| Of all the renewable energy resources solar power is | | | | details into the solar calculators that are normally |
| the best suited for a domestic environment, because | | | | provided. As a rough estimate a 1kWh panel will |
| the flat panel equipment can be integrated successfully | | | | produce around 8kWh of power during a good, sunny |
| into both urban and rural settings, with minimum visual | | | | day, and an average of 3-4 kWh per day over the |
| or audio pollution. Solar energy is however one of the | | | | year. |
| more expensive renewable energies to install and | | | | Thirdly you will need to consider your current heating |
| maintain, so it is important that you do a quick survey | | | | system, and whether it is compatible with a solar |
| of your property in order to ensure you have the | | | | system. You may well need to completely replace |
| relevant factors to make solar power viable. | | | | your boiler, which can add up to £2,000 to the |
| Firstly you will need to survey the selected site and | | | | expense of the whole project, and you may also need |
| see if there is a flat surface (normally a roof) with the | | | | to upgrade radiators and internal piping. |
| necessary incline and orientation. Non-tracking solar | | | | Lastly you will need to decide what you want to use |
| power systems are cheaper and more common for | | | | your solar energy for. It is common for people in |
| domestic use, but to catch the maximum amount of | | | | countries with changeable climates like the UK to just |
| light they will need to be orientated carefully, and fixed | | | | use solar energy for heating water, and conventional |
| at true south (for the Northern Hemisphere) with the | | | | energy for the rest of the house. This is simply |
| inclination equal to the area's latitude. Tracking solar | | | | because there may not be enough natural sunlight to |
| systems can be more expensive, but they will take | | | | run a busy household full of electrical equipment. If you |
| into account the variable sunlight at different times of | | | | do however intend to get your electricity supply mainly |
| the day and year. You should also make sure that | | | | from solar power then you will need to be able to |
| there are no obstacles blocking the light on your | | | | store collected solar energy, so that you can use it |
| selected site such as other buildings, landmasses or | | | | during the night and on very overcast days. This will |
| trees. It is very important that you get all these factors | | | | involve installing some special photovoltaic compatible |
| right before installing equipment, as even a small | | | | batteries, which can be expensive and will need to be |
| amount of reduced light can impact overall energy | | | | stored in a specially ventilated area. You could also |
| production significantly. | | | | consider setting up an 'islanding' scheme with your |
| Secondly when choosing a solar system for your | | | | current utility supplier, which involves connecting your |
| home you will need to calculate your solar power | | | | solar system up to the main grid and selling the supplier |
| needs, based on your current consumption levels (you | | | | any excess electricity. This basically means that you |
| can find this out from the bills you currently received | | | | are storing power in the main grid, rather than in |
| from your utility company). There is a huge variety of | | | | expensive batteries, and by selling the power back to |
| different solar systems on offer, so it is easier to work | | | | the supplier you will negate the costs of accessing |
| out how many panels you will need by going onto the | | | | additional power from the grid to back up your solar |
| various manufacturer websites and inputting your | | | | system. |