The document outlines the growing importance of solar energy in the UK as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It discusses three main types of solar panels available—mono-crystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous—along with their efficiencies and pricing structures. Additionally, it highlights government incentives such as the feed-in tariff, which encourages homeowners to adopt renewable energy technologies while ensuring quality installation through the Real Assurance Scheme.

1. Installing Solar Panels In The UK - The
Consumer's Guide

2. Many governments have become increasingly concerned
about environmental issues and in particular the
sourcing of sustainable green energy. The fossil fuels
which are currently used to generate power are
predicted to run out completely within the next one
hundred to one hundred and fifty years. Due to
advancements in renewable energy technology, we
have seen many consumer products which can assist
in producing green energy. It is essential to have all
technology of this nature installed by a professional as
this will ensure you get the maximum efficiency from
the device.

3. Choosing A Solar Panel
Currently there are three main types of solar
photovoltaic panels available to the UK market, and
there are advantages and disadvantages to each. The
majority of panels are all photovoltaic, which refers to
the manner in which an electrical current is created
through exposure to sunlight.
The first of the three types of solar panels to be
considered are those made from mono-crystalline
solar cells. The advantage of the highly efficient
mono-crystalline solar cells is that they can be
installed in a much smaller space however they are
generally more expensive than other panels.

4. Alternatively consumers can choose a polycrystalline
solar panel which in this case the silicon is not cut
from one large crystal, but instead from a block of
joined crystals. However these panels are also less
efficient than the more expensive versions.
Amorphous panels provide another alternative in the PV
panel choice. This is a more modern method of
producing solar panels than with crystal silicon, and
instead uses a thin layer of amorphous silicon. Their
overall performance, however, is less efficient than
other panels.

5. Solar Panels Pricing
One of the main benefits of generating domestic power
using solar panels is that it reduces reliance on the
power provided by national energy companies, and
therefore also brings a reduction in energy bills. The
British government have taken this concept one step
further by introducing an environmentally friendly
policy to incentivise the long term use of renewable
energy sources.
The scheme is called the Feed in Tariff, and the basic
premise is that the energy companies are legally obliged
to make payments to UK home-owners who regularly
use renewable energy sources to generate their own
electricity. The scheme allows for long-term benefits as
all green energy suppliers will receive government
payments for a minimum of 25 years after the solar
panel installation.

6. The REAL Assurance Scheme was devised and
implemented by the Renewable Energy Association.
Installation companies who have signed up to this
scheme have guaranteed that they will abide by the
association's high standard consumer code from the
initial point of contact all the way through to
aftercare.
Renewable energy is often seen as a developing industry
and can be problematic when searching for quality
installers. It is for this reason that companies in the
industry are working very hard to establish and
maintain their reputations as providers of an excellent
service.

7. Solar panels are becoming extremely adaptable as well
as flexible, and are being utilised in a range of
appliances as well as on individual houses,
commercial and industrial properties. Dependancy
upon finite energy sources must be shifted as
resources are depleting rapidly, and society must take
the initiative to act now to find alternatives before
they run out completely. The arguments for solar
power are strong then, in that it is free, clean, and
renewable and with increased regulations introduced
for installers, this is leading to increased uptake of the
technology and seeing more and more businesses and
homeowners seeing the benefits of alternative energy.

8. Resources:
http://www.getsolarprices.co.uk/
http://ezinearticles.com/?Installing-Solar-
Panels-In-The-UK---The-Consumers-
Guide&id=6280963

9. Thank you for reading!

10. Thank you for reading!