Book in your 40-minute Consultation with one of our Architects/Designers. BOOK NOW
Book in your 40-minute Consultation with one of our Architects/Designers. BOOK NOW
Dr Chris Jardine Technical Director Joju Solar
Dr Chris Jardine is the Technical Director and a founder member of Joju Solar.
He has been involved with solar PV since 2001 when he ran Oxford University’s research into solar energy and microgeneration.
He is recognised as one of the UK’s foremost experts in the performance of solar PV and is the author of prize-winning papers on the subject, as well as leading publications such as “PV in the UK” and “Power from the People.
A solar panel is a device made out of semiconducting material (most commonly silicon) that converts the energy of light landing on its surface directly into electricity. They have no moving parts, operate silently and have a lifetime well in excess of 25 years. So installing solar panels gives you a long term supply of green electricity that you can use in your home.
The best orientation for solar panels is due south and pitched at about 30⁰ (which is typical for a UK roof pitch). However, there is a very large sweet spot around this – houses between SE and SW will generate 95% of optimal, and even east or west facing systems will generate 85% of optimal. There is a very large range of orientation that are suitable for solar panels. (See attached solar sundial) 
It is theoretically possible to come off grid if you have solar panels and a home battery storage system, but it is inadvisable in the UK. We have 8 times more solar energy in summer than winter, so it is difficult to ensure a reliable supply all year around from solar alone – some form of grid back up is needed. In more southerly climates like California, going off grid all year round is entirely possible.
Solar panels have a surface coating on them that helps water and dirt run away. If panels are pitched at greater than 5⁰ they are considered to be self-cleaning.
The average payback is around 12.5 years for a householder, but the product will last over 25 years. Broadly, we say that over 25 years, you will earn what you invested as profits. So if you invest £6,000 in a solar roof now, you will have made a profit of £6,000 by year 25. This is equivalent to investing money in a bank at 5% interest – something that is very hard to find!
Solar panels are considered permitted development if the panels are more than 30cm from the edge of the roof, and no more than 20cm above the plane of the roof.
