Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

seejayess

. . . Surely the Annual figure is very weather dependant and, to some extent, the position of the array with respect to possible Winter shading and angle of elevation.
ASG quote 2800 Kwh as the ideal they try to achieve to meet their predicted calculations, that's the very reason they've replaced our panels with those of a higher capacity.

Cardew

seejayess wrote: »

. . . Surely the Annual figure is very weather dependant and, to some extent, the position of the array with respect to possible Winter shading and angle of elevation.
ASG quote 2800 Kwh as the ideal they try to achieve to meet their predicted calculations, that's the very reason they've replaced our panels with those of a higher capacity.

Agreed, there are a number of factors that affect output. However as the majority of ASG panels(certainly a year ago) were in the S. Yorks area, I would have thought the weather wasn't the cause of the disparity between outputs.

In fact I am surprised that ASG even fitted a system if there was going to be winter shading.

A year ago they were apparently inundated with applications and it seemed they only fitted to roofs that met their minimum requirements.

As your output is below their expectations, I can understand they want to fit higher output panels to maximise their FIT income.

seejayess

Cardew wrote: »

<snip> . . In fact I am surprised that ASG even fitted a system if there was going to be winter shading.

So were they (in hindsight) :think:

zeupater

seejayess wrote: »

. . . Surely the Annual figure is very weather dependant and, to some extent, the position of the array with respect to possible Winter shading and angle of elevation.
ASG quote 2800 Kwh as the ideal they try to achieve to meet their predicted calculations, that's the very reason they've replaced our panels with those of a higher capacity.

Hi

The only reason they've changed the panels is to maximise their own FiT income ... 18x180W panels (3.24kWp) to 18x210W (3.78kWp), so with the spec change being outside the original contract you probably should have charged them for special access .

Anyway, I'd love to know what will happen to the panels which they removed as they either have very little value or the rent-a-roof scheme operator is bending the rules and using them on other installations ......

'2.21. In May 2011 the FIT Amendment Order clarified the situation in relation to the re-use of generating equipment. Where Ofgem has reason to believe that any generating equipment has formed part of an installation previously accredited under the FIT or RO schemes, the installation will not receive FIT accreditation.'

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Documents1/FIT%20generator%20guidance_final.pdf

..... Interesting ..... I wonder when someone will audit installations to check if everyone is playing fair ....


As an aside ..... the annual generation figure is weather dependant but averages out over time for a specific location.

HTH
Z

spam28red

A quick question that I've not seen addressed: as I think my main roof would only fit about 8 panels, and, therefore, would not qualify for a "free fit", is it possible to use my extension roof, which is a floor lower, but still in full south-facing sun, as well?

zeupater

spam28red wrote: »

A quick question that I've not seen addressed: as I think my main roof would only fit about 8 panels, and, therefore, would not qualify for a "free fit", is it possible to use my extension roof, which is a floor lower, but still in full south-facing sun, as well?

Hi

I'd guess that the R-A-R companies would stay clear due to the higher building casting a shadow onto the lower roof in the morning or afternoon, depending on which side the extension is on.

HTH
Z

Froggitt

What about side of house, instead of roof?

zeupater

Froggitt wrote: »

What about side of house, instead of roof?

If you mean mounting vertically on the wall then I'd reckon that the answer would be the same as the total annual generation would be severely impaired ..... if you are referring to a wall mounting frame which would set the panels to an optimal angle, this would just add cost to the installation therefore the R-A-R scheme operators would probably still have no interest ....

All the 'free' scheme operators are interested in is maximising the return on their investment, therefore anything which would reduce the performance of a system, such as shade, or increase the cost, such as complex scaffolding, just increase their payback period and are discounted in favour of more profitable installations ...

HTH
Z

spam28red

Both roofs are south facing, one below the other so there are no shadows cast on each other, maybe possibly very late in the day when the sun has moved round to the west. Their pitches and size are about the same, too. I was more concerned about where the inverter would be sited and would the two roofs be able to be wired in to the same inverter?

zeupater

spam28red wrote: »

Both roofs are south facing, one below the other so there are no shadows cast on each other, maybe possibly very late in the day when the sun has moved round to the west. Their pitches and size are about the same, too. I was more concerned about where the inverter would be sited and would the two roofs be able to be wired in to the same inverter?

Hi

The only time that there will be no shadow cast will be before solar noon, with the shadow increasing by 15 degrees per hour as you move away from noon. Unless the lower roof is very long and the panels can be mounted as far away from the high roof as possible, or the lower roof stands forward of the higher one, you will lose a considerable amount of generation in the afternoon.

If you are looking at a 'free' system it is unlikely that you would get one. The R-A-R scheme operators tend to buy and fit standard kits of a standard size (3.3kWp for some ?), but to compensate for the shadow you mention and maximise production the installer would really need to spend more on the kit which would reduce the profitability of the site.

If you're looking at buying your own system then options would be available, including better specification inverters, microinverters or DC power optimizers. Regarding one inverter, if the panels on the roofs are not too far away from each other then one inverter could do ... possibly a SB4000TL would work well using a MPPT for each roof, and possibly switching the 'opti-trac global peak' system on on that unit should help with the shading issue .... talk to your installer on this, or, preferably, your installer should talk to you on this ..

HTH
Z