Mitsubishi Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
PV Packs are a new addition to Mitsubishi Electric's photovoltaic product range to support the reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Mitsubishi Electric PV (Photovoltaic) Packs generate electricity, lowering the amount that you need to purchase from your utility supplier, reducing both your household CO2 emissions as well as your energy costs. Furthermore, under the Feed-in Tariff or Low Carbon Electricity, eligible PV Pack installations can earn an elevated tariff for every unit of electricity generated for a period of 25 years.
PV modules are mounted on an un shaded south facing (or near south facing) roof and use light from the sun to generate electricity. The output from the modules is matched with your household's electricity supply by an inverter. The inverter ensures that its output voltage is slightly higher than that coming in from the grid, which means your appliances will use the electricity from your PV system before they start drawing from the grid, thus reducing your energy consumption.
If your PV system is generating more than is required by your appliances at any given moment, the surplus energy you generate will be exported onto the grid.
Because the output varies with external light conditions, the referenced output from a PV system is always the yield achieved over a full calendar year, rather than its capacity to drive a particular appliance at any given point in time.
To put this into context, consider that a typical 3 bedroom house with gas heating consumes 3300kWh of electricity per year at a cost of around £400. The total gas and electricity consumption of the house results in CO2 emissions of around 5 tonnes.
There are several benefits of installing a PV system on your property. Firstly, while you consume the electricity that you generate you avoid the cost of purchasing that electricity from the grid. As electricity prices are expected to rise sharply over the next few years, the annual value of these savings is likely to increase.
Secondly, under the Feed-in Tariff, for a period of 25 years you are entitled to a payment from your supplier for each unit of electricity that you generate, whether you use it or not. The amount you earn depends on the type of system you have, and if you generate more electricity than you need, the Feed-in Tariff provides for an additional sum for any electricity exported. Your installer will be able to confirm which category your system falls into.
The owners pack provided as part of your PV Pack installation explains how to sign up to register for the Feed-in Tariff. Finally, of course, you will be reducing your household emissions. The Government calculates that you will save 568 grams of CO2 for each unit of electricity that you generate, whether you use it or export it.
How do I benefit from it?
Assumptions
Annual Generation 1,778kWh
Generation Tariff 41.3p per kWh
Cost of Grid Electricity 10p per kWh
Export Tariff 3p per kWh
Proportion Consumed/Exported 50/50
Benefits
Generation Tariff Income £734
Savings on Grid Electricity £89
Export Income £26
Total Annual Financial Benefit £849
Annual CO2 Savings 1 Tonne
A clear, uninterrupted and un shaded section of roof is required with a south or near south orientation. The roof needs to be large enough to accommodate the modules (the smallest system measures 3.5m x 3.34m), structurally sound and built using materials that are compatible with one of the fixing systems available with the PV Packs.
Of course, the roof also has to be your own, or to be owned by someone that is happy for the installation to go ahead. There are essentially two types of installation; on-roof and in-roof.
An on-roof system involves leaving the existing tiles in place whilst fixing brackets to the roof trusses to which a framework is attached. The modules are mounted closely to the roof tiles to ensure the framework is discrete or hidden. An in-roof system, meanwhile, involves removing a section of tiling and replacing it with the modules, giving a more streamlined finish. When installing onto an existing roof it is usually preferable to use an on-roof fixing system.
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