Should you use solar panels when building a new home?

Today, when building a new home, it is required that you include energy saving measures and offsets such as cheap new build solar panels. These include solar panels or solar thermal systems. Solar panels do not need to detract from the attractiveness of your new build.

Can solar panels be added to a new build?

For new builds and self-builds, you'll likely be looking at solar photovoltaic panels and/or solar hot water (solar thermal) systems. Instead of looking at options to traditional heating systems, solar panel installations can be added to new builds to improve the EPC and overall energy efficiency.

Do you need a solar panel system to be energy independent?

If you want to be fully energy independent, you will need more panels and a solar battery big enough to store the excess energy you generate. As long as you install a solar panel system powerful enough to cover your household’s energy usage, you can rely on solar electricity for all your energy needs.

Do solar panels generate electricity?

That said, the rate at which solar panels generate electricity varies depending on the amount of direct sunlight and the quality, size, number and location of panels in use. Even in winter, solar panel technology is still effective; at one point in February 2022, solar was providing more than 20% of the UK’s electricity.1

Do solar panels need direct sunlight?

No. Solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to harness energy from sun, they just require some level of daylight in order to generate electricity. That said, the rate at which solar panels generate electricity varies depending on the amount of direct sunlight and the quality, size, number and location of panels in use.

Can solar panels be made at different voltages?

This way, PV modules can be made at different voltages for different applications. The combination of multiple photovoltaic modules (or panels) is called a photovoltaic system. Solar panels produce direct current (DC) but with a solar inverter, you can convert it to alternate current (AC), which is used for home appliances.