One of the questions we hear often is ‘Do I need to clean my solar panels?’. The short answer - it depends. So when should you invest in solar panel cleaning?
London has high solar ambitions. The city is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. To reach this, the Mayor aims to install 1GW of new solar by 2030 and 2GW by 2050.
To give this some context, 1GW of PV requires around 3,500,000 solar panels and should output enough to power around 250,000 homes.
Topics: Solar PV
We are very excited to announce that we’ve been chosen as one of two installers for Solar Together’s current round of PV installations in London. Solar Together is a group-buying scheme, enabling thousands of people to sign up for a personal solar recommendation, which they can purchase at a very competitive price.
Our vision since we started the company almost a decade ago has been of a country where every homeowner can generate their own clean, renewable energy. Technology and costs have changed enormously in that time, but a project like this goes even further towards making solar an option for many more people. We’re delighted to be part of this journey.
Topics: Spirit Energy news, Solar PV
While solar panels are traditionally retrofitted to an existing rooftop, it’s becoming more common (especially in newbuilds) to integrate the panels into the roof itself. With in roof PV, you end up with a sleeker, more attractive result.
One of our favourite brands of integrated solar is Viridian. Manufactured here in the UK, Viridian solar panels have a bespoke mounting system to embed them in the rooftop with a sleek, low profile.
Topics: In roof solar panels, Solar PV
What is a PERC cell?
PERC solar cells are a variation on the traditional cells used in solar panels that offer enhanced efficiency. The acronym PERC stands for Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact or Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell. Over the last few years they have become more and more popular, to the point where they now make up over 40% of the solar technology market and are expected to dominate by 2021, according to the ITRPV.
Topics: Solar PV
Solar panel orientation is a key determining factor in the output of a solar PV system, as it dictates how much sunshine the panels will see over the course of the day. The more sunshine they see the higher the output. In the UK the optimum orientation for a high generation is to face the panels due south. However; what happens if the panels face off south or even directly east or west?
Topics: Solar PV
Solar panel key parameters
If you are trying to compare one PV panel to another, it is helpful to understand the key technical parameters - or solar panel specifications - that impact performance.
With this in mind, we’ve taken some extracts from the specification sheet for a standard polycrystalline solar panel (Trina Solar’s HoneyM Plus+ 265-275W range) and highlighted the key parameters.
We’ve then highlighted key differences between the Trina panel and SunPower’s Maxeon® 3 panel.
Topics: Solar PV
One of the most notable trends in the solar PV market in the last couple of years has been the growth in bifacial solar panels.
The 2019 International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV) predicts that bifacial cells will increase their share of the solar PV market from around 15% in 2019 to 60% in 2029.
So, time to sit up and take notice. What are bifacial PV modules, and why are they set to dominate the market over the next 10 years?
Topics: Solar PV
The best direction for a roof with solar panels is dead south. Except if you're in the Southern Hemisphere when you want it to be facing north - which is why solar panels are like bath water spiralling down the plug hole.
But few people in Guildford have a roof that faces exactly south. And few people in Guinea have a roof that faces exactly north. So the key question for many of us is: "How much solar generation do I lose if my panels don’t face exactly south?"
Topics: Solar PV
Research indicates the market for curtain walling is growing at a healthy rate of around 6% per annum. (A curtain wall is the non-structural weather proof covering of a building, generally associated with large multi-storey buildings.) This rise is driven both by new build construction and by energy efficient refurbishments of existing buildings.
Standard curtain walling improves the thermal insulation of the building, leading to reduced HVAC costs and reduced heat loss. It also improves the aesthetic appearance of the building.
A photovoltaic curtain wall has the added benefit of generating electricity over the building’s life.
Whilst it costs a bit more than standard curtain walling, the incremental cost of a BIPV facade will typically be paid back within around five years.
