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Veteran solar panels still going strong |
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25 Feb 2015, 8:38 PM
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A renewable energy firm has applauded the results of a recent test which set out to discover how well one of the first solar panel systems to be installed in the UK is performing on its 20th anniversary.
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Solarlec has spoken out about the test, which has been carried out on the UK's first ever grid-connected solar PV system to find out if it still has a 95% generation rate.
The domestic solar system, installed and connected on a ‘self-sufficient' property in Nottinghamshire 20 years ago - along with the UK's first SMA inverter - was tipped to be 20% less efficient 20 years on.But tests revealed the system was still going strong - its performance had in fact only deteriorated by a mere 5%.
The company said this was fantastic news for today's solar-powered homes and businesses. Director Ged Rowbottom said: "Solar is still in its relative infancy so it's incredibly reassuring for customers to know their systems can perform above and beyond expectations far into the future."
The system formed part of a multitude of energy efficient measures designed and fitted at The Autonomous House in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, by Brenda and Robert Vale.
So far, it has generated 33MWh of electricity over its 20-year lifespan - that's a financial saving of nearly £5,495 in today's prices - and this will continue to increase as time goes on. Back in 1994, the solar system had an estimated 200-year payback time. Over the past 20 years, this has dropped to just five years on average.
Ged added: "Solar technology progresses all the time and it's fantastic to see so many home and business owners adopting such an environmentally sound and financially beneficial form of energy nowadays. Two decades ago, it was impossible to image the impact solar would have on our lives - we have to thank early adopters like the owners of Autonomous House for leading the way."
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