Photovoltaic Solar Panels

The sun provides an abundant source of clean, renewable energy. This can be converted into electricity using solar photovoltaic panels, usually referred to as ‘solar PV’.

Electricity generated by a domestic solar PV system can be used to power your home, leading to savings on your electricity bills.

Solar PV systems turn sunlight into electricity through the ‘solar cells’ they contain. These cells are made from thin layers of a ‘semiconductor’ material (traditionally silicon) between layers of glass. Electricity leaves the panel as direct current (DC) and passes through an inverter that converts it to 240V alternating current (AC), so that it can be used in your home. This electricity can then power any appliances that are switched on – washing machine, TV and so on – while the surplus (if there is any) is exported to the electricity grid, or stored in a battery if you have one.

Solar panels come in three basic types, which differ in efficiency, appearance and cost:
1) Monocrystalline: made of thin slices of silicon, cut from a single crystal
2) Polycrystalline: made from thin slices of silicon, cut from a block of crystals
​3) Hybrid: combining crystalline cells with a thin layer of silicon on a glass or metal base.

Solar PV systems are rated in kilowatts peak (kWp). This is the maximum rate of electricity generation at peak performance  But a 1kWp panel will rarely (if ever) generate 1kW power, most of the time the output will be lower. The kWp of a solar array depends on the size, type and number of panels – but a 3 or 4 kWp array is typical.

Electrical energy generated by solar panels is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) – the same unit that is shown on your household electricity bill.