Welcome to our January email newsletter.

Happy New Year! Although January is almost over, the team have had a blistering start to 2024 with new projects, new clients and jam-packed calendars.

As we (hopefully) start to leave winter behind and welcome in spring, now is a great time to start thinking about annual maintenance of your electrics and renewables around your home or business. Back in our November Blog, we discussed the servicing on Solar PV panels that can be carried out either by yourself or certified installers such as Carter Electrical Installation Ltd to get the most out of your panels, and our December Blog reminded you of the importance of safety checks on your appliances and electrical systems, to keep you and your business safe.

This month, we've already been out and about servicing and cleaning Solar PV panels, installing bird mesh to stop unwanted pigeons from nesting under the panels, and ensuring they are sparkling clean to help maintain peak performance. At Carter Electrical, we will come out and look at your panels even if they weren’t fitted by us!

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today to book in your Spring Clean and get your Solar PV panels serviced and ready for the warmer, sunnier days ahead.

Kind regards,

Jon Carter

0118 967 7033

office@carter-electrical.co.uk

Product of the Month

Our January Product of the Month is the Growatt Inverter range - a brand of solar inverters that are affordable and user-friendly. An inverter is a device that is used to convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used in homes and businesses. Growatt Inverters are also capable of storing excess energy generated by solar panels in batteries for later use. Growatt offers a wide range of products, including on-grid PV inverters, microinverters, commercial and industrial PV inverters, utility-scale PV inverters, energy storage, and more.

Growatt inverters often come with advanced features such as multiple MPPT inputs, which allow for optimal energy harvesting even in situations where panels are partially shaded or oriented in different directions. Other features may include built-in monitoring systems, Wi-Fi connectivity for remote monitoring and control, and compatibility with battery storage systems for storing excess energy.

Lastly, another feature of Growatt inverters that contributes to both safety and reliability is the use of natural convection cooling, rather than a mechanical cooling system. There are fewer moving parts, which means less maintenance and less risk of malfunctions.

Find out more and view the full Growatt range here.

UK use of gas and coal for electricity at lowest since 1957

Figures show that, in 2023, the UK experienced a significant decrease in electricity generated by gas and coal power plants, marking a 20% decline compared to the previous year. This drop led to fossil fuel consumption reaching its lowest level since 1957. Gas power plants contributed 31% of electricity generation, while the remaining coal plant accounted for just 1% of the UK's power demand.

The decrease in fossil fuel usage was attributed to a rise in renewable energy generation, increased electricity imports from France, driven by increased nuclear power generation there, and Norway, where hydropower use is increasing, and a long-standing trend of declining electricity demand. Renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro, and biomass power, constituted a record 42% of the UK's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels for the third time this decade. Combined with nuclear power, low-carbon electricity accounted for 55% of the UK's electricity in 2023.

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