Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, have become increasingly popular in the United Kingdom over the past decade. With the government’s push towards renewable energy sources, more and more households are installing solar panels to generate their own electricity and reduce their carbon footprint. But how do solar panels work with electric companies in the UK?
When solar panels are installed on a property, they generate electricity from the sun’s rays. This electricity is direct current (DC), which is not the same as the alternating current (AC) that is used in homes and businesses. In order to use the electricity generated by the solar panels, an inverter is needed to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity, which can be used to power appliances and other devices.
Once the electricity is converted to AC, it can be used by the property owner. If the solar panels generate more electricity than is needed, the excess electricity can be fed back into the national grid. This is where the electric company comes in.
Electric companies in the UK are required by law to offer a feed-in tariff (FIT) to customers who generate their own electricity from renewable sources. The FIT is a payment made to the customer for each unit of electricity generated by their solar panels, whether it is used by the property owner or fed back into the national grid.
The amount of the FIT payment varies depending on the size of the solar panel system, the location of the property, and the date the system was installed. FIT payments are guaranteed for a certain number of years, which means that customers can rely on a steady income from their solar panels.
In addition to the FIT, customers can also save money on their electricity bills by using the electricity generated by their solar panels instead of buying electricity from the electric company. This is known as self-consumption, and it is becoming increasingly popular as electricity prices continue to rise.
However, there are some limitations to how much electricity can be fed back into the national grid. The electric company may have a limit on how much excess electricity they can accept from a single customer, which means that customers may not be able to sell all of the electricity generated by their solar panels.
Overall, solar panels can work with electric companies in the UK to provide a renewable source of electricity and a steady income for customers. FIT payments and self-consumption can help customers save money on their electricity bills, while also reducing their carbon footprint.
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