solar energy

Renewable energy technologies, like solar panels, are effective alternatives to fossil fuels and will help you to meet your organisation’s energy requirements and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions

With global climate change and the need to reduce carbon dioxide so topical, emissions play an increasingly important role in the management of an organisation’s energy use.

The inclusion of a solar energy system can help transform a building from being an energy consumer to being an energy generator.

With electricity prices likely to rise in time due to supply shortages of fossil fuels, Solar panels are an investment worth considering for any new build, renovation or retrofit project.

ADSM can advise you on the options, recommend the best solution – and install, monitor and maintain your systems as required.

Find out more about solar energy by selecting a heading below.

Convert sunlight into electricity

Solar energy can be captured by Photovoltaic (PV) or solar electric panels: These panels transform the solar radiation directly into electricity.

This electricity is used throughout a building in the same way as conventional electricity imported from the grid.

Benefits of solar power

The benefits of solar power are:

A PV system reduces a building’s peak daytime power consumption from the grid, thus reducing electricity costs
As the electricity is generated where it is consumed, transmission and distribution costs are avoided
Inflation-proof electricity at the point of demand
Surplus energy can be sold to an energy supply company
For every 1kWh of solar electricity generated, 0.43 kilograms of carbon dioxide is offset, providing ‘green’ electricity
For every 1 kilowatt peak (kWp) (the amount of energy they generate in full sunlight) of PV installed, annual carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by as much as 0.33 tonnes
Each 1 kilowatt peak (kWp) can save approximately 325kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year, adding up to about 8 tonnes over a system’s lifetime
The technology is environmentally friendly, silent, and emission free
Modern Solar panels are capable of operating at relatively low lighting intensities and therefore providing energy when it is most needed
Every business installing a PV system on their building will be able to claim exemption from the Climate Change Levy
Utilising solar technology increases a building’s energy efficiency rating
With little or no maintenance costs, a solar PV system will reliably contribute electricity to a building’s overall energy requirements for up to 25 years
Planning permission is usually only required on listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas

Revenue for your surplus electricity

Electricity supply companies are currently required to source 10.4% of their energy from renewable sources (green electricity) in order to contribute towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions. This percentage will rise to 15.4% by 2015. As an energy generator, a building can sell any surplus electricity it produces to an energy supplier. By purchasing the surplus electricity that your PV system generates, energy suppliers are able to fulfil their renewable sources obligation.

ADSM can advise you on the differing energy supplier purchasing policies.

Monitoring your generated electricity

A separate meter is recommended as best practice – for ease of monitoring and continuous system performance evaluation.

It is also a requirement if Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are to be gained. (ROCS are digital certificates which hold details of exactly how a unit of electricity was made, by whom and finally who bought and used it, and they allow ‘green’ energy to be traded with energy suppliers).

Solar water heating

If you want to produce hot water rather than electricity, there is another type of solar panel available for this specific purpose – the Solar Water Heating collector.

These panels absorb the energy from the sun and transfer it to heat water.

ADSM can advise you on the best configuration of solar panels to meet your needs.