Renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, are increasingly being favoured by homeowners over fossil fuels. There are numerous practical, economic and environmental benefits to utilising solar energy in your home. This article will outline the practical requirements of installing solar technology in your home, as well as highlighting the many benefits associated with solar energy.

• Solar energy is renewable and takes advantage of the consistent power of the Sun, which we do not have to worry about using up.
• Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy does not release harmful gases into the air, meaning it is an environmentally friendly choice.
• You will have to pay an initial cost for the installation of the solar panels.
• You will need to check that your roof is strong enough to support solar panels.
• The roof or wall that you plan to place the solar panels on should face within ninety degrees of south, and shouldn’t be obstructed by trees or buildings if possible.
• You will not be required to connect to the power grid, meaning you can be self-sufficient and not have to pay monthly fuel bills.
• You will be able to store electricity in batteries to use as and when you need it.
• Solar panels have no moving parts and so often require little or even no maintenance.
• Solar panels make no noise when collecting energy.
• If you build a large enough solar energy system, you could sell power to the national grid by producing excess electricity and making your meter spin backwards.
• Check whether you need planning permission to install solar panels. In England and Scotland, planning permission for home electricity systems is not required as long as the solar panels are below a certain size.
• Your energy bills should be reduced as you will not be paying monthly bills to a power company.
• Solar energy systems are constantly improving, and you can even make your own solar panels.

Simon Godding, Agent, NFU Mutual Wessex
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