With more than 1.5 million UK homes now benefiting from solar panels, there’s never been a better time to boost your home’s energy efficiency. If you already have solar panels, or are thinking of installing them, here are our top tips from SolarTherm UK to help you maximise your solar generation and enjoy more free electricity throughout the year.
Use Energy When Your Solar Panels Are Generating the Most
Your solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours and are at their most efficient during midday and 3pm when the sun is strongest. To get the most value out of your solar PV system, try running high energy appliances – like your washing machine or dishwasher – during this time.
You can monitor your solar generation alongside your household usage using a smart meter to track how much of your own clean, free electricity you’re using instead of drawing from the grid.
If you are out of the house during peak generation hours, invest in smart plugs and timers so your high energy appliances can be timed to come on during peak times to benefit from the free electricity your solar panels are generating.
Run One Energy Intensive Appliance at a Time
To maintain peak solar panel efficiency, avoid using multiple heavy load appliances at the same time. Schedule your dishwasher to start once the washing machine has finished, for example. This ensures you don’t exceed your solar inverter’s capacity and draw from the grid, keeping your energy bills lower and your self-generated power higher.
Pair Your Solar Panels with a Home Battery
To save even more, considering adding in solar battery storage. A solar battery allows you to store surplus solar generation during the day and use it later when the sun isn’t shining, perfect for households in Essex, Kent or London where evenings are busy and energy demands are higher. Battery storage can significantly reduce your reliance on the grid, giving your more control over your free electricity and lowering your carbon footprint.
Keep Your Solar Panels Well Maintained
Solar panels are low maintenance but keeping them clean helps maintain maximum efficiency. At SolarTherm UK we recommend using a hose and soft cloth to clean your panels every 1-2 years to remove any stubborn dirt and debris that rainfall doesn’t clear. A build-up of dirt can reduce the efficiency of your panels, resulting in lower generation requiring more electricity to be purchased from the grid.
You can also use your solar inverter to keep you aware of your solar panels’ performance. Using the monitoring app to keep an eye on solar generation and logging any repeat drops in performance with our Customer Service Helpdesk, can help keep your solar panels working at peak production for decades.
Get the Best Export Tariff for Your Excess Solar Power
If your solar system is generating more power than you can use or store, you can sell the excess back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Choosing a tariff that works for your property can help maximise savings and increase the financial return from your solar panels.
Charge Your Electric Vehicle with Free Solar Power
If you own an electric vehicle (EV) you can use your solar panels to charge it for free by installing a solar compatible home charger. Using your home charger, you can schedule your EV to charge during sunny periods when solar generation is at its highest, or to charge from your solar battery in the evenings.
Power Your Home With SolarTherm UK
At SolarTherm UK we help homeowners across Essex, Kent, London and the surrounding South East get the most from their solar PV investment. From installation and maintenance, battery storage and energy optimisation, SolarTherm UK are here to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to cut energy bills, reduce your reliance on the grid or enjoy more of your free electricity, our team are here to make it happen.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for your free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
