IF EVERYBODY in Derbyshire covered their land with solar panels we would no longer need to rely on fossil fuel to power the country.
As this infographic from energy efficiency specialists, The EcoExperts, shows, the UK could meet all its power needs by devoting one per cent of its land (2,635km²) to solar energy, which is about the size of the Midlands county.
The UK consumes about 351.8 billion kWh of electricity per year and would need a staggering 102,458,062 of typical roof tops panels to create enough energy.
An EcoExperts spokesperson said: “It is clear from these statistics that the more people who embrace solar power, the better, especially those in the south.
“It is obviously not feasible that we knock down Derbyshire and replace it with solar panels or indeed just cover all the land, but it certainly means if we all did our bit, then effectively the days of fossil fuel could be over.”
Solar panels work by converting the sun’s energy into electricity which can be used by the homeowner, or sold back to the National Grid.
A typical 4kW solar panel system can be installed from around £7,000. However it can save and make the homeowner up to £877 a year so as well as helping the environment it also pays for itself after a few years.
The spokesperson continued: “The price of solar panels have dropped dramatically over the last few years and if people want to a way to avoid the ever rising fuel costs then this a good way to do it. Lots of people with land, like farmers, also use solar panels as a good way to invest their money as there is roughly a ten per cent ROI (return on investment).”
For more information visit www.theecoexperts.co.uk
