Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home, or send back to the electricity grid in return for a payment known as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Once you have the technology installed, the electricity generated from the sun is completely free and is 100% renewable, reducing your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills. 

The Centre for Sustainable Energy has a detailed guide, that has information about the cost of solar panel installation and how you can find an MCS accredited installer. MCS is the acronym for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and is an important accreditation for electricity-generating technologies such as solar PV.

The diagram below shows the journey of electricity generated and how it can be used in your home (with any excess flowing onto the utility grid). 

1. Solar is captured by the solar panels and the photovoltaic cells convert the sunlight into a direct electrical current (DC). This current then travels to the invertor. 
2. The invertor converts the DC into an alternating current (AC) which is electricity that can be used straight away in your home to power lights, sockets etc. 
3. If your energy consumption is more than the solar generated electricity produced, it can draw energy from the national grid in the same way as when there was no solar PV. 
4. Depending on whether you have a battery, you can store any unused energy for use later, for example to power your home during the night. Alternatively, you can speak with your energy providers about tariffs to sell any surplus energy you don’t use back to the grid. This means all the renewable energy you generate and don’t use can be distributed to other homes for use. 

Solar panels generate clean, renewable electricity. They don’t require full sunlight, just light, so even on a cloudy day, good generation can be achieved. There is no burning of fossil fuels, so there are no polluting gases being released into the atmosphere. By installing solar panels, you will reduce your households carbon footprint and contribute to a greener world. If you are in a position to switch to a 100% renewable energy tariff, so when your home needs to use energy from the grid it is drawing clean energy, this will further reduce your households carbon footprint. 

There are grants and projects ongoing across the county to help residents make significant energy-efficiency improvements to their properties. This includes grants to fully-fund such improvements for those in fuel poverty or on low incomes. If you would like more information regarding these projects and grants, contact us via email at: retrofit@oxfordshire.gov.uk  or register your interest via our online form.