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 Solar Electric or Photovoltaics are becoming more popular in the UK. There is a misconception that strong sun light is required to generate electric which is totally false. All you need to produce electricity is light. A 2kWp PV system in the UK connected to the grid should provide around 40 - 60% of your annual electricity requirements free for life and wil cost in the region of £12,000 fitted and working.
The term photovoltaic (PV) means the generation of electricity from light. Photovoltaic cells convert energy from the sun into electricity through semi-conductor cells. The electricity is generated in the form of direct current (DC) which can either be used directly depending on the application, or converted into alternating current (AC) for household use or for exporting to the local electricity network / national grid.
The brighter the sunlight, the more power is produced - although PV cells still produce a reduced level of power when the sun is hidden by clouds. Shading from other objects (such as nearby buildings and trees) is a key issue, as PV cells are more likely to show a drop in system output than solar thermal panels. Ideally panels should face as close to due south as possible, and be unshaded for most of the day. Because individual PV cells only provide a small amount of electricity, they are generally grouped together into a module for convenience. A full domestic system may well have several modules, together with other system components such as an AC/DC inverter, batteries (for storing the energy until it is needed), a central control unit, mounting structure or materials for fixing the array, wiring, fuses and isolator. |
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