Solar Technology and Feed-in Tariffs

If you are looking to install a solar system into your property it is important to consider which type of technology will suit your needs. There are two main types of solar power:

• Photovoltaics
• Solar Thermal Heating

Photovoltaic Panels generate electricity which will help to supply the energy you need to light and power the appliances and products in your home.

Feed-in tariffs were introduced in April 2010 to provide a financial incentive to generate electricity using photovoltaic panels and speed up the pay-back period on the initial investment.

Solar Thermal Heating heats your hot water system as a result of the sun raising the temperature of water inside solar panels or evacuated tubes which sit on the roof of your home.

There are also plans to introduce a Renewable heating Incentive in April 2011, to provide a similar financial inducement for the installation of renewable technologies that generate heat rather than electricity, including Solar Thermal Heating; although the full details have not yet been finalised.

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