Solar voltaic panels
Solar voltaic panels produce a DC current by harnessing the sun’s energy. The power they produce can be stored in large batteries to use with a DC household system or passed through an inverter to convert the current to AC and sold into the national grid. Power companies pay home producers a set rate per kilowatt hour produced. The good news is that producers are paid for what they produce, and electricity used in their homes during sunny periods is in effect free.
Expect considerable change in this technology over the next few years as it is developing rapidly in this area with some exciting recent developments. Panels vary in their efficiency and size and a wide range is available.
At present, the cost of installation will take the average domestic household around a decade to recover their initial investment (but then money in the bank doesn't yield much at present either!). But this is changing rapidly as power costs rise, new feed in tariffs (paying a much higher rate) are introduced, technologies improve and production costs fall.
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Useful links
Energy Saving Trust introduction to voltaic panels
Low Carbon Buildings Programme introduction to voltaic panels
Solar roof tiles Replacing ordinary roof tiles – from Solar Century
Greenearth Energy installing a variety of renewable systems
Feed in Tariffs Ltd Clear and helpful explanations regarding the new FITs being introduced in the UK in April 2010
Dulas Welsh based renewable energy company
UK Govt Solar energy technologies
Sustainable build Photovoltaics
Good Energy Selling your power back to the grid
Configuration of solar panels to roofs.http://www.intelligentenergysolutions.com/system-options_c83.aspx