Solar panels

Ginger_Nuts_2

Sure other people have noticed it, but I know around belfast/ards/bangor/carrick areas, theres a lot of people getting solar panels installed on their roofs. Maybe a bit daft to ask, but apart from hot water, what are the benefits involved? Can it be linked into your heating system, what does it actually supply, and what does it cost. Is it right there is a grant available to supplement costs?

questions questions questions

ltwf1964

I think I'm right in saying that grants are currently not available in NI

solar panels-you have 2 choices-either hot water,or solar photo-voltaic cells,for electricity generation.PV is usually more expensive than hot water system,which does not require bright sunshine per se to generate heat,just as long as there is light they will start working.

I think the HW types are around £2500....

wacko911

Councils are putting them in around portadown so I guess its in most areas now.

seatzie

Ulster Bank were/are doing a "solar mortgage" where they loaned you the money to get the more expensive type put in at the rate of your mortgage rather than personal loan rates - BUT it didn't look very attractive to me so I contacted the Solar company direct, for my house in East Belfast they were quoting roughly 10k to put the PV ones on the roof!!!!

needless to say I'll stick to subsidising NIE until they come down in price!

steveymp

Slight draw back with solar panels in this country is the lack of the yellow ball in the sky penetrating the clouds:o

The council houses everywhere here are having them installed, but they are big ugly things and seem to be for the water only, just keep paying NIE and increasing my yearly dividend;) (runs to hide:D )

Seriously contemplating a wind turbine myself, the price of energy will continue to rise and rise:o

seatzie

PV ones don't need actual sun shining directly on them they just need the sun to actually rise, as long as there is daylight and no shadow from lampposts,chimneys etc across the panel they kick in..................apparently