fact that the cost of solar panels can be a sizeable investment. 

But for most homeowners, you’re able to recoup that initial investment a lot faster than you might think - at the same time as helping the planet. 

Let’s look at some of the benefits of installing solar panels in a little more detail. 

Financial benefits
One of the major benefits of a solar panel installation is the potential for significant savings on energy bills. 

The amount that you’re able to save will vary based on a number of different factors like the size of your solar panel installation, your location, and the angle of your roof. 

But if we wanted to look at an illustrative example, if you chose to install a 4kW solar panel system in your home, it’s estimated you’d be likely to save in the region of £1000 on your energy bills every year. 

And as long as you worked with a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited
company like Projects4Roofing for your solar panel installation, you’d also be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. This enables you to sell your excess energy back to the National Grid - helping you recoup the cost of your initial investment even quicker.

Environmental benefits

When compared to electricity generation from fossil fuels, solar panels generate electricity in an incredibly clean and eco-friendly manner. By tapping into the renewable energy source of the sun, a solar panel installation is able to power your home without releasing any pollutants or greenhouse gases. 

By choosing to install solar panels in your home, you’re taking a really positive step towards more energy-efficient, sustainable living. 

Every kilowatt hour of electricity that solar panels generate is a step towards reducing your carbon footprint, creating a healthier planet, and making the future brighter for generations to come.

Reduced reliance on the grid

By installing solar panels in your home, it empowers you to become more energy independent. 

When you’re generating your own electricity, you’re more in control - reducing your dependence on the traditional power grid and being less susceptible to fluctuations in energy prices.

Can I install solar panels at home?

If you’ve read this far into the article, there’s a reasonable chance you’re at least a little curious about having a solar panel installation in your home. If that’s the case, we’ve got fantastic news!

Projects4Roofing have recently become MCS accredited solar panel installers and are now able to advise and assist in the installation of solar panels for home. 

Our team of experts will manage the entire process for you, from start to finish.

We’ll start with an in-depth consultation on the right size of solar panel system for your home, and provide you with a simple, straightforward fixed price quote. 

Then once you’re ready to get started, we’ll get building regulations approval, erect scaffolding, install your solar panel system, and make sure everything is working as it should be, before dismantling the scaffolds and doing a thorough clean up. You’ll be generating your own electricity in a matter of days. 

After completing each of our solar panel installations, we issue you with the relevant electrical certificates, building regulations completion certificate, and MCS certificates - so you can take advantage of the Smart Export Guarantee scheme.

Are you ready to switch on the power of solar?

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels in your home, just give our friendly team a call. 

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have, consult on the size of the system you might need, and help you take a positive step towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Book a call today!