You already know that solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. But how? It almost seems like magic. Well, it’s magical, but while it's not an illusion, the science behind it—the photovoltaic effect—is fascinating. Considering the rising costs of heating as well as the effects of climate change, it’s a good time to invest in solar panels for
A couple who slept on their roof for 23 days to raise money for solar panels for homes on their street say they are now extending their project. Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell raised £113,000 last year after they braced rain, hail and snow by sleeping on the roof of their home in Lymouth
In the world of renewable energy, solar power has become one of the most popular ways to generate electricity. Being able to produce your own energy and be in control of your own electricity supply is a fantastic way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Tanjent have been installing solar panels since
The UK government has exempted retrofitted battery energy storage systems (BESS) from its 20% VAT, from 1 February 2024. From the Spring Statement in 2022, energy saving domestic equipment such as heat pumps and roof-mounted solar have been exempt from the VAT. BESS too were exempt, but only when installed alongside other energy-saving materials such
When the grid goes down, most solar systems that lack a battery will also shut down. But with batteries, a home can disconnect from the grid. Each day, the sun powers the home and charges up the batteries, which provide power through the night. Our team atBerkeleyLab explored what it would take for homes and
One of the oft-heard criticisms of electric vehicles (EVs) is that, although they may be zero emission at the tailpipe, millions of tonnes of CO2 is created during the generation of their energy. While there is some truth in this given that huge amounts of fossil fuels are burnt by power stations, an increasing amount
Oliver Dowden this week advised people to stock up on certain supplies – but some people have been doing it for years Kathryn is a firm believer in the 19th-century adage that we are only ever nine meals from anarchy. Having learned the skill of stockpiling from her wartime parents and grandparents, her first mini-foray
The government has confirmed that homes with flat roofs can now install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels without planning permission. As part of the confirmation, the government also removed the 1MW capacity restriction, which required businesses to apply for planning permission if its solar panels were to generate over 1MW of electricity. Announced by the
Be ready for when the solar kit turns up on your doorstep.
Households should stock up on candles and battery-powered radios in case a catastrophe cripples digital gadgets, the deputy prime minister has warned. Oliver Dowden urged people to prepare for being thrown back to an 'analogue' era if internet and power systems collapse. Details will be set out in an official government 'resilience website' –