Solar Electricity - Your Questions Answered

How does the system work?

Solar Energy1. Daylight hits the photovoltaic cells and is converted to clean electricity.

2. The inverter converts the electricity from direct to alternating current, for use in the home.

3. When the solar PV system is producing more energy than is needed, power is exported to the grid. At night, power is imported from the grid in the normal way.

Does it really work in the UK?

Yes. The cells in the tiles & slates only require daylight to work, and will even generate energy on cloudy days.

A 48 tile or slate C21 e system can generate all of the electricity for an energy efficient home and well over half for a typical UK home. This graph shows the increasing rate of solar installation in the UK since 2001.

Does the system need batteries?

No, the system is connected to the national grid. At night, when the tiles & slates are not generating energy, electricity is bought from the utility company in the normal way. Excess electricity generated during the day, for example when you are at work, can be sold back to the utility company.

What is the difference between the tile and the slate product?

Solar tiles are designed to fit with a range of standard roof tiles and solar slates fit with a range of slate products (see below). The solar tiles and slates produce the same amount of power.

What range of tiles and slates do the C21e products fit with?

Tile:

Slate:

Cemex (Russell) - Grampian, Highland
Northstone - Slemish Mk 2
Redland - Mini Stonewold
Lagan - Flat Tile
Marley (Eternit) - Modern, Duo Modern
Quinn - Western slate
Sandtoft - Calderdale, Calderdale Dual
- Cassius, Rivius (with adaptor)
Natural slate - 600 x 300, 500 x 300,
500 x 250, 320 x 220, 300 x 200
Marley Eternit fibre cement:
Rivendale - 600 x 300
Garsdale - 600 x 300 & 500 x 300
Birkdale - 600 x 300
Thrutone - 600 x 300
Do the tiles need any maintenance?

Solar tiles and solar slates do not contain any moving parts, making photovoltaics a very reliable form of renewable energy. A simple periodic visual inspection is sufficient to check the system.

Next Read Solar Electricity - System Sizes


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