DIMPLEX SOLAR PV
Product Information
In the light of ever rising energy costs, climate change and changing legislation, the need for a low carbon electricity producing technology that is future proof, cost effective and able to use an unlimited, sustainable source of energy is paramount - and Dimplex solar PV fits the bill perfectly.
Using free energy from the sun to produce electricity, Dimplex solar PV panels produce their energy from daylight, rather than solar radiation, meaning energy is produced even on cloudy days. Suitable for homes, businesses, schools or community buildings and with no moving parts, solar PV provides one of the easiest and most reliable ways to future proof against rising energy costs whilst reducing CO2 emissions.
How it Works
Photovoltaic' is a marriage of two words: ‘photo', meaning light, and ‘voltaic', meaning electricity. At the heart of photovoltaic (PV) technology is a semi-conductor material which can be adapted to release electrons, the negatively charged particles that form the basis of electricity. The most common semi-conductor material used in photovoltaic cells is silicon, an element most commonly found in sand. There is no limitation to its availability as a raw material; silicon is the second most abundant material in the earth's mass.
All PV cells have two layers of semi-conductor material, one positively charged and one negatively charged. When light shines on the semi-conductor, the electric field across the junction between these two layers causes electricity to flow, generating DC (direct current). The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity.
A photovoltaic system therefore does not need bright sunlight in order to operate. It can also generate electricity on cloudy days. Due to the reflection of sunlight, days with slight cloud can even result in higher energy yields than days with a completely cloudless sky
Factors To Consider
System siting and orientation
The location of the PV modules is very important in order to maximise the performance and energy yield from the system. The ideal site is south facing at an angle of between 30 and 40 degrees so that the array receives the maximum amount of irradiation possible. However; other orientations such as south east or south west can be viable with a relatively low drop in expected performance, as shown in the diagram below.
Shading
Any shade, from trees, neighbouring buildings or overhead cables can have a large impact on the performance of the PV system and the system should be sited to avoid shading as much as possible. Even if only a small part of a module is shaded performance is reduced. To achieve maximum efficiency the whole PV module needs to be shade free. Dimplex modules employ bypass diodes to minimise shading output losses, but A site survey carried out by one of our accredited installers will that your system is specified and sited for optimum performance.
