Solar Blog

UK homeowners urged to reach for the sun

Although there has been some uncertainty over the government’s Feed in Tariff (FIT), home solar panel installations are still on the increase. The reasons for this are clear, as whilst changes to FIT will limit the uptake of solar PV on a commercial scale, homeowners remain largely unaffected.

It is clear that families looking for a cost effective way to become greener have no better choice than looking towards solar cells. With a reduction in bills, and a typical return of between 7 and 14 percent year on year from the initial investment, embracing solar power has never made more sense.

Improved technology, which is improving all the time, also makes it viable in parts of the country not necessarily associated with sunny days. Increasingly, it is possible to convert the sun’s power on partially cloudy days, whilst panels themselves are now able to track the sun as it moves across the sky.

A south facing roof is always preferred to capture the sun but, for those not having this, installations are still possible. Whilst more noticeable of course, those with the space to accommodate such an installation are likely to be able to hide the panels from view if required.

Already, more than 28,000 homes have been fitted with the technology which, when combined, equates to more than 77MW of energy produced. With homeowners increasingly urged to get involved now whilst the going is so good, the trend looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Underpinning all of this is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and a reduction in the reliance on fossil fuels, which is an ever more important issues for the British family. For both financial and environmental reasons therefore, a solar panel installation for the home is a choice that many are electing to have.