Energy from the sun is plentiful and free. Why not capture some of it with solar panels to heat your water or generate electricity.

Types:
There are two main types of solar panel available – those that heat water and those, which generate electricity (called photovoltaics)

Passive Solar – This means capturing the sun’s energy passively – for example through large south facing windows – and then holding on to it for as long as possible by minimizing heat loss

Active solar – This involves using a collector – for example a solar panel, to capture the sun’s energy and employ it to heat water or convert to electricity

Solar Water Heating – Here water is pumped through a solar panel and heated by solar energy. The heated water then flows through a heat exchanger, warming the water in your hot water cylinder.

Evacuated Tubes – A type pf solar water heating panel evacuated glass tubes collect the sun’s energy and heat water running through a container at the top of tubes. Water does not flow through the glass tubes.

Photovoltaic’s (PV) Cells – These are thin layers of semi-conducting material (usually silicon). Electrical charges are generated when the silicon is exposed to light and these can be conducted away as a direct current. Multiple cells are joined together (usually behind glass) to form a complete photovoltaic panel.

Solar Tiles – These use the same technology as photovoltaic cells but are smaller and narrower than large OV panels and look like roof tiles.

Solar PV (photovoltaic) uses energy from the sun to create electricity to run appliances and lighting. PV requires only daylight - not direct sunlight - to generate electricity. Photovoltaic systems use cells to convert solar radiation into electricity. The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semi conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers, causing electricity to flow.

The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity...

PV systems generate no greenhouse gases, saving approximately 325kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year - adding up to about 8 tonnes over a system's lifetime - for each kilowatt peak (kWp - PV cells are referred to in terms of the amount of energy they generate in full sun light).

PV arrays now come in a variety of shapes and colours, ranging from grey 'solar tiles' that look like roof tiles, to panels and transparent cells that you can use on conservatories and glass to provide shading as well as generating electricity. As well as enabling you to generate free electricity they can provide an interesting alternative to conventional roof tiles!