News
28 May 2021
Many organisations overlook the benefits of solar PV installations based on myths and half-truths about the technology.
However, clean power will play a key role in the decarbonisation of the UK’s electricity generation. In fact, 32% of the UK’s electricity in 2023 came from burning gas in power stations [i], so let’s look at the opportunities to displace that with clean power in the form of solar PV, which is a viable solution for many non-domestic buildings.
We’ll look at seven common misconceptions and aims to demonstrate that, despite the end of the Feed-In Tariff, solar panels are a worthwhile investment to help achieve your energy, cost, and carbon reduction objectives. We’ll also identify some key points to consider before embarking on a solar PV project.
The UK has perfect conditions for solar panels to successfully produce power.
Solar panels convert daylight into electricity. This does not need to be direct sunshine and so it means the UK weather conditions are suited to successful solar PV electricity generation.
While it is true that south-facing panels will maximise the potential electricity generation, any direction can generate meaningful power.
Unless you exceed a certain threshold size, planning permission is not usually required on non-domestic solar installations, although there are some exceptions.
Generally speaking, solar PV is ‘fit and forget’, with only limited maintenance required
There is virtually no limit to the type of roof that solar panels can be fixed to. Buildings containing asbestos will require specialist contractors.
Solar panels can be installed on:
Although a solar PV installation is clearly a capital investment, the costs are reducing all the time.
This year the average cost of microgeneration systems between 10 kWp and 50 kWp is around £800 per kWp, offering a very quick return on investment.
Understand your electricity consumption to help size the project correctly. A system that is too small won’t provide much reduction in your energy costs, while a system that is too large will result in the capital costs outweighing what you can sell back to the grid.
Ensure you have actioned simple housekeeping to reduce your general energy consumption. This might seem obvious, but maximising your BMS controls; and a stringent approach to switching off lights and equipment will help to ensure your energy consumption is as lean as possible to maximise the return on investment in solar PV to power your building.
Understand how you will use the power generated to avoid any waste.
Read more about how a solar PV installation could benefit your organisation here. We can provide advice about funding options and help you understand the business case.
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