PV Gap

Rosemary Said:

solar energy logo ideas?

We Answered:

Shine Bright

with a stars sounds cute

Jerome Said:

do solar pannels actually make enough energy to power a house?

We Answered:

Depends on location, pattern of demand, energy consumption and area available for panels.


In the UK, the average house consumes ~3600kWh electricity/yr (plus about 20,000kWh in gas).

To generate 3600kWh you'll need about 4kWp of panels, which can be fit on most detached houses. However, UK energy consumption tends to peak in Winter, when there is less sunlight. You can put in enough batteries to power yourself during the Summer for many days with 4kWp, but to power yourself at night during Winter you'd need significantly more panels. Maybe 16kWp or so, but I can't find insolation patterns yet.

Then during Summer, unless you're grid tied to send the electricity into the grid, you'd have to dump a lot of the power.


Right now a 4kWp system in the UK, grid tied, would mean that you produce about as much electricity in a year as you use. Efficient energy use can help here (our 4 person house used 2900kWh). But you'd have to sell it in the Summer and buy back during Winter.

This is more cost effective in the UK, as new solar systems qualify for 37.5p/Watt 'Feed in Tariff', being introduced in 2 yrs.