Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Top Solar Panels Irelandv energy they produce is used to power your home or business and can offset the use of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels. Solar energy is a renewable resource and can never be depleted, unlike fossil fuels which will run out eventually. Using solar power helps reduce greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are released when fossil fuels are burned.

The basic building block of a solar panel is the solar cell, which is typically a few square centimetres in size and protected from the elements by a layer of transparent glass or plastic. Several cells are combined in series to boost voltage and in parallel to increase current. These cells are then framed and wired together to form a solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) module.

Sunny Savings: Calculating the Financial Benefits of Solar Panel Installations

A PV system is most effective when it is oriented to face the sun, which moves across the sky with the daily and seasonal cycles. More complex solar installations can be mounted on trackers that reorient the panels to follow the movement of the sun.

Solar panels are a familiar sight on roofs across the UK, where they have been installed by private homeowners taking advantage of government renewable energy subsidies known as feed in tariffs. More and more public buildings such as schools, hospitals and council offices are also converting to solar energy to take advantage of these subsides and the cost savings that they bring.