DFID The Solar Technologies Resource, Global Warming, Harnessing Solar Energy, Photovoltaic Cells

Welcome to the Solar Technologies Resource. Photovoltaic solar renewable energy is free, and green, and increasingly popular now more than ever since governments and the general public are growing concerned about the relationship between our carbon emissions, and the subsequent effect of climate change. We all have a responsibility to lessen our carbon emissions and the overall impact of our lifestyles upon the earth.

One of the major causes of man-made greenhouse gas emissions is generation of the electricity that our homes are powered by. But there is a solution. Through advances in solar photovoltaic technology and the UK Government's feed-in tariff, photovoltaic solar panels are now a viable source of energy, that will generate CO2 free electricity, slash your bills and earn you a guaranteed income for a minimum of 25 years.

Renewable energy with photovoltaic solar

Photovoltaic solar panels are built to generate enough electricity to power most of your household needs, regardless of dull or cloudy weather. Any excess electricity that you don't need is sold back to your energy supplier for other people to use.

This electricity is green, clean and doesn't result in the release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home PV system could save around 1200 kg of CO2 per year - which over a lifetime could add up to around 30 tonnes. In terms of lowering your carbon footprint there is no better choice.

The UK must do better

The scale of the renewable energy challenge facing Britain was revealed by figures showing Britain installed about 270 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on houses in 2007, compared with 130,000 in Germany.

At the time Britain was the worst performer behind Malta and Luxembourg in the EU in its use of renewable energy and produces only 2% of its energy in this form. The EU said Britain must raise that share to 15% by 2020. Malcolm Wicks, the energy minister at the time, acknowledged that Britain needed a “revolution” in green technologies and insisted the country was showing “leadership” in the area.

But a leaked document shows that Department for Business’ grants for households to install solar, wind or hydro-power would be underspent by £10m over the following year. That was more than half the £18m allocated for the three years to March 2009.

The low carbon buildings programme was cut in May when the scheme was reformed, leading many people to give up trying to install renewable technology. For solar PV, the maximum grant was cut to £2,500.

The Future is Solar

Thankfully, since then government policy has changed, and the current government and its policies fully support solar technologies and sustainable living with all manner of incentives and subsidies. Give us a call to find out more about Solar Technology deals and the saving you could make.