Category:
Solar PV
To tell if solar electricity is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
Do you have a sunny place to put it? You'll need a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south, and isn't overshadowed by trees or buildings. If the surface is in shadow for parts of the day, your system will generate less energy.
Is your roof strong enough? Solar panels are not light and the roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is placed on top of existing tiles. If in doubt, ask a construction expert or an installer.
Do you need planning permission? In England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, you don't need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as they're below a certain size - but you should check with your local planning officer, especially if your home is a listed building, or is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site.
 

Category:
Solar PV
You can make money on excess electricity by selling it back to the Grid through a scheme called Feed in Tariffs (FITs).
The Energy Saving Trust Solar PV Certification Scheme closed down on the 31st March 2007 and certification for products and installers is now provided through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

Category:
Solar PV
Costs for installing a solar electricity system vary a lot - an average system (2.2kW) costs around £12,000 (including VAT at 5%). Per kW, solar electricity systems can cost in the region of £4,500 to £8,000 per kW, but costs per kW should reduce as system size increases.
In general:
the more electricity the system can generate, the more it costs but the more it could save
solar tiles cost more than conventional panels
panels built into a roof are more expensive than those that sit on top but,
if you need major roof repairs, PV tiles can offset the cost of roof tiles
Savings can be considerable - around 1 tonne of CO2 a year. A 2.2 kWp system can generate around 40% of a household's yearly electricity needs. If the system is eligible to receive the Feed In Tariff it could generate savings and income of around £900 per year.
Maintenance is generally small - you'll need to keep the panels relatively clean and make sure trees don't begin to overshadow them.