The ultimate guide to choosing your residential solar PV

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14th Mar 2024

With environmental concerns and the rising costs of energy bills, more and more people are turning to greener, more energy-efficient solutions. But taking the first step towards greener energy in your home can be daunting. It’s easy to get bogged down by the many opinions out there on solar panelling, and not know what would be best for your property and lifestyle. Thankfully, choosing the right energy solutions for you doesn’t have to be a challenge. We have put together the ultimate guide to rooftop solar panels to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about your residential solar panel system.

What is solar PV? 

A solar PV system is a green energy solution that comprises several solar panels, or cells, that convert sunlight into renewable energy via semiconducting materials, such as silicon. The energy solar panels generate is direct current (DC) electricity, and so an inverter is installed alongside your solar panels to convert this to the alternating current (AC) that most household appliances utilise. 

Solar panels do not need to be in direct sunlight, and are capable of running perfectly well on overcast days, or even in rain. Of course, the more sunlight they are exposed to, the more energy they are capable of producing. Residential solar panels are usually placed on the roof of your house, to free up space and give them better access to sunlight.

The number of panels needed in a system can vary depending on the size of your home and your energy consumption. A typical system for a 3-bedroom home requires from 6 to 10 solar panels. 

What are the benefits of solar PV? 

We can’t talk about solar panels without mentioning some of the many advantages that come with it. Just some of these benefits include: 

• Solar panels can save you money. Installing solar panels can help you save around £400 a year on your utility bills by reducing your reliance on the grid. 
• Solar panels can make you money. Any excess energy your solar panels generate that you don’t use can be sold back to the grid at peak prices through the Smart Export Guarantee. With an efficient solar PV system, you will soon see returns on your investment.
• Reduce your carbon footprint. By making the switch to solar energy, you also help the planet by reducing your use of harmful fossil fuels. This is a huge step you can take to help the UK reach its carbon goals. 
• Increased property value. The presence of solar panels can increase the resale price of your home, with research suggesting this could be by over £32,000.
• Reduced maintenance costs. By their very nature, solar panels are built to last. At The Little Green Energy Company, we offer a 40-year warranty on our premium SunPower solar panels. A bonus to this is that solar panels require very little maintenance beyond the occasional inspection or cleaning.
• Integrated with battery storage. Solar panels can be paired with battery storage systems, such as the Tesla Powerwall, to maximise your energy efficiency and store energy in the event of a power failure. 

Residential solar panels at The Little Green Energy Company 

There are many green energy companies out there that are happy to provide you with a sub-par product, but here at The Little Green Energy Company, we meticulously choose which products we install to ensure you get the best of the best. We work with two main manufacturers for all our solar panel solutions; SunPower and SolarEdge.

SunPower solar panels

Our solar panels of choice are the SunPower solar panels thanks to their excellent performance and 40-year warranty. SunPower has been pushing solar energy to new heights for the last 30 years, and are constantly striving to beat both their own records and any competitors. Their solar panels have been through vigorous third-party testing to ensure they deliver more energy, reliability, and savings over time than any other solar panel manufacturer. 

SolarEdge power optimisers

SolarEdge has revolutionised solar energy by creating power optimisers that can be added to pre-installed solar panels. These power optimisers are specifically designed to increase the energy output of your solar panels by converting their ordinary modules into ‘smart modules’. Each SolarEdge module is equipped with a unique SafeDC™ feature that automatically reduces the DC voltage to a safe level whenever the inverter or grid power is shut down. 

The Little Green Energy Company: energy solutions with you in mind

The Little Green Energy Company understands that every home is different and so every energy solution must be different too. For this reason, we don’t limit ourselves to offering out-of-the-box solutions to every customer. Instead we work collaboratively with you to offer customised solutions based on your energy needs, and lifestyle. This customisation can include the number of solar panels you would like installed, their placement, and even pairing them with the Tesla Powerwall battery storage. 

Green energy solutions should be about taking control of your energy. To find out more about our residential solar panel design and installation process or how solar energy can benefit you, contact us today.