Superstitious Idea About Trump

ronib

The sun isn’t shining here today.. …

Solar panels do not need bright sunlight to generate power, they work in normal U.K. daylight

You think??

Jojo1950

You think??

I know so!

Jojo1950 if you are doubting my post, put the question into your search engine…

Do they work less efficiently on dull and overcast days? Gg13. Logic would suggest so?

Jojo1950

You think??

Yes. GrannyGravy13 is correct.
‘Solar panels do not require direct, blazing sunlight to work; they only need daylight to generate electricity. While they are most efficient in direct sun, they still produce power on cloudy or overcast days by capturing diffuse sunlight. They work best in daylight but stop working at night.’
Celtic Green Energy
+2

‘How Solar Panels Work Without Direct Sun
Diffuse Light: Solar panels can absorb light that passes through clouds, producing around 10–25% of their peak capacity on cloudy days, says Eco Renewables Group.
Visible Light: Any daylight (not just direct UV rays) can stimulate the photovoltaic cells in the panels.
Temperature: Contrary to popular belief, colder, bright days can actually be more efficient for solar panels than hot, sunny days, as high heat can reduce electrical efficiency.’
Project Solar UK
+2

Did not know that GG13.
There is hope.

Our SP’s don’t produce anything much on a dull day even though it’s claimed they do. They need bright sunlight. Last summer was fab as they were working at capacity and we have invested in a storage battery. Most of the summer, our electric bills consisted of the standing charge and a few pence here and there.

Winter, we’ve been paying almost full whack because it’s been so dull.

We have solar panels and they are brilliant. When we had them fitted we were told that we could only fit them to generate 4kw hours or we could not benefit under the FIT scheme. That seemed so shortsighted to me especially as we live in an area where we could generate far more. We have the panels on the back of our house where they get the afternoon sun but we would have had them fitted front and back if we'd been allowed.
One of my family members does a lot of the research about retrofit for renewable energy and conserving energy and it is always being hampered by a lack of funding, a lack of suitable tradesmen and a lack of proaction by the relevant Government departments.

10 to 25 percent less hope in my case !! Solar panels in winter produce 10 to 25 per cent of peak capacity. Not very much then? So between 75 and 90 per cent less than in the summer?

ronib

Unfortunately the sun and wind are not going to shine and blow to order.
Wave power is also a good alternative source of energy. Green energy has not reached working efficiency without additional use of fossil fuels at the moment .

Running water is another good source. Flour for our bread was ground in mills worked by waterwheels for centuries, but that power can be harnessed for many other uses - making electricity is one use.

ronib

Do they work less efficiently on dull and overcast days? Gg13. Logic would suggest so?

We have had solar panels for over 12 years.

They do generate more on bright sunny days, not so much on really hot days. (over approximately 35°)

They are currently generating power despite it being overcast here in the SE.

I know the technology for solar energy is improving the efficiency quite rapidly, so newer panels should generate more than older ones.

Here is the latest from the government.
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-make-plug-in-solar-available-within-months

I expect you use a battery for storage? GG13

ronib

I expect you use a battery for storage? GG13

Not at the moment, we do get a nice cheque from the national Grid four times a year.

Storage batteries capacity and safety have improved since we had our panels installed, they are on our to do list

Interesting

Would be great if UK actually started production of solar panels instead of importing from mainly China. And, where are heat pumps produced- guess and you'd be right. Scotland has had solar panels on new builds for a few years.

We do make already manufacture solar panels in the UK. GB Sol is in Wales, and is linked to Cardiff University. I think there are others too.

MaizieD

If house roofs, warehouse and industrial buildings roofs are used, plus putting them over car parks (as they are at French supermarkets) I don't see why we have to have massive solar farms on green field sites. I think that if the government were a bit more proactive and initiated and financed, or contributed some finance to, the sort of installation which didn't use agricultural land, instead of leaving it 'to the market', we could possibly get this done more effectively.

As someone who lived by wind turbines and solar panels for 20 years which fed into our bank of Ni-Cad batteries you can imagine how long we have banged on about panels on all roofs.
From buying our first ones in the late 80s to the ones on the market the charging capabilities are a world away from then.

Solar panels good, provided they are removable ones, otherwise roof damage inevitable, as they do not last as long as a normal roof.
As to heat pumps, until they get the tech sorted they are being taken out by early adopters as useless.

I have a 2tier flush on my toilet, but later homes do not. I am looking at the sinks that fill the cistern with used water. Purifying water takes energy too.

If they standardised smart meters, then these could be put into new builds

Yes, the technology will continue to improve.
Brill, that you are getting money back GG13.

Is it worth the 150 children murdered to get better energy supplies. I guess by the lack of empathy from the majority here it appears to be so.

NannyC1

Is it worth the 150 children murdered to get better energy supplies. I guess by the lack of empathy from the majority here it appears to be so.

Who has said this ?

We are discussing being less reliant on fossil fuels.

A life lost in war or a terrorist attack is one two many.

Too many flipping iPhone 🤬

My understanding with solar power is that it’s daylight more than sunlight.