are solar panels free

Energy Performance Certificate

This ensures optimum use of all solar electricity generated with any remaining energy flowing back to the grid.The energy generated can either be used to power appliances directly, stored in batteries, or sent back to the power grid for distribution to other places.

If you’re on our microgeneration tariff, when your excess electricity is sent back to the grid, we’ll pay you (in the form of a credit on your bill).Almost all systems installed in Ireland are grid-connected as a solar system will rarely deliver the full electricity requirement for a home for a full year.

Thermal Solar utilises evacuated tube technology to exclusively heat water and can generate up to 70% of your hot water needs from free solar energy. It works as follows:

Grant for Solar Panels

Is 4 kW solar enough for home

What can a 300 watt solar panel run

The dedicated solar hot water heating system can be a single tank (as illustrated above) or a dedicated solar tank can provide pre-heated water to a main hot water tank.

CSP technologies produce electricity by focusing sunlight to produce heat and drive an engine connect-ed to a generator. They’re usually found in countries with year-round sunshine, so are less common in Ireland.Given the constraints of CSP, solar PV panels are more popular in terms of demand, affordability and reliability for Irish homeowners and businesses.

There are three main types of solar PV panels most commonly found on the Irish market; thin-film PV panels, mono-crystalline, and polycrystalline PV panels.

Energy Performance Certificate

Do solar panels work with moonlight

Thin film solar panels are produced via the spraying of a thin layer of semiconductor material over an-other surface made of either glass, plastic, or metal. They are incredibly thin (around 20 times thinner than traditional c-Si semiconductor wafers) making them flexible and lightweight.

A thin film panel may last for over ten years, which is usually less than the average crystalline panel. However, with consistent technological advances improving the durability of thin films, they could soon reach a twenty-year lifespan.

More effective and efficient when compared to thin films and polycrystalline panels. Monocrystalline (MC) modules are made of a single silicon crystal. Being the most efficient and highest-quality panels, they’re also the most expensive.

Solar Panel Incentivessolar panels

about solar panels

Do solar panels work with moonlight
How many solar panels do I need for a family of 4

How many solar panels do I need for a family of 4

Most of the crystalline panels available in the Irish market are made of mono-crystalline and are usually made from a large number of small crystals.

Many MC panels fitted also use a new technology called PERC Technology (Passive Emitter and Rear Cell) designed to capture reflected light at the rear of the panel to improve efficiency.

Peimar monocrystalline solar panels, produced using a combination of innovative production processes and advanced engineering techniques, provide maximum output and high performance. This allows fewer panels to be used to generate more energy, ideal if space is restricted or environmental conditions are challenging.

Do solar panels connect to your meter

Modern design, using matching black cells, backsheet and frames with a long lifespan make this panel option increasingly popular throughout Ireland.

The cells on polycrystalline PV panels are formulated by melting together several fragments of silicon rather than a single silicon crystal like in mono-crystalline panels. Poly-crystalline panels are less efficient and usually need to be larger to generate enough energy but they’re also a cheaper option.

Matt black panels are also very popular in Ireland with both customers and city planners due to their vis-ually more attractive profile.

Do solar panels connect to your meter
Is 5kW inverter enough to run a house
Is 5kW inverter enough to run a house

Investing in solar panels can be a smart choice for households and businesses looking to reduce their electricity costs and embrace renewable energy.The above savings are a result of customers reducing the amount of electricity they need to purchase from their electricity supplier/. Please note that you will still pay the same amount on your electricity bill for standing charges and for the Public Service Obliga-tion, but you will reduce the unit rate amount (the amount of electricity consumed).

Below we've laid out an estimation of potential annual savings and payback periods for solar panel in-stallations.

We have calculated the savings based on estimated installation costs, solar generation from a south-facing roof and a certain level of self-consumption and export. Savings are based on Bord Gáis Energy’s standard unit rate for Urban 24-hour electricity at 48.19c/kWh (incl. VAT) and a microgeneration export rate of 18.5c/kWh from your electricity supplier.

Can a 5kW inverter power a washing machine

*An average solar PV system can save over 58% per year on electricity, based on an average consump-tion of a house being 4723kWh/units. 8 x solar PV panels or 3.24kWp will generate approx. 2757.5 units per year 3054kWh/units.

Solar panels usually last somewhere between 20-30 years. This does not mean that solar panels stop generating electricity after this timeframe, but rather it means that their efficiency will substantially re-duce.

This time indicates that energy production will decrease on the basis of what the manufacturer consid-ers to be the optimal average production.Perhaps the most common question we get asked in relation to solar energy in Ireland! Thankfully, modern solar panels still work properly during cloudy, wet and rainy days.

Can a 5kW inverter power a washing machine

Solar panels require minimal maintenance. Regular cleaning and occasional inspections to ensure they are free from debris and functioning properly are typically sufficient.

Solar panels help reduce electricity bills, increase energy independence, and reduce carbon footprint. They also offer potential financial benefits through grants and incentives.

You can apply for a grant through the SEAI website. The application process involves selecting an SEAI registered installer and submitting the necessary documentation.