The trend towards solar power is inevitable if we wish to achieve a carbon-neutral economy and solve the crisis of global warming. There are plenty of incentives for going for solar power, including saving money and providing cleaner energy; but you have to bear in mind some of the implications of relying on the sun for energy.
The main one, of course, is that there is no sun at night, and little in the winter and on bad weather days, so in order to save the energy generated by solar panels during the bright of the day, you need some form of battery storage.
While many houses with solar power systems are still connected to the National Grid to draw electricity when the solar panels aren’t producing enough, with a battery system you can take your solar power setup to the next level, becoming entirely independent of the National Grid for your energy supply – in fact you can store energy and sell it back to the Grid. (In fact, you don’t even need solar panels to use a battery – you can use one to store power at off-peak rates).
Storage
A battery is a relatively small investment compared to the overall cost of a solar system, costing from around £4,000. You will need somewhere to put it – a garage, basement, loft or under the stairs would be ideal – though bear in mind that you can start with one battery and add more as you desire, so best to choose somewhere you have space for possible expansion.
Battery systems typically come with a smart controller app so you can monitor and manage your energy, and often have EPS (Emergency Power Supply) features, so if you suffer a power cut from the National Grid, your battery will automatically kick in to power vital systems.
AC-coupled battery systems are recommended as a retrofit solution for those who have solar panels installed and who are receiving FIT payments. There is no impact of FIT revenues for those on a high rate (owing to charge/ discharge efficiency losses) and no need to replace the existing DC inverter. They also open up the possibility of charging batteries from the grid to exploit peak/off-peak price differentials and therefore can be installed without PV.
DC-coupled battery systems (with a hybrid inverter) would be preferred for new PV installs where the priority is to store surplus solar energy. The round-trip efficiency is greater and with no FIT implications to consider, would be a more cost-effective solution.
The Basics
Most solar power systems work by turning heat from the sun into electricity which powers house systems such as the electrical mains and heating.
One of the main incentives in installing a solar power system is to save money. But the savings you will make over the years must be offset against initial costs.
You might want to take into account your current age, and how long you are likely to remain in your current property; for instance, if you are in your 80s, you will probably never make back the value of your investment in energy savings – though you may enhance the value of your house.
Other costs have to be borne in mind when installing a solar power system in a home. The cost of the rooftop panels is just part of it; you will also need systems such as a power inverter and batteries, so the time it takes to recoup your expenditure has to be calculated carefully.
Your first decision is what type of solar panels to invest in, and here you will need the help of an installer to survey your property, explain the advantages of different systems, and help you to work out your return on investment.
In most cases, solar panels mounted on a roof or wall of a private house do not require planning permission as they would normally fall under what is referred to as permitted development rights.
See also: Solar Energy: Subscribing to the Sun
