PVSOLAR HOWIT WORKS

1. Photovoltaic modules can be mounted on the roof of many buildings in many different ways. The cells in the modules convert daylight into DC electricity. This process is silent and has no moving parts.

2. The DC electricity is wired to a set of inverters, usually installed in the loft void. The inverters convert the DC electricity to AC. The AC electricity is then sent through the main distribution board for use in the building.

3. When more electricity is generated than is being used in the building, the excess can be exported to the grid. At night, or when the demand is higher than the PV system can supply, electricity is imported from the grid.

Solar PV How it works

Photovoltaic systems use cells to convert sunlight 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 cells are referred to in terms of the amount of energy they generate in full sunlight (known as kilowatt peak kWp).

Why a rooftop PV solar system is a good choice of renewable energy at your home or business.

The electricity generated is used to power your appliances around the home or business and any surplus is exported to the grid. This means you will benefit whatever the time of year. Overall in the UK, approximately 860 kilo Watt hours (kWh) of power can be generated annually from every kW installed and this can be either offset from your bill or exported directly to the grid or both.

Not only will you experience a reduction in your electricity bills but PV will also minimise the impact of rising energy costs over the coming years
Solar systems have no moving parts, are noiseless and require very minimal maintenance
SolarMerge Systems comprise of established branded components with a proven track record so you can be confident of the warranties offered
You are investing in a highly reliable system which has a typical lifetime of 25-30 years
An energy saving solar installation adds value to your property and addresses energy efficiency aspects of the HIPS when selling
The PV System connects seamlessly into your existing grid connection
By generating your own solar energy you will reduce your dependence on the commercial electricity providers
A reduction of your carbon footprint on the planet by 482kg for every kW of solar PV installed per annum

Feed-in Tariff (FIT) is a rate per kwh that your electricity supplier must pay you for generating electricity from a renewable source. Such renewable sources can be anything from a solar roof top panel system to a wind turbine. This rate is paid regardless of whether you use the electricity yourself or export it to the national grid. On top of this rate you will get a 3p export tariff (per kwh) for electricity you export to the national grid

Feed-in-tariff regulations exist in over 40 countries around the world and came into force in the UK in April 2010. In addition permitted development rights have been introduced already removing the need for planning permission in many cases.

The following table shows the proposed feed-in-tariffs introduced from April 2011 (note 3p per kwh on top of this for units exported to the national grid). These tariffs will be guaranteed for 25 years and will be index linked.

Technology	Scale	2010-11 tariff p/kWh	Tariff lifetime (years)
Solar PV¹	<=4kW (new build)	37.8	25
Solar PV¹	<=4kW (retrofit)	43.3	25
Solar PV¹	>4 - 10kW	37.8	25
Solar PV¹	>10 - 100kW	32.9	25
Solar PV¹	>100kW - 5MW	30.7	25
Solar PV¹	Stand alone system	30.7	25

For further information:

Solar PV Systems Cambridge - Solar Photovoltaic Systems - PV Solar Panel Systems - Energy Savings - Domestic Energy Savings - Commercial and Public Sector Energy Savings in Cambridge
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