This article is an introduction to solar panels in Ireland. To keep things straight-forward, I won’t go into every last detail. But we’ll cover the all key points. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to weight up the pros and cons of solar panels. Plus, if you decide to go solar, you’ll …
What Determines Your Savings With Solar? Annual solar energy production Panel orientation (ideally South) and your geographical location influence energy production. However, number of panels is the most important factor. More panels = more energy. Solar panel installers generally provide an estimate of solar energy production when they give you a quote. Alternatively, PVGIS lets …
Solar Panel Savings Calculator for Irish Homeowners Read More »
It takes a lot of electricity to heat water, and this can result in high bills. Thankfully though, there’s a solution: solar panel power diverters. A solar panel power diverter takes surplus solar electricity and sends it to your immersion heater. Heated water can then be stored for many hours until it’s needed. This article …
1) Big Reductions in Electricity Overheads Ireland has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. This is a major reason why solar energy is financially attractive here. Solar energy is a great match for businesses in particular. Specifically, most businesses use a lot of power in the middle of the day, right when solar …
NPV Calculator Formula The Solar NPV calculator is based on the formula: Where: NPV = Net Present ValueCIns = Installation CostCRep = Cost to replace the inverter at year 15i = Future value discount ratep = lifespan of the solar panel systemG1 = Electricity price in year 1PS = Price of electricity for self consumptionS …
Solar panels cost around €5,000 to €18,000 for houses in Ireland. A grant can bring this down to €3,200 – €15,600. Here are some specific examples of what you might expect to pay (ex-grant): €5,700: ~2 kW of solar panels €10,000: ~5 kW of solar panels €18,000: ~9 kW of solar panels + power diverter …
Mixing and matching solar panels can be very useful at times. For example, a mixture of large and small panels might help you fit the most capacity onto a small roof. Or you might want to add extra panels to an existing solar panel system. However, mixing and matching solar panels can cause problems when …
Why Use DC Over-Sizing? There are two main components in any solar panel system; the (DC) panels and the (AC) inverter. Conventional wisdom states that the inverter should be rated for the same power output as the panels. However, it’s becoming more and more common to have a higher power rating for the panels than …
Solar panels can provide energy for your whole house using only the energy of the sun. The journey that this energy take from the sun to your socket is quite the epic! You might be surprised by some of the steps along the way. Read on to learn more – the complete guide to how …
Why Monitor Your Electricity Use? If you want to reduce your electricity consumption, a good place to start is by measuring it accurately. The old-fashioned way to do this was to read your electricity meter daily. But today there are much more advanced ways to monitor your electricity use. Specifically, you can now buy a …
Thousands of people like you are going solar. But are solar panels worth it in Ireland? Solar panels can give you big savings on your electricity bills. And you can even earn money by selling surplus solar electricity to the grid. However, there’s also a significant upfront cost. This article will help you to weight …
Are Solar Panels Worth It In Ireland? (Costs vs Savings) Read More »
Ireland is behind on reducing emissions. However, one key sector of our economy is already right on track to with decarbonising: Electricity generation. But can we reach even higher targets for variable renewable power by 2030? To answer this question, we first need to understand our current electricity generation mix: Ireland’s Electricity Generation Mix for …
Emissions Reductions: One Key Sector That’s Already On Track Read More »
There’s no doubt about it: Shade is not good for solar PV panels. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about the true effects of shade. So let’s clear up the misconceptions. Knowing more about solar and shade will help you design a solar PV system that’s both more productive and more cost effective. Christmas …
This is an idea I had a few months ago. After lots of research I’ve decided not to develop it, at least for the moment. However, I will share the proposal in case it might be useful for somebody else. Perhaps you’ll build on the idea or adapt it idea for a better use. Click …
d-Lumen: A Proposed System for Cost-Effective Water Heating From Solar PV Read More »
What Exactly is a Smart Meter? To understand smart meters, your first need to understand old-style electricity meters. Old-style electricity meters are very simple: The only thing they do is keep a tally of how much electricity has been used since the meter was installed, just like the mile counter on your car. Smart meters …
There are two main kinds of electric shower used in Ireland, and they work in very different ways: Pumped showers are fed with both hot and cold water. They use a mixing valve to blend them together to provide water at a comfortable temperature for the user. Instantaneous Electric Showers are fed with cold water …
Efficiency is one of the most talked-about topics in solar, but also one of the least understood. So what does the efficiency of a solar panel really mean? Definitions Solar panel efficiency is the electrical power output divided by the available solar power. For example, if a solar panel produces 400W of electricity from 2000W …
Note: The easiest way to calculate solar NPV is with our handy Solar NPV Online Calculator. Solar PV is a big investment, and you need to carefully consider the cost and return before going ahead. Net Present Value (NPV) is a calculation that can help you to decide if solar PV is a good idea …
Calculating Net Present Value for Solar PV Systems (For Businesses) Read More »
If you’re thinking of buying a solar PV system then you’ll need to get a site survey done first. Here are the main reasons why: To find out if your location is suitable for solar PV So the surveyor can learn how you use electricity. This helps him/her to design your system in a way …
Solar panels depend on light from the sky to make electricity. Therefore, facing them the right direction will allow your panels to produce the most power at the most important times. Read on or watch the video to find out why South is often, but not always, the best direction for solar panels in Ireland. …
