The adoption of solar power in the UK since we started our business in 2009 has been quite incredible with the introduction of home based battery storage making it a sensible investment.
The Government backed initiative Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) launched in January 2020 is an obligation set by the government for licensed electricity suppliers to offer a tariff and make payment to small-scale low-carbon generators for electricity exported to the National Grid, providing certain criteria are met. The SEG is an opportunity for anyone who has installed Solar PV up to a capacity of 5kW. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/smart-export-guarantee-seg
While the tariff rates have come down over the years, so has the price of solar PV (photovoltaic) components, which means that it’s still a worthwhile investment both financially and most of all for the environment.
The output per panel has nearly doubled in this time meaning that fewer panels are required to deliver the same output. Aesthetically, panel design has developed too with all black panels that are barely discernible against a slate roof and in-roof designs that integrate neatly into the roof like a Velux window.
Battery storage is set to make solar PV even more attractive by increasing the percentage of electricity generated that can be either used locally or exported back to the grid. With the introduction of Smart meters from energy suppliers and flexible smart tariffs, this optimises the use of battery storage. Add the rising number of us driving hybrid and all-electric vehicles and local solar generation becomes a given.
The southwest of England is the best area of the UK for solar electricity generation due to the highest levels of solar irradiation in kWh/m2. For more information on solar and battery storage and to discuss your property please give us a call on 01202 522488.