Latest solar panels and solar installations in the UK

Why solar panels?

1. Be the first

You don't have to be mental to be environmental, but you will definitely beam, showing your neighbours you are smarter and greener, buying solar panels for the UK climate.

2. House prices

Adding solar panels to your property is the same as adding a conservatory, a large possible increase in your property price is possible.

3. Selling your home

In a century with ‘Energy Assessment Certificates’, homes with solar already installed will be snapped up, quicker, than those without.

4. Britain’s energy crisis

Did you know, 80% of British electric and gas supplies will come from Russia, leaving a national security threat bigger than the cold war. Our politicians will have no choice but to give in to Russia’s political demands in the 21st century.

5. Climate change

Need we say more on this subject.

6. Why not wind?

People in built up or sub-urban areas will not get planing permission to install. You need a very large wind turbine to make a dent in the average domestic energy bill. Most domestic houses are unsuitable for wind turbines.

7. Improved solar technology

Latest solar panels have improved vastly over the last few years. Specially designed for the UK climate. Harnessing the power of the sun has never been so easy. Solar panels are fast becoming a mainstream and viable option. Learn about solar energy and solar radiation for the UK climate.

8. UK energy pricing

May I quote “British Gas Managing Director - Mark Clare, said "the industry had no choice but to pass on the large increase in wholesale gas prices to the consumer". Mr Clare said "The wholesale price forecasts for 2006 are something like 50 percent higher than a few months ago. "FORWARD MARKET PRICES ARE PRETTY UGLY FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND". "All suppliers are going to have to put prices up in 2009, that’s inevitable". He added "higher gas prices means higher electricity prices too, because Gas fuels 40 percent of the UK's power stations".

Energy price fixing by UK energy companies

Read the small print on your contract. Price fixing is subject to governmental price changes, here or abroad, so if Russia decides to up its price, up goes your price, fixed or not.

9. Climate change and Britain

We have all felt it get warmer and dryer, mild winters and early spring times. So if predictions are correct, over the coming years, you will be seeing a lot of the sunshine.

10. Global warming

Bored of hearing about global warming? Did we say domestic solar panels save money on your energy bills?

The most common solar panels questions

1. Can solar panels run my central heating?

No, because solar is most effective in summer. Solar thermal keeps your hot water tank topped with hot water only.

2. Is my roof suitable for solar panels?

In most cases yes, but this will be determined at the solar survey stage. South facing is ideal, but south/east and south/west are great too.

3. There are lots of solar systems on the market, which is best?

In a 2001 DTI report, evacuated tubes were singled out as the most efficient systems. Since then, this solar panel technology has greatly improved because it now heats 'directly' rather than anti freeze 'indirectly'. This gives even better efficiency in 2007 for our UK climate.

PV Solar Panels are electric generating solar panels, although these are more expensive than solar thermal, they can help reduce your electric consumption and sell back to the national grid.

4. 'Direct' or 'indirect' solar?

Traditional style UK solar panel systems usually heat up an antifreeze mixture to prevent freezing in the UK climate (indirect). Today we can get greater efficiency out of solar panels by heating water '(directly), by making them freeze tolerent using a special drainback system.

5. Can I install evacuated tubes myself?

Yes, if you are competant in plumbing, because DIY solar panels kits are now available. We do not recommend novices installing though.

6. Can I generate electricity using solar instead?

Yes, this is done using PV solar panels. Although more expensive, they can produce a portion of your electricity usage, but not all in most domestic cases. Any excess produced is sold back to the National Grid.

7. Do I need planning permission?

No, unless you live in a listed building.

8. Why install these solar panels?

Simply put, we only showcase and install the latest solar panel technology. There are still some UK solar companies who offer their customers outdated or inefficient technology for the UK climate. Learn more about solar energy in the UK >>

9. Can I buy solar panels from a trade supplier?

Yes, Solar4U are one of the UK's largest quality trade suppliers. We supply solar installers, tradesmen, companies and even DIY installers. Please go to our solar panels trade suppliers website >>

10. Where do you install? Can you do my solar installation?

Solar4U, do solar installations and have solar installers which cover England and Wales.

Solar energy and solar panels

Solar energy is a general term for the electro-magnetic radiation emitted by the sun. We can capture and convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using the latest solar panel technologies. The technical feasibility and economical operation of these technologies at a specific location depends on the available solar radiation, which in the UK, is 60% of that of the equator. More than enough!

Solar radiation and solar energy

Our planet is round, and the sun strikes the surface at different angles ranging from 0º (just above the horizon) to 90º (directly overhead). When the sun's radiation or solar rays are vertical, and our planets surface gets all the energy possible.

The Earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit and is closer to the sun during some parts of the year. When the sun is closer to the Earth, our planets surface receives a little more solar energy or solar radiation exposure. Earth is nearer the sun when it's summer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the northern hemispheres. The more slanted the sun's radiation or solar rays are, the further they travel through our the upper and lower atmospheres, becoming more scattered and diffuse. Because the Earth is a globe, the north and south polar regions never get a full high sun, and because of the tilted axis of spin, these areas receive no sun at all during part of the solar or annual year.

The tilt in the Earth's axis of spin is a more significant factor in determining the amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth at any particular part. Tilting results in longer days in the northern hemisphere from our spring equinox to the fall equinox and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other part of the annual calenders. Days and nights are both 12 hours long on the equinoxes, which occur each year on or around March 23 and September 22.

Solar energy and solar radiation in the UK

The UK, which lies in the middle latitudes, receives more solar energy in the summer not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is nearly overhead giving greater amounts of radiation exposure. Solar rays are far more slanted during the short days of the winter months.

Rotation of the Earth is responsible for hourly variations in sunlight and solar radiation. In the early morning and late afternoon, the sun is lower in the sky. Its rays travel further through the atmosphere than at midday when the sun is at its highest point. On a clear day, the greatest amount of solar energy reaching a solar panel collector is around midday. This is called the solar bulge, commonly known as high noon.

With solar panels, solar energy can be collected, harnessed and used...