There are many reasons why you might be considering having solar panels installed on your property. In the last decade huge improvements have been made in increasing the efficiency of solar PV technology, and there has been a significant reduction in the cost of producing the various components. These two factors, along with the recent introduction of the Feed-In Tariff, mean that more and more people are considering solar PV as a means of powering their home.

So once you have made the decision to install solar panels on your property, you may be wondering, 'how do I make the most of them?' Here are a few tips to consider both prior to having the solar panels installed on your roof, and for afterwards, to ensure you maximise the benefits of your solar PV system.

First and foremost, it is important that the solar panels are positioned in such a way that they receive the maximum amount of sunlight. In the UK, this means positioning them on a south facing roof, although south-west and south-east facing are also fine. It is recommended to tilt the solar panels at an angle of between 30 and 40 degrees, and most importantly, position them in an area that is free from shading. This will ensure that your solar PV system is working at maximum efficiency.

There are many different solar panel manufacturers out there and you want to ensure that you choose the solar panels most suitable for your roof. First of all it is a good idea to check that the solar panels that you are being offered are MCS approved as otherwise you will not qualify for the Feed-In Tariff. Secondly you may also want to consider buying solar panels that are made using higher grade cells as this produces solar panels with high efficiencies, which in turn means they generate more electricity.

It can be difficult when deciding what size solar PV system to install, as the start up costs can seem expensive. However, the Feed-In Tariff that the government has introduced is guaranteed for 25 years for solar PV, and the income that you generate from it is linked to inflation and tax-free. This means you can expect a return on investment of between 8 and 10 percent. As a result, if you have a roof that has optimum positioning, it is worth installing the largest system (up to 4kWp) that you can fit and afford, as this will maximise your returns.

Once you have decided on which solar panels you would like installed and have positioned them correctly, they will need very little maintenance. Solar panels self clean as long as they are installed at an angle of 20 degrees or more, however it is good practice to wipe them down once a year. This will ensure that any debris such as leaves is removed and keep your solar panels in good condition.

Snow is not generally a common occurrence in the UK, however in recent years we have seen more than usual! Normally snow will not sit on the solar panels as they are coated in low friction material that will cause most snow to slide off and not settle. However if snow does settle for prolonged periods then you may wish to carefully clear the snow in order to ensure that you continue to generate electricity.

Once you have installed your solar PV system, you want to make sure that you make the most of the free electricity it is generating and buy as little from your electricity supplier as possible. To do this, it is worth conducting an energy assessment of your home, as this will highlight areas where you are currently wasting electricity. For example, insulating your roof and changing to energy efficient light bulbs can significantly reduce the amount of energy you use. Not only will this reduce your electricity bills, but you can also sell excess electricity back to the Grid thanks to the Feed-In Tariff. This means being energy efficient in your home can both earn you money and help the environment.

If you are already up-to-date with all the energy saving measures for your home, there are still changes that you can make to maximize the benefit of the free electricity generated by the solar panels. The solar PV system will generate electricity during the day, and so it is worth changing your energy habits in order to run appliances such as washing machines during the day rather than at night, when you will still be buying electricity from your supplier.

So really it is simple. With proper preparation prior to having solar panels installed, and a few small changes to habits afterwards, you can really make the most of your solar PV system!