Solar Panels Northern Ireland
This website is a guide to Solar Panels for anyone in Northern Ireland who wishes to REDUCE their fuel and electricity Bills by installing a Solar Panel. We will point you in the Right Direction of Accredited Installers & Grants Available.
Types of Solar Panel and what they do
There are 2 main types of Solar Panel
Solar Thermal Panels (For Heating your hot water)
Photovoltaic or PV Panels (For Generating Electricity )
What kinds of solar panels are there?
Solar water heating systems use heat from the sun to work alongside your conventional water heater. Solar thermal panels produce hot water which is stored in a hot water tank in the home. 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 and so can still generate some power on a cloudy day.
What do solar thermal panels do?
Solar thermal works alongside your general hot water system. In winter months when the solar panel may not produce enough hot water for your needs then the general hot water heating system (usually the boiler) will top up the tank so you have enough hot water. The water from the solar thermal panel will generally not contribute to heating the water in your central heating system.
What percentage of your energy bills are made up by heating hot water?
Hot water accounts for around 15 per cent to 20 per cent of a household's energy bill annually, central heating accounts for about 40 per cent and electricity consumption for a further 40 per cent (assumes a gas heated three-bed semi-detached home).
What percentage of your hot water can you get from solar panels?
Solar water heating can provide you with about a third of your hot water needs. The average domestic system reduces C02 by about 325kg per year and about £65 a year of your hot water bills, when installed in a gas-heated home. If you use electricity to heat your hot water then savings can be as high as £95 a year.
What is the average cost of solar panels?
The typical installation cost for a domestic system is between £2,000 and £5,000, with the average cost being about £4,200. However grants are available to subsidise the cost.
What are the environmental reasons for getting solar panels?
Solar thermal panels can provide you with free hot water. No fossil fuels will be burnt when heating the water and so no carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, thereby minimising the impact on the environment. Other benefits include:
* You can generate your own clean, inexhaustible, inflation-proof energy.
* You can increase property value.
Can solar panels help you save money?
Solar thermal panels can help reduce your hot water heating bills each year that the solar panel is functional for - solar thermal panels currently have an estimated lifetime of about 25 years.
What sort of roof do you need for solar panels?
You will need about 5m2 of ideally south facing roof space which isn't shaded by trees or near by buildings. Solar panels can be mounted on flat roofs using a frame or on the pitch of the roof. However, you'll have to make sure the roof is strong enough to hold them. Some solar thermal panels can be integrated into the roof and an ideal time to do this is when you are replacing the roof tiles. However, it can be done easily even when you aren't replacing any roof tiles.
What should people watch out for when someone tries to sell them solar panels?
All installers or suppliers should be able to provide a detailed breakdown of the specification and costs of their proposed system. Also ask them to provide an estimate of how much heat will be produced by any proposed system.
* Pick an experienced supplier.
* Do not compare installers on cost alone; the cheapest may not be the most appropriate.
* Ask how many years they have been installing systems and how long they have been in business.
* Check their professional credentials: always use an accredited installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (see below for details) and ask if they are a member of a trade organisation such as the Solar Trade Association.
* Choose a local installer where possible.
Where can you get more information if you are interested in getting solar panels?
If you're interested in fitting solar thermal panels then you may qualify for a grant through NIE Energy). If you're interested see the Energy Saving Trust website for more information on solar panels and other renewable technologies. Always use an accredited installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme managed by BRE.
