As the country moves closer to the government’s target for net-zero, it is obvious that we are all looking towards alternative, cleaner ways to create electricity. For years we have relied on coal and gas to provide us with the electricity that we need, but this has come at a price to the planet. We can recover from some of the damage that has been done, and this is why alternative renewable energy sources have been explored and perfected over the last few years.
Most of our electric cabling is created using copper wiring as it is a good conductor of electricity. It is important that the pylons and other structures that carry the cables are robust, and in some cases, the metals may be coated using HVOF from companies like https://www.poeton.co.uk/standard-treatments/plasma-coatings to help prevent them from being damaged by the elements.
Solar panels are one way that we can generate electricity without the need for fossil fuels. The panels are created in a way to gain the heat and light that comes directly from the sun, and this is then generated into electricity. Solar farms have been established across the country to supply electricity to local regions on a large scale. When it comes to individual homes and office buildings, the solar panels that are situated on the roofs of the properties will often generate enough electricity for that property. During the summer months, there is often a surplus which can be put back into the national grid.
One of the stumbling blocks for solar panels has been the way in which the generated electricity is stored. Batteries are supplied to homeowners, and these can store the electricity generated for a set period of time so that the power can be used later on in the year when the sunlight may not be as strong. The photovoltaic cells located within the solar panels are now so sensitive that they can generate power even on a cloudy day or during the autumn and winter months. The cumulative amount that the cells generate during the colder seasons may be less than in the summer, but with the power being stored in batteries, there should be no disruption to supply.
Solar panels and selling your home
Solar panels reduce a home’s reliance on the grid, can cut electricity bills sharply and provide energy from a renewable source rather than limited fossil fuels. They are relatively simple to install, usually do not need planning permission and have become more cost-effective as their popularity has grown.
Homeowners sometimes worry that panels will put buyers off when it is time to sell. Some buyers do not like their appearance, and others will have questions about how efficient the system is, what it actually saves and how it has been installed and maintained.
Those concerns can be answered. Keeping a record of the energy the panels generate and the savings they deliver gives buyers real data to look at, and a professional installation backed by sensible maintenance reassures them about the system’s condition. Homes with solar panels can attract a higher price and may even sell more quickly than similar homes without them.
How conventional power stations compare
Electricity is a secondary energy source, which means it is produced by converting a primary source such as coal, gas or sunlight. In a conventional power station, coal or gas is burned to create heat, and that heat drives turbines that generate electricity. Solar panels skip the burning and the turbines altogether, turning light straight into electrical current.
From a power station, electricity travels a long way before it reaches a plug socket. It passes through transformers on to the national network, along the overhead lines carried by pylons and through underground cables, and then into local substations. From there it is distributed through cables to homes and businesses and wired to the switches and sockets in each building.
Whichever way it is generated, your meter records how much you use. Taking regular readings and passing them to your supplier means you pay for the energy you actually use rather than an estimate.