5 Minutes with Gary Fredson
The ESE Group CEO discusses why going green has never made more sense
Recent Covid19 restrictions might have put your summer plans on hold, but it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom. If you’re going to be spending more time at home this summer, then why not invest in it by choosing renewable energy? We’ve been catching up with renewable energy expert and CEO of Liverpool based company ESE Group, Gary Fredson, on the importance of going green and how it can benefit you.
How does solar work?
PV solar panels capture the sun’s energy to produce renewable, clean and green electricity. PV cells do not require direct sunlight to generate electricity and will still work - even on a cloudy day! Energy from your panels is converted into electricity by a Solar Inverter and can then be used to power your home. Your solar panels will generate power at varying rates throughout the day depending on the weather and the amount of sunlight they receive, and that power is measured according to how much electricity is being produced when they’re working at peak performance, in kilowatts peak (kWp).
Solar technology is still evolving rapidly, meaning there are many more options available today that are more affordable and efficient than ever before. For example, while solar panels are still the most used array, new developments mean that PV cells are now being fitted into roof tiles and glass windows too.
How much solar energy does a solar system produce?
A 4kW PV system will generate around 3,500kWh of electricity in a year, which is enough energy to run an average 4-bedroom family home. However, the amount of energy produced by a PV solar panel system can vary due to a few things, including your location in the UK, the weather, the age of the panels, and whether they are shaded or not.
What are the benefits of using solar energy?
The sun gives off enough energy in one day to power the entire planet for a year. I’ve always said that solar is the sleeping giant of the energy world, and now it’s time to start waking up to the potential of solar energy in the future of energy generation.
There are many more benefits to using solar than just producing clean, green energy. Switching to solar can not only reduce your carbon footprint, but your energy bills too. Solar reduces your reliance on the grid and leaves you less vulnerable to sudden increases in energy prices. Even better, a solar installation could actually increase the value of your property by up to 15%.
What is ‘Battery Storage’ and why should we be interested?
Solar panels produce the most electricity during the day when many of us are at work. In the summer, when they are at their peak performance, many of us are making the most of the sunshine and spending more time outdoors, meaning our energy usage is a lot lower. Based on figures produced by PassivSystems (the largest solar metering company in the UK), you could be losing up to 70% of the energy that your panels are producing during these times.
By storing the excess electricity that you generate during the day into a battery, you’re then able to use it in the evening when the sun has gone down, and your energy consumption is usually at its highest. Reducing the amount of power you need to draw from the grid with a battery Storage System is another way you reduce your energy bills.
Our Battery Storage Systems work with Octopus Energy’s Agile Tariff and can help you make the most of renewable electricity with or without a Solar PV system.
Battery Systems are easy to use, simple to install, and are a great money saving asset. With one of our Battery Systems installed, you’d never be left in the dark in the event of a power cut: we’ll quite literally help you to keep the lights on and save you money while we’re doing it. To find out more and to enquire about how you can benefit from Battery Storage, you can visit our website.
What are your thoughts on EV Charging?
EV Charging is going to be the next big thing, with sales of electric vehicles increasing year on year. At the end of May 2021, there were over 560,000 plug-in vehicles on the road, that’s an increase of 66% from the year before, which is massive. The only problem with electric vehicles at the moment is the infrastructure of the energy grid, which means that, unfortunately, there just aren’t enough EV Chargers being installed across the country at the minute. But at ESE, we’re looking to change that by offering affordable domestic and commercial EV charge points right across the UK. Our charge points can work as standalones, separate from the grid, or can be powered from your Solar PV system. By using solar you could charge your EV for free, and still have enough energy to power your home. With renewables, the possibilities really are endless.
In my mind, nobody in the UK should have to pay for their own electricity with the technology that is currently available to us. Solar energy is the easiest and most affordable way to generate your own electricity. You can live semi off-grid, lower your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and help to save the planet, all by making the switch to renewable energy with ESE Group today.
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