Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

oobuc5

all of these posts are set back in 2009 we are now in 2013 its november so it almost 2014 is there any up to date information on the changes in rules and regulations on here ?? because this government changes the rules as fast as it makes them .

what is the status of solar panels and tariffs in 2014 ?
Oh and im not interested in green dude explanations of megawatt grants and and tax deductables or save the environment ,

Just a plain and simple can i still get a free solar set up and the basic relevant facts like how many kw can i get from the panels !

Cardew

oobuc5 wrote: »

all of these posts are set back in 2009 we are now in 2013 its november so it almost 2014 is there any up to date information on the changes in rules and regulations on here ?? because this government changes the rules as fast as it makes them .

what is the status of solar panels and tariffs in 2014 ?
Oh and im not interested in green dude explanations of megawatt grants and and tax deductables or save the environment ,

Just a plain and simple can i still get a free solar set up and the basic relevant facts like how many kw can i get from the panels !

Welcome to the forum.

Provided your roof is suitable, and un-shaded there are still firms offering 'Rent-a-Roof systems to home owners.

'A Shade Greener' one of the very first in this field(and by repute one of the best) still offer such a system http://ashadegreener.co.uk/

There are other firms who will lend you the money so you can own the panels and get all the income. The cost of a system has reduced considerably to around £6,000 for a 4kWp set-up.

There are still a lot of cowboys operating in the solar 'industry'.

Most Rent-a Roof systems are 4kWp or less and generally need an un-shaded roof fairly close to South facing. The output depends where you live and the size of the inverter, but on a sunny day up to 4kW can be generated around noon - albeit generally it will be less.

2010

From the info I`ve gleaned from various sources about these free solar panels:

The company fits them for free but you are stuck with them on your roof for 25 years.

They give you about £150 a year towards your electricity bill but they get tens times as much from the FIT, about £1,500 a year.

You may have trouble selling your house because mortgage lenders are not too keen on roof renters.
You may even have trouble remortgaging.

The panel supplier gets the most out of the deal, the houseowner the very least.

Would this be fair comment?

splodger_seedswapper

i posted this query earlier on another thread - having read many many posts since - think i should have posted in here instead

hi there - i live in a housing association property - and they have just contacted myself and neighbours - re possibility of having solar panels fitted. i think they are due for a site survey within the next week or so, to see if our properties are suitable etc.

they assure me that this will not cost us tenants anything - and that we will get to use any energy produced during the day - i am assuming that any excess goes to them / contractors via feed in tariff

just wondering if there are any H/A or L/A tenants on the boards that have had solar panels fitted - to ask if it has really made a difference to their energy bills.

i'm on E7 (night storage heaters) so the bulk of my leccy usage is at night - am i really going to save £'s by having the panels - and using as much energy as i can during the day - afterall, the panels are going to be producing most energy - on hot sunny days when i am not going to need to use much leccy

i love the idea of having some panels fitted - especially at no cost - but i am a bit sceptical

having read a good few threads / posts on here since posting this - i am now having major doubts that i will see any real benefit by saying yes to having any panels fitted.

from an installation point of view - bungalow - good pitch - probably 40 ft long or more, roof - south facing - little / no shade - i'm assuming that the HA are rubbing their hands at the prospect of the potential FIT returns.

i'm now not convinced that i will see much in the way of dividend from an installation - if comments on this thread and others are to be believed.

will i only get an £80-150 a yr leccy saving - compared to maybe their FIT of £1000+ ?

i am almost ocd about constant/background noise - and apparently these things hum - which would send me up the wall for sure - also re noise, does the wind catch them ? as i am in a really windy pocket, especially when it's westerly. this place is far too noisy for me as it is - i can't be doing adding to it.

also - does the householder have to keep taking readings for the FIT etc - as that would be like unpaid work in my book - and as a side note to that idea - i don't fancy monthly visits from the HA either - to read any meters.

i love the idea of supporting renewables - but i don't like the idea that i get very little in the way of incentive/ compensation - for what is basically a rent a roof (that i pay rent for)

any input would be much appreciated - as site visit imminent - cheers - splodge

Dave_Fowler

Some inverters have fans in them to keep them cool. I have two PV systems; one inverter has a fan which is certainly quite noticeable if you are near-by, especially when it is sunny. My other system has a Solar Edge inverter which is completely quiet - even when it is producing 110% of its rated output.

Reading the generation meter is not an onerous task. Once every three months is all that is required. It is just like a normal leccy meter with a digital read-out. I read my two generation meters once a day, as I post my generation figures on-line.

If the HA is getting the FIT payments, may be they will be able to hold the rent cost down and you will save that way too.

Dave F

EricMears

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

also - does the householder have to keep taking readings for the FIT etc - as that would be like unpaid work in my book - and as a side note to that idea - i don't fancy monthly visits from the HA either - to read any meters.

I would have thought that there's every chance the meter will communicate with company HQ via a mobile phone link so that they get the latest meter readings without any dependence upon the tenant.

But if not, you'd always be free to reply with any requests to read the meter that you're more than happy to oblige but expect to be paid £25 (or whatever you want) for each reading.

Martyn1981

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

i posted this query earlier on another thread - having read many many posts since - think i should have posted in here instead

any input would be much appreciated - as site visit imminent - cheers - splodge

Evening.

I think you may be over-reacting a bit here.

Firstly, you're concerned that the HA will get more income than you. Well, they are investing several thousand pounds, and £1k+ pa is a very high estimate of their income. Probably half that for FiTs especially as they'll probably be getting a multiple property reduced rate.

Since the system (for you) is free, then the returns, probably £80+ (just for baseload and little effort) are also 'free'. Just money in your hands.

Doubt you'll need to take any readings, probably will be done automatically.

Wind wise, they shouldn't cause any noise, and are built to cope with relevant wind loading.

I've got 2 transformer inverters in my downstairs toilet, the noise is minimal, and can't be heard outside of the toilet. But if you're that concerned, then just ask to have the inverter fitted outside - plenty of models can do that.

Whilst you do pay rent for the property, do you make use of the roof/do you have any rights to make use of the roof? If not, then it doesn't effect the value for money you currently enjoy, so just sit back and enjoy the reduced leccy bill. Hopefully it'll offset any bill rises this year.

Mart.

John_Pierpoint

2010 wrote: »

They give you about £150 a year towards your electricity bill but they get tens times as much from the FIT, about £1,500 a year.

Would this be fair comment?

Dream on, two years ago the installation cost £10,000 and that was a realistic figure for the yield, but the yield is nothing like that now, realistically think half of that?

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

Noise ?

I've got one of these and it is like a new quiet fridge. It turns on at sunrise and turns off at dusk. Electronics are happier indoors rather than in a shed in the garden, you also need to keep an eye on it so you understand how it responds; so you know when to heat your water, wash and dry your clothes, fast freeze you harvest and cook all that food for Xmas. If it were to lock out because of electrical problems in the house, you need to notice at once or lose money.

I would think that something like the cloakroom off the hall is ideal especially if the meters are in there too, but remember the regulations about electrical equipment within reach of plumbing.

http://logic-group.co.uk/sites/logic-group.co.uk/files/images/work/small_images/PV-INVERTOR-PANEL-IMG_1093.jpg

2010

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Dream on, two years ago the installation cost £10,000 and that was a realistic figure for the yield, but the yield is nothing like that now, realistically think half of that?

So the householder gets £75 a year and the installer gets about £750 a year.
Hardly seems worth bothering for the property owner to have that eyesore stuck there for 25 years.

If this is all the payment they get (£75 a year) there must be some "smooth talking" going on!

splodger_seedswapper

thanks for all replies to my query - it is great to get others views :beer:

re the HA paying for the installation - they clearly stated on the initial letter - that they had received funding for this initiative - where from i don't know as yet.

re noise and housing of the units - i think they intend to put it next to the mains fuse box etc - which is in a very small cupboard / wardrobe in the bedroom - going by the picture posted above - looks like it needs a fair bit of space (the whole of the back wall in the wardrobe - which could result in me losing valuable storage space

i think i will have to speak to the HA again - now that i am armed with a few more questions - thanks again for your help