Solar panels and solar energy has exploded in the United Kingdom. Its rise and popularity is down to the feed in tariffs that the government launched to provide payments for solar energy not used and fed back in to the grid. But there is a common misconception that a solar panel can be fitted and left with little or no maintenance.
To some they may not appreciate it but solar panels fitted on to a building are an investment in green energy and a financial investment for the home owner. Just like any money you invest in say a bank or stocks and shares, you should look after the investment and keep a track of it. The main reason for this is so that the investment needs gives the payback.
If you are the investor in renewable energy, and you have calculated that you will get a certain return on your investment by selling energy back to the grid, you need to make sure your investment is protected. The installer of the solar energy system will want to track and record the out put to ensure the system is working to its optimum efficiency. The homeowner and the investor want to know how much energy is being generated and how much electricity their house is using.
Solar PV installations and feed in tariffs last for 25 years so its not unrealistic to expect them to stay in perfect working order. Would you run a car for 25 years and not expect to have maintenance bills or to have to check it?
So What Could Go Wrong With Solar Energy Systems
In the modern house the most common way to submit, "Feed in Tariff" energy meter readings is to get the home owner to send in the reading every quarter of the year. This slow and sporadic process is not the best way to protect your investment. The installer of the PV system should be motivated to use smart meters. The "smart meter" is a unit installed in the home that will track and record the energy used and the output from the solar panels in real time. Google has got in on the act and has an online smart meter tracking app.
There are a number of big advantages to take by choosing a smart meter. You can get half hourly data collected on a daily basis, not one reading once a quarter as with traditional methods. This can give detailed energy readings and deliver graphing of usage patterns.
One of the advantage of smart meters is they can be read remotely and are not dependent on the householder or business having to supply the readings. The solar pv installers can monitor the meter readings, which are very accurate and spot if a problem does arise and can act rather than spot it one or two months later.
The renewable energy investor that have helped to fund the solar panels and renewable energy surge in the UK put performance criteria on solar suppliers to make sure their investments are protected. Fitting smart energy meters is a way to tell if the panels are working at their maximum ability. Tracking nationwide data to compare against could also help identify if there is an issue with the equipment or simply the output for the time period is deduced because of the day light hours or other weather conditions.
To some they may not appreciate it but solar panels fitted on to a building are an investment in green energy and a financial investment for the home owner. Just like any money you invest in say a bank or stocks and shares, you should look after the investment and keep a track of it. The main reason for this is so that the investment needs gives the payback.
If you are the investor in renewable energy, and you have calculated that you will get a certain return on your investment by selling energy back to the grid, you need to make sure your investment is protected. The installer of the solar energy system will want to track and record the out put to ensure the system is working to its optimum efficiency. The homeowner and the investor want to know how much energy is being generated and how much electricity their house is using.
Solar PV installations and feed in tariffs last for 25 years so its not unrealistic to expect them to stay in perfect working order. Would you run a car for 25 years and not expect to have maintenance bills or to have to check it?
So What Could Go Wrong With Solar Energy Systems
In the modern house the most common way to submit, "Feed in Tariff" energy meter readings is to get the home owner to send in the reading every quarter of the year. This slow and sporadic process is not the best way to protect your investment. The installer of the PV system should be motivated to use smart meters. The "smart meter" is a unit installed in the home that will track and record the energy used and the output from the solar panels in real time. Google has got in on the act and has an online smart meter tracking app.
There are a number of big advantages to take by choosing a smart meter. You can get half hourly data collected on a daily basis, not one reading once a quarter as with traditional methods. This can give detailed energy readings and deliver graphing of usage patterns.
One of the advantage of smart meters is they can be read remotely and are not dependent on the householder or business having to supply the readings. The solar pv installers can monitor the meter readings, which are very accurate and spot if a problem does arise and can act rather than spot it one or two months later.
The renewable energy investor that have helped to fund the solar panels and renewable energy surge in the UK put performance criteria on solar suppliers to make sure their investments are protected. Fitting smart energy meters is a way to tell if the panels are working at their maximum ability. Tracking nationwide data to compare against could also help identify if there is an issue with the equipment or simply the output for the time period is deduced because of the day light hours or other weather conditions.
About the Author:
Using renewable energy is key to sustainably fuelling our homes in the future. For expert advice on Solar panels for your home and feed in tariffs uk contact Absolute Solar and Wind.
