As environmental concerns continue to grow, more and more people are installing solar panels on their rooftops to generate electricity.
In a report published by Forbes magazine in its British edition, writer Rachel White explained that solar photovoltaic cells exist between layers of semiconducting materials, and are usually made of silicon, and when exposed to sunlight, electrons dissociate, allowing the flow of electricity.
To ensure that the solar panels are exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight, it is best to install them on a roof facing south, and be tilted at an angle between 10 and 50 degrees, in addition to making sure that there are no buildings or trees nearby that would leave the panels in the shade.
Most solar panels are rooftop, but it is also possible to install them on the walls or the floor, or install solar tiles, which usually costs about twice the cost of the panel system.
When installing solar panels, a transformer is also installed to convert the generated electricity from direct current into alternating current, which is used by most household appliances.
What are the benefits of solar panels?
The greatest benefit of installing solar panels is in saving electricity costs, and if the solar panels are large enough, you may be able to produce enough electricity to supply your entire home. You can use the solar energy calculator from the Energy Saving Trust. ) That will give you a rough percentage of what you can save.
Solar panels reduce carbon emissions. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home solar PV system could cut about 1.3 to 1.6 tons of carbon annually, depending on where you live.
As environmental concerns grow, more and more people install solar panels on their rooftops to generate electricity (Getty Images)
Do solar panels affect electricity supply?
If the solar panels are installed correctly, the system must seamlessly switch between the use of the electricity generated by the solar panels and the use of the electricity provided by the national grid, when the panels are unable to generate enough electricity, and generally you will not notice any difference in the electricity supply.
You can use the solar panels in parallel with the regular ground power grid, and there is no need to inform your energy company, and this will help you consume less electricity from the grid, thus paying low-cost bills.
How much do solar panels cost?
How much you will pay for solar panels will depend on the size of your roof deck for it, and the type of system you choose
Installing solar panels is not cheap, but the costs will fall over the years.
For some people, the cost of installing these panels is low compared to the environmental benefits they provide.
According to the Green Match online service, one of the most common options is a 4-kilowatt solar panel system that consists of 16 solar panels, and requires about 29 square meters of roof area. This system is supposed to generate enough power for a home. Family, although you may still need to use energy from the national grid.
The costs of a system of this size range between 7 and 10 thousand dollars, but in return you can save about 350 dollars in the annual electricity bill, and perhaps the cheapest option is a 3-kilowatt solar panel system, which consists of 12 solar panels, and requires about 22 square meters of roof area Its cost ranges between 6 and 8 thousand dollars, but the amount it saves is also less, or about 210 dollars annually.
How long does it take to recover costs?
Depending on the size of the solar panel system and the money you earn by exporting the excess energy to the national grid, according to the Green Manche website, you can expect to recoup the costs of installing solar panels after 15 to 25 years. Although larger systems are more expensive, they generate more. Of energy, and it could save you more money in the long run.
Some countries offer programs to support clean energy production and save you money (Getty Images)
Can you make money from solar panels?
Some countries offer programs to support the production of clean energy;
For example, the United Kingdom offers a "feed-in tariff" program, which provides cash payments to households that generate their energy through solar panels and other renewable technologies.
On the other hand, those who do not qualify for the program can apply to benefit from the "Smart Export Guarantee Tariff" program, which was launched in early 2020, and through this program you can get money for any excess renewable energy that you export again. To the national grid.
By participating in the smart export guarantee program, you will be paid for any surplus electricity that you generate, and it will be returned to the national grid. And unlike the "feed-in tariff" program, you will not be paid for all the electricity you produce, so it is likely that you will be Payments are lower.
Energy suppliers can determine the price they pay, the length of the contract, and whether the tariffs are fixed or variable, and usually the program provides a specific price for each kilowatt / hour of exported electricity over the term of the contract, and the tariff change also contributes to price volatility based on market demand, but ultimately Prices cannot fall into negative territory.
What should be considered before choosing solar panels?
If you are considering installing solar panels, you will need to consider whether your roof is a good fit, including its area and exposure to sunlight. You will also need to consider which solar panel system size is right for you.
It is important to ensure that the size you choose is sufficient to cover and not exceed the energy needs of your home.
And you should think about installing a solar battery or energy storage system that will store the electricity generated by the solar panels, and this will allow you to store the electricity generated during the day for use at night, which will help you achieve self-sufficiency, and reduce the amount of electricity you use from the national grid.
Although you will not usually need a license to install solar PV panels, it is important to check with local authorities if there are any restrictions, such as if you live in a historic building or a protected area, for example.
You should also verify whether the home insurance company will cover solar panel insurance, and make sure that this imposes an additional financial burden on you, and make sure that you get several offers for different rates from companies to compare costs.