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1. Although the Sun is 150 million kilometres and only a tiny percentage of its energy reaches us on Earth (about a hundredth of a millionth) that is still enough to more than meet all our demand for electricity if only we could harness it efficiently.
2. Solar photovoltaic (PV) comes from the Greek phōs (φῶς) meaning "light" and "voltaic" from the name of the Italian physicist Volta, after whom the electric volt is named.
3. A 3 kWp solar PV system can generate over 2,500 kilowatt hours of electricity a year - that's around three quarters of a typical household's electricity needs*.
4. Solar PV panels don’t need a lot of maintenance – if they are installed at the correct angle the rain will wash down and keep them clean enough to work but they mustn’t be shaded by trees, power lines or buildings in any way.
5. The average pitch of roofs in the UK of just about perfect for generating solar energy and for self-cleaning.
6. Electricity generated by free solar panels for your home is ‘green’ and helps to reduce your carbon footprint – energy from renewable sources doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. A 2.5kWp system could save around 1000kg per year.
7. Solar PV panels last around 25 years or more, but the inverter will probably need to be replaced in that time and can be expensive (current cost is about £1,000). A supplier of free solar panels systems will be responsible for replacing the inverter.
8. The photovoltaic effect was first recognized in 1839 by French physicist A. E. Becquerel. It was not until 1883 that the first photovoltaic cell was built by Charles Fritts but the device was only around 1% efficient.
9. The modern photovoltaic cell was developed in 1954. At first cells were developed for toys and other minor uses before being developed to provide electricity for satellites.
10. Solar PV cells are usually made from layers of silicon. Because silicon is a semi-conductor, when light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine the more electricity is produced. The power of a PV cell is measured in kilowatts peak (kWp). That's the rate at which it generates energy in full direct sunlight during the summer i.e. at peak performance, but they also produce some energy even on a cloudy day.

 In the UK, most of our electricity is generated by using coal and gas as fuel, which causes the release of harmful greenhouse gases, like CO2, into the atmosphere. Harnessing the power of the sun is one of the ways we can reduce our carbon emissions and also reduce our electricity bills in the face of ever rising prices. If you haven’t already considered generating some of your own clean electricity from solar PV, then maybe now is the time to find out if your roof is good for solar PV.