The Department of Trade and Industry's Low Carbon Building Programme will provide grants for renewable energy technologies, including the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

These panels convert sunlight into electricity and could, over a year, provide a household with 30-50 per cent of its electricity needs. Solar PV is suitable for urban and rural environments.

PV systems generate no greenhouse gases, saving approximately 325kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year. In remote areas where grid connection is expensive, PV can be the most cost effective power source.

Sanctuary Housing Group projects:

Sanctuary Housing Association is not currently actively pursuing solar PV panels as a source of renewable energy due to the relatively high cost of purchase and installation.

When you compare the high cost of installation with energy savings over the solar PV panels' 40+ year life, it would take, on average, 12-15 years before any return could be seen.

We are, however, very interested to hear from anyone investigating solar panels as a source of renewable energy.

Renewable Energy links: