If you’re new to the idea of domestic solar panels or looking for the perfect provider, GEC Power is here to help. As energy specialists, we offer a 360-degree service from design and installation to aftercare support for your solar set-up. Stick with us to learn about how solar power can benefit your household, from understanding solar energy to saving money and protecting our planet.
Solar panels are becoming one of the world’s most popular energy solutions because they are renewable. In short, if the sun exists, so does solar power. Unlike other sources of energy, such as gas and coal, which aren’t infinite, we’ll never run out of solar power.
Without getting too technical, we believe that consumers should understand the basics of solar energy. So, we’ll break it down for you.
Simply put, solar panels capture the sun’s UV rays and convert them into electricity to power your home using photovoltaic cells. When sunlight hits the cells, they become energized, creating a direct current. Every solar system then needs an inverter that converts the energy generated from direct current into alternating current to power household items.
While there are plenty of reasons to invest in home solar panels, combating the rising cost of living is a primary concern for many customers. With a residential system from GEC Power, the average household can save as much as 70% on energy bills. When we’re talking cold, hard cash, that’s an average of £800 yearly.
However, it’s worth considering that potential savings vary based on your energy usage. To learn more about potential savings, it’s best to speak to our expert team.
Beyond benefiting your bottom line, solar panels offer a whole lot more. Below are just a handful of the benefits of residential solar panels.
– It’s Renewable Energy: Unlike other energy sources, solar power is renewable. Solar power is available every day globally and will only ever run out if the sun suddenly ceases to exist. If there is daylight, we can generate power thanks to solar technology.
– You’re Helping the Planet: On top of the energy crisis, we’re also battling an increasingly concerning climate crisis. Investing in solar panels means you’ll sleep better at night knowing you’re doing your bit for the planet. With the exception of the minimal pollution produced during manufacturing, solar power is one of the cleanest and most sustainable energy sources in the world. The best bit? As technology advances, solar panels are becoming more efficient every year!
– You Can Store the Energy: When you invest in a battery storage system for your solar set-up, you can bank energy to use around the clock. So, while solar panels require daylight to generate energy, that doesn’t mean you’ll be without power when the sun sets.
– You Can Make Money: Speaking of energy storage, you can actually earn money from any excess you don’t use. Yes, you read that right. Thanks to the Government’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), households can make money by exporting renewable electricity they haven’t used. If your system meets eligibility requirements and you have a smart meter that can provide half-hourly export readings, you’ll qualify for the tariff. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a ‘typical household’ can earn around £100 a year and switch between SEG tariffs until you get the best return.
– Solar Panels are Low Maintenance: Last but certainly not least, residential solar panels have an impressive lifespan of 25 years (sometimes longer) when properly maintained. The good news is that once installed, solar panels require little to no maintenance. Furthermore, as solar panels are often placed at an angle, the rain will keep your set-up as efficient as possible by washing away any dirt or dust. So, it turns out rain is good for some things.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert energy from the sun into electricity, which is used to power appliances in your home, supply electricity to your electric vehicle charger and build up the stored power within your solar battery storage solution.
Basically – use electricity as you normally would; its just being powered from the sun instead of the power grid!
It is true you can generate more electricity on a sunny day; but that isn’t to say they don’t work on a cloudy day. The solar PV panels used by GEC Power can still capture the power of the sun on the most cloudy of days to ensure you are generating renewable electricity.
An assessment would be carried out at your property before installation to determine if your roof is North, South, East or West facing, and the capacity you would need to generate based on the size of your home.
Solar panels are a cost-effective solution; you’ll be generating more of your own electricity and will be less reliant on the grid, meaning your annual electricity bills will quickly reduce. If you go as far as to install a battery storage solution with your solar panels, you’ll save even more energy and can become totally independent from the grid.
The average household could save approximately £25,000 over 20-years.
As part of the Government’s plan to ‘go green’, if you generate your own electricity via solar panels and have no use for the surplus, you can export it back to the grid – and be paid for it.
Known as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), energy companies have an obligation to offer an export tariff which pays their customers for excess electricity which can be used elsewhere.
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the Feed-in-Tariff some years ago.
GEC power work to make life easier for you. You can purchase a new solar energy solution out-right as part of an ‘able-to-pay’ package, or take out a finance option to breakdown the cost into manageable monthly payments. Talk to us to find out more.
