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This article has been written by a number of academic tutors:

The cost of solar panels comes in at £130 per 20 Watts of power therefore to deliver for a four bedroom home would cost £16250 in set up fees and would need approximately 15.5 metres squared of space. The major advantage of solar panels over wind turbines is that you don’t need a windy location as most locations receive enough daylight. The solar panels are cheaper on a small scale and are likely to give a more trustworthy output than a micro turbine. Solar panels do not make any volume of noise which means that neighbours are probably not likely to complain about their installation. Solar panels could also be thought to be fewer unsightly than a turbine as they are flat against a roof again reducing possible complaints from neighbours.

Solar panels have fewer moving parts therefore are fewer likely to develop a fault reducing maintenance costs. The maintenance costs are said to be minimal as the panels will just need cleaning and possibly resealing which can be acheived by the customer rather than the wind turbines which need a trained engineer every year. Solar panels also have a life expectancy of more than thirty-five years where as wind turbines only have a life expectancy of twenty years.

The main negative point that we tutors recognise of solar panels is that England is not a very sunny place but with the present climate change solar panels are going to be a better investment for the future than wind turbines. Also the solar panels do work when the sun is not out they just do not produce quite as much power.

Case Studies – as deemed important by the academic tutor community:

Neeld crescent in the borough of Poplar is made up of of a group of flats that were built in 1953, there was no central heating just coal fires. With the take advantage of of solar panels these 98 flats have 70% of their hot water created for free. The government’s clear skies scheme paid for 50% of the set-up costs. The take advantage of of solar panels among poorer communities is excellent as not only does it reduce carbon dioxide emissions but it also eases the burden on their bank accounts. Commercially solar panels have been employed at the Malta stadium 70 flat panels have been applied covering over 120m2. The power generated from these panels heats a 50/100 size Olympic swimming pool and all the hot water in the building in which not just football is played but also squash and in which there are also catering facilities.

It is clear from these case studies that solar panels are a viable solution that we should be using more of in this country.

A great way to enforce a wider take advantage of of solar panels and or wind turbines would be to have a minimum percentage of renewable fuel that must be provided to each new building just as new buildings must now have proper insulation and double glazing.