Solar Energy Explained

Peak Sun Hours

Peak sun hours is not total daylight — it's the equivalent hours of full-intensity (1000 W/m²) sunlight. UK average: 2.5–3.5 hours. Southern Europe: 4.5–5.5 hours. Middle East/Australia: 5.5–7 hours.

Self-Consumption vs Export

The saving depends on how much generated electricity you use directly. Daytime home users benefit most. Adding battery storage increases self-consumption to 60–80% vs 20–40% without batteries.

Government Incentives

Many countries offer feed-in tariffs, smart export guarantees, or tax incentives for solar. In the UK, the Smart Export Guarantee pays for excess electricity exported to the grid. These significantly improve payback periods — always check current rates.

Solar Panel Output Calculator

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