Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

Jon_Tiffany

DonSwan wrote: »

The electricity generated can't actually feed back into the national grid, can it? It wouldn't be able to get past the first 240v step-down transformer. I suppose it might be used by someone else in the street, if they are at home at the time it is being generated. But otherwise the panel owner will be receiving the Feed-in Tariff for electricity that doesn't actually get used.

I live in a rural area, in one of only three houses downstream from the transformer. If I bought my own PV panels, would I qualify for the FIT, even though nobody might be using the electricity? Or do you have to be in an area with more houses in order to qualify? Does anyone on here know?

Yes the electricity will go past the transformer and into the national grid. Don't worry the electricity will be used and not wasted and you will qualify for the FIT. You can even get the FIT if you are off grid.

zeupater

Localweb wrote: »

Sorry, I'm a bit of a tidy bug, already binned the contract
Yes, my daughter informs me that they could have a separate contract and rent your roof from you drawn up. I decided the small saving sums involved were not worth a legal charge/claim being laid on my property. I am also peeved that initially I was shown a very 'simple' contract yet at the last minute this doozy of a contract was slipped to me so matter of fact. My best advice people is to get advice on these contracts before you sign away a lot of your property rights and agree to a hell of a lot of unfair terms

Hi

I take it that the supplier of the 'rent-a-roof' system you were looking at subscribes to the REAL code of practice http://www.realassurance.org.uk/real-assurance-consumer-code#tag5.6 ??, and if so followed the guidelines for 'rent-a-roof' http://www.realassurance.org.uk/pdf_information-regarding-free-solar-pv-systems.pdf ?? .... informing you of all of the information required ??

The REAL code & membership is supposed to be there to increase consumer confidence in this new business sector, however, I am surprised to find that members are being allowed to push practices up against the allowable boundaries at such an early stage ..... take also, for example, the Tesco(Enact) contract three stage payment clause (25%/35%/40%), what a surprise, the maximum allowable percentages in order to sit on the maximum possible cash pile at the earliest possible stage, whilst there are consumer oriented programmes on TV advising against payment up-front ..... REAL code to protect consumers ?, they should get real themselves, it's there to make someone serious money from the membership fees .... 'apple-cart'/'upset' ? .... I doubt it.

Localweb, at such an early stage in the development of the solar pv sector in the UK, it would be interesting to see what REAL would say about your experience and thoughts if either yourself, or better still, considering her profession, your daughter rang them ... :cool:

Regards

DonSwan

Jon_Tiffany wrote: »

Yes the electricity will go past the transformer and into the national grid. Don't worry the electricity will be used and not wasted and you will qualify for the FIT. You can even get the FIT if you are off grid.

This can't possibly be true. The 240v electricity would have to be converted to 4,000v using a massive inverter! That doesn't happen, and there's no way it can get past the transformer. If the electricity isn't used locally, then it must be lost.

John_Pierpoint

"You & Yours" (BBC R4) after noon today, will be exploring the search for cheap land to build industrial scale PV arrays; a sort of lease a field scheme - I'm not sure I want the countryside covered in what will look like blacked out green houses?

Presumably to make economic sense the land would need a 3 phase connection at least - preferably in the green belt just outside a major conurbation?

Jon_Tiffany

DonSwan wrote: »

This can't possibly be true. The 240v electricity would have to be converted to 4,000v using a massive inverter! That doesn't happen, and there's no way it can get past the transformer. If the electricity isn't used locally, then it must be lost.

Ok, it can and does happen. Firstly, you need to understand the difference between an inverter and a transformer. An inverter typically takes DC current and converts it to 240VAC. A transformer takes a voltage and converts it to a higher or lower voltage. Inside the transformers are two coils with different size windings. The process is completely reversible.

Why do you think they call it 'grid tied'....

John_Pierpoint

DonSwan wrote: »

This can't possibly be true. The 240v electricity would have to be converted to 4,000v using a massive inverter! That doesn't happen, and there's no way it can get past the transformer. If the electricity isn't used locally, then it must be lost.

Does not AC electricity just work like water in a pipe (rather than a river on a mountain side): Increase the pressure (Voltage) and it all starts backing up where ever you are in the network?

zeupater

DonSwan wrote: »

This can't possibly be true. The 240v electricity would have to be converted to 4,000v using a massive inverter! That doesn't happen, and there's no way it can get past the transformer. If the electricity isn't used locally, then it must be lost.

Hi

I know it's a little perplexing, but the way I understand it ......

The inverter converts the DC power from the array into AC, matches the AC frequency to existing grid conditions and voltage to a little over grid conditions, which makes the power available for export if it exceeds local demand.

A transformer is basically a pair of coils with a given winding ratio which uses current available available on one coil at one voltage to induce current at another voltage on the other coil .... whether the transformer acts as a step-up, or step-down unit depends on which side has demand, so when supply outstrips demand on the household side of the transformer it simply steps-up the voltage on the excess power and it becomes available to use elsewhere.

HTH

##Edit ... Seeing last two replies, watching 'Daily Politics' certainly slows down the typing .....

Jon_Tiffany

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

I know it's a little perplexing, but the way I understand it ......

The inverter converts the DC power from the array into AC, matches the AC frequency to existing grid conditions and voltage to a little over grid conditions, which makes the power available for export if it exceeds local demand.

A transformer is basically a pair of coils with a given winding ratio which uses current available available on one coil at one voltage to induce current at another voltage on the other coil .... whether the transformer acts as a step-up, or step-down unit depends on which side has demand, so when supply outstrips demand on the household side of the transformer it simply steps-up the voltage on the excess power and it becomes available to use elsewhere.

HTH

##Edit ... Seeing last two replies, watching 'Daily Politics' certainly slows down the typing .....

I might have posted my reply first, but your explanation is much better and more detailed than mine.:)

zeupater

Hi

Just a heads-up, 'third party' installations ('rent-a-roof') and the FiT biased motivation of companies operating them was raised as a concern in the energy and climate change debate in Westminster and was aired on TV this morning ......

Cardew

I think there is some confusion going on between high voltage transmission and the distribution grid.

In any case producing high voltages using a transformer is very simple. Most of us have devices capable of producing about 35,000 volts in our house! they are called televisions!