Energy from the Sun

Humankind has used the sun for drying clothes and growing food for thousands of years, but only recently have we been able to use it for generating power...

The Sun is 150 million kilometres away, and amazingly powerful, as just a tiny fraction of the Sun's energy that hits the Earth (around a hundredth of a millionth of a percent) is enough to meet all of our power needs many times over. In fact, every minute, enough energy arrives at our planet to meet our demands for a whole year - if only we could harness it properly.

Solar Power Scotland can help harness that power, turning it into electricity or hot water. And because it's free energy, you can not only save money, but make money too.

Currently in the UK there are government subsidies available to help you install solar power in your home.

See our Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-in Tariff pages for more information.

* Kloben Solar Calculus Software Tool.  Calculation based on the following PROJECT DATA: hot water load of 140L/day, 60^oC, storage size: 300L, days per week of usage: 7,  SOLAR PLANT: 2 collectors, type SKY 12 CPC 58, total surface: 4.32m², slope: 45^o Azimuth: 0^o, piping losses: 1%, snow or dirt losses: 2%, cold water temperature: computed automatically, location: SELECTED PROJECT LOCATION: Aberdeen, Total months of usage: 12, Total solar fraction during the usage period: 70.41.

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In what ways can we use the sun's energy?

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic or photo-electric cells are also known as solar cells or solar PV. They convert light directly into electricity. You can get enough power to run a 100W light bulb from just one square metre of solar panel. The technology was originally developed in order to provide electricity for satellites, but these days many of us own calculators or garden lights powered by solar cells. Solar Power Scotland can help you generate electricity for your domestic needs, such as powering appliances and lightbulbs, and to help lower your home energy bills.

Read more about our Solar PV solutions

Solar Thermal

Solar Thermal, or solar water heating, uses heat from the sun to heat water via glass tubes in a glass panel on your roof. This means you don't need to use so much gas or electricity to heat your water at home.

This helps out your central heating system, and cuts your fuel bills.

As there have been great advances in solar thermal technology, it's now very cost-effective to install a solar thermal system here in the UK, and not just places like California or Australia.

Solar Power Scotland can supply and install a very advanced type of solar water heating panel. In the UK it can supply most of a typical home's hot water needs from April to November. The panel is made of a set of glass tubes. Each contains a metal plate with a blue-ish coating to help it absorb solar energy from IR to UV, so that even on cloudy days you get a good output. The air has been removed from the glass tubes to reduce heat loss, rather like a thermos flask. On the back of the metal plate is a "heat pipe", which looks like a copper rod but contains a liquid that transfers heat very quickly to the top of the glass tube. A water pipe runs across the top of the whole thing and picks up the heat from the tubes.

Read more about our Solar Thermal solutions

Bespoke Solutions

Solar Power Scotland offers customers unique bespoke Photovoltaic or Thermal solutions for to suit regardless of their geographic location and building structure.

Read more about our Bespoke Solutions