Solar Panels work by converting the power of the sun into usable electricity that can help to power your home.
If you live in Scotland, it can sometimes be hard to believe that there is much sunlight to harness, but in reality, solar panels are incredibly efficient in this part of the world.
In fact, renewable energy in the country has exploded in recent years, with the total amount of electricity generated via renewable sources rising from just 31% in 2011 to 74% in 2018.
Whilst solar only accounts for a fraction of this productivity, unlike other renewables it can easily be used to power domestic as well as commercial properties, and many Scottish homeowners have been enjoying all the benefits for well over a decade.
Ready to join them? Here are some of the biggest reasons to consider installing solar panels in your home as well as some information on Government grants that may help you cover the initial cost of installation.
Reduce your carbon footprint
If you are looking to install solar panels there are probably two main advantages driving your decision; saving money and saving the planet.
Solar energy is one of the few truly renewable energy sources. Unlike other finite resources, we are not going to run out of solar energy, as least for the next 5 billion years or so.
Installing solar panels in your home will help you become far more energy efficient, reducing your carbon footprint, and your reliance on expensive and dirty fossil fuels.
If you are looking to take your home completely off-grid solar panels are likely to be a major part of your plans, but most simply use panels to supplement their existing energy usage.
Saving money
We are currently living through one of the worst energy crises in history. Gas and electricity prices are soaring due to high demand and low supply and there is even talks of blackouts over the winter months.
Having your own source of free, clean energy has never been more valuable and by installing solar panels you should see savings of at least £500 per year on your energy bills. The more prices rise, the more you save and by acting now you could protect yourself from any future market fluctuations.
Furthermore, installing solar panels now could actually see the value of your property rise should you decide to sell, with the majority of house buyers seeing solar panels as a valuable asset to have.
In the future, solar panels may well become an essential in Scotland homes in the same way as double glazing, and acting now will help you to get ahead of the curve.
Low Maintenance
Once your solar panels are installed all that is left for you to do is to sit back and enjoy your clean energy.
Solar systems require very little maintenance and any supplier worth the name will provide a warranty with a minimum of 15-25 years to cover any malfunctions.
All it takes to keep your solar panels in top condition is a professional clean every 6 months or so.
The only part of the solar panel system that will need to be replaced anytime soon is the inverter that needs to be changed every 5-10 years or so to ensure maximum efficiency.
This means that whilst the initial installation cost can be daunting, once you have Solar Panels Scotland in place, there is very little ongoing costs cutting into your energy bill savings
Funding
The Scottish Government has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
In order to meet this target, rapid change is needed in regards to energy production across the country and a huge amount of investment in renewable energy is required.
For this reason, there have been several grants made available to help cover the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels aimed at incentivising homeowners to make the switch.
In the early stages of the solar panel revolution, the Scottish Government backed the Energy Savings Scotland Home Renewables Grant, that offered homeowners as much as 30% of the total installation costs of solar panel systems.
This scheme ended in 2010, however, and there are unfortunately no grants available that will directly pay for you to install solar panels.
Despite the fact that you cannot have solar panels installed for free, you may still be able to secure an interest free loan of up to £5,000 for the installation of a solar panel system that can be repaid over the next 5-10 years, under the Home Energy Scotland Loan scheme that replaced the Home Renewables Grant.
Given the dramatic decline in the cost of solar panel systems, down over 80% in the past decade, a loan of this size will cover over 90% of the installation cost for a standard solar panel system.