Save Money. Save the Planet. Go Solar!

Solar panels are revolutionising the energy industry, saving people money and lowering their carbon footprint, but are they worth it?

The answer is yes! Solar panels can be a great investment, helping you to save money on your energy bills, lower your carbon footprint and even make money on your solar energy. What they also provide is peace of mind knowing that future energy price rises won’t affect you.

Did you know you can sell your unused energy back to suppliers? The Smart Export Guarantee or platforms such as Social Energy allow you to make money from your solar energy! You can also add an EV charging point to your home, making your home more efficient and further increasing your home’s value, buyers also view energy efficiency as a desirable trait in homes

Solar panels are devices that capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. They are made up of many smaller units called solar cells, typically made from semiconductor materials like silicon. Solar panels generate electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Sunlight hits the solar panels. When sunlight hits the solar cells on the panel, it releases energy in the form of photons.
• Step 2: Photons knock electrons loose. The energy from the photons excites electrons in the semiconductor material, causing them to become free and move around.
• Step 3: Movement of electrons creates an electric current. The free electrons move through the material and are directed into a circuit, generating an electric current. This current is direct current (DC), which is the type of electricity generated by the solar panel.
• Step 4: Inverter converts DC to AC. The electricity generated by the solar panels is direct current (DC), but most homes and appliances use alternating current (AC). So, an inverter is used to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity.

If you’re wondering do solar panels work on cloudy days? The answer is yes, solar panels work in the same way on cloudy days as any visible light is enough to trigger the reaction described above, so solar panels work the same way on cloudy days, although they are more efficient when there is more sunlight.

There can be considerable differences between the cost of different solar panels, but as with many household investments, it’s worth remembering that when it comes to quality, efficiency and operation, you get what you pay for with solar panels. Most people find that striking the best combination of solar panel power output and roof coverage is the most cost effective way of investing in solar power.

The price also depends on the quality of materials used and the power output rating of the panels. Brands who use higher quality or more complex materials in their panels, or who offer higher capacity solar panels, are able to command a higher price per panel. But while they might seem pricey, they’re likely to perform better in the longer term. Cheap solar panels, meanwhile, might seem like a bargain but might not deliver in the ways you expect. The best way of pricing up solar panels is to work out how many you will need. In most cases, you’ll want at least enough panels to cover average household electricity consumption, which is 3,800 kWh. Buying 10 panels each with a 400 kW capacity will be enough to meet that need, all you need to do is choose between the different manufacturers and find the solar panels that fit your budget. Get a free quote from the Solar Man today.

Some people may think that solar panels won’t work because they do not have a south facing roof. However, there are a few factors that determine the efficiency of your solar panels. A south facing roof makes solar panels very effective – this is due to the orientation of the panels; but that doesn’t mean that solar panels are only effective on a south facing roof though, the more sun a solar panel is able to acquire, the more effective it’s going to be. As with cloudy days, all the panels need is light. We would be happy to discuss your roof size and orientation and help you to decide if solar panels are the right investment for you.

The use and installation of solar power batteries have surged in recent years, but if you’re still considering whether to adopt this technology, you might be asking: are solar power batteries worth it? The short answer is yes—solar power batteries are a worthwhile investment, although the benefits can vary based on your specific energy usage habits.

Solar power batteries work by storing excess energy generated on sunny days and making it available when you need it. For example, if you’re away during the day, you can still use the energy your system has produced, preventing it from going to waste. In fact, 65% of people with solar power batteries say they installed them for this reason, while around 20% cited money-saving as their primary motivation.

Another reason to consider solar power batteries is their ability to facilitate grid trading on platforms like Social Energy. This allows you to sell and trade surplus energy back to the grid, which means you can not only save money but also earn income from your electricity usage. This added benefit may make investing in solar power batteries even more appealing for you.

Solar panels and home electric vehicle (EV) charging points have become two of the most popular home improvements in recent years, with many energy-conscious and cost-savvy homeowners choosing to install both. This raises an important question: can solar power charge an electric car? The answer is yes.

The question of whether solar power can charge an electric car has been on the minds of forward-thinking consumers for some time, particularly due to the cost-saving and environmentally friendly benefits of combining these two systems. Charging your EV with solar power not only helps you save money by using the sun’s energy to power your car, but it also lowers your vehicle’s carbon footprint and reduces running costs.

To charge an electric car with solar power efficiently, you’ll need a solar storage battery. This allows electricity generated by your solar panels during the day to be stored and used to charge your car at night. In this setup, you’re effectively using free electricity to power your car, which is far cheaper than drawing from the grid or using a public charger. While it’s still possible to charge an electric car with solar power without a battery, you’d need to charge it during the day, and with charging times often taking up to seven hours, which could be inconvenient.

One of the most frequently asked questions about solar energy is whether solar power works on cloudy days. Given that the term “solar” refers to the sun, it’s understandable why people wonder if the system relies solely on sunshine.

The simple answer is yes, solar power does work on cloudy days. Solar panels generate electricity by using photons, which are stimulated by any light, not just direct sunlight. As long as there is enough light for you to see the panels, there’s enough light for them to produce power.

That said, solar panels are most efficient on sunny days. This is because the photons move more vigorously when the sunlight, UV rays, and heat are stronger, leading to more electricity being generated. However, even on overcast days, the panels are still capturing and converting light into energy, just at a reduced rate compared to a bright, sunny day.

Solar power benefits the environment by harnessing natural resources to produce clean, renewable energy. Unlike traditional methods of generating electricity, such as coal-fired power plants, solar energy production doesn’t produce any greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the efficiency of solar power generation has advanced so much that it is now officially recognised as the most environmentally friendly way to heat and power your home in terms of carbon emissions. This is one of the key reasons why countries like the UK are increasingly moving away from fossil fuels to heat and power our homes.

Project Solar UK is proud to be the UK’s leading solar power provider, backed by five-star customer reviews that highlight why they’re the nation’s top choice for excellent quality solar systems. Solar Man is powered by Project Solar UK, providing the excellent 5* quality product along with great customer service, providing outstanding support during pre-sale and aftercare services.

We also use SunPower Maxeon solar panels in our installations, which are the best on the market. SunPower is renowned as the best solar panel producer in the world, so it makes sense that we should want to partner with them. Why choose Solar Man? You will be provided with the highest quality product available from the top solar energy provider in the UK, as well as the outstanding customer service and personal touch of the Solar Man.

Octopus Flux is a smart energy tariff offered by Octopus Energy in the UK that works particularly well with solar energy systems. It allows homeowners with solar panels to make the most of the energy they generate by offering flexible pricing based on real-time market conditions.

Here’s how it works with solar energy:

1. Smart Meter Integration: Octopus Flux uses a smart meter to track how much energy you’re generating and using, providing you with precise data on your solar power production. It also monitors the energy you’re drawing from the grid.
2. Exporting Excess Energy: If your solar panels generate more electricity than you need, Octopus Flux lets you export the excess back to the grid. You can be paid for this exported energy, making the most of your solar system.
3. Dynamic Pricing: The tariff uses dynamic pricing, meaning the cost of energy fluctuates based on the supply and demand for electricity on the grid. Typically, energy is cheaper when demand is low (like at night or during sunny periods when solar generation is high), and more expensive when demand is high.
4. Solar and Battery Synergy: If you have a solar battery, Octopus Flux can optimize your energy usage. For example, it may encourage you to use your stored solar energy when electricity prices are high, helping you avoid peak charges and maximize savings.
5. Boosting Solar Efficiency: The combination of exporting excess energy when prices are high and importing energy when prices are low maximizes the financial benefit of having solar panels, as you can sell your extra energy at a good price and buy back electricity when it’s cheaper.