Solar Energy

tigger30

I have solar panels which provide me with free hot water. Great, but expensive to install.

Does anyone else have any experience with this form of energy?

I'm thinking of fitting Photovoltaic panels to provide electricity too, does anyone else have this fitted? Are there any horror stories or good news stories about this?:question:

Cardew

If you do a search you will find a number of threads on this as well as solar hot water.

I don't think anyone pretends that they make financial sense.

Skiduck

PV panels are not worth the large expense

hostie

I have heard of people and businesses who cover the roof of their home in Solar panels and sell the excess to the national grid. I think there are grants available to cover part of the initial cost of this venture (I read about one in Red magazine in the July or Aug issue).
Other than that I am not sure. I would be interested to hear too though as I have been considering it since we are planning a new roof.

impster

Solar THermal: Go for it if your house is suitable - not all are. Requirments are a hot water tank system, and a south facing roof. For an average home the cost should be not a penny more than £3,750 maximum. Watch out for some cowboys who will charge closer to £10,000. Payback time around 5-10 years.
A good system will generate up to 80% of hot water needs in Summer and up to 20-25% hot water needs in Winter - so around 50% average.
Solar thermal is useless for home heating - so don't swallow that one from the cowboys either. IF they claim it's possible, ask for their credentials and get everything written down. Contact the SOLAR TRADE ASSOCIATION if any queries.

Solar PV - yes they're a morally great thing to have. But don't expect them to pay for themselves in your lifetime. Wait a few years and I reckon they'll come down in price significantly.

I work for an energy agency, so am surrounded by experts in these. Whatever you do, go for a proper specialist - not some cowboy outfit with expensive headed paper and salesmen in suits.

Cardew

impster wrote:

Solar THermal: Go for it if your house is suitable - not all are. Requirments are a hot water tank system, and a south facing roof. For an average home the cost should be not a penny more than £3,750 maximum. Watch out for some cowboys who will charge closer to £10,000. Payback time around 5-10 years.
A good system will generate up to 80% of hot water needs in Summer and up to 20-25% hot water needs in Winter - so around 50% average.
Solar thermal is useless for home heating - so don't swallow that one from the cowboys either. IF they claim it's possible, ask for their credentials and get everything written down. Contact the SOLAR TRADE ASSOCIATION if any queries.

Solar PV - yes they're a morally great thing to have. But don't expect them to pay for themselves in your lifetime. Wait a few years and I reckon they'll come down in price significantly.

I work for an energy agency, so am surrounded by experts in these. Whatever you do, go for a proper specialist - not some cowboy outfit with expensive headed paper and salesmen in suits.

I am aware with my contributions on solar energy that I must sound like a 'stuck record' but, whilst I agree with most of your post I would challenge your payback times.

Will you give us your figures to support that claim of payback in 5-10 years.

Of course you must include the cost of borrowing £3,750 - which at, say, 6% is £225 pa.

The average consumption of energy to provide Domestic hot water is 5,000 kWh, which if you have gas will cost in the region of £150. So using your figure of 50% saving, that is £75 pa. That will rise to £100+ if you have oil but you would do well to consider heating your water with Economy 7 in that case.

So in broad brush terms you will pay £225 in interest pa to save £75 pa. Then you have to start paying off the £3,750 capital.

Now I totally accept that you have to factor in that energy prices will increase in the coming years, but even if they triple it will still not pay back in 5 -10 years.

The problem as I see it is that no firm takes into account the cost of borrowing and greatly exagerates the savings for domestic HW.

We haven't even considered above the cost of the electricity to run pump and electronics, or repairs and maintenance. I am aware that the panels have a long life, but the pump and electronics??

Can we please have a reasoned debate on this as it is an important issue.

Lastly I accept the environmental issue is important and of course if anyone wants to fit solar on those grounds it is entirely their choice, but let us not confuse that with the economics of solar energy.

callansdad

I have looked at (but not in great detail) installing Solar Slates to my new roof.

I am aware that PV systems are not what they first seem to be but as we are paying for a completely new roof anyway ( the house currently has a flat roof and we are converting to a pitch), do you think that it may be a worthwhile investment.

I haven't went through thorough figures and i am not expecting people on this site to do my homework for me! I 'm just looking for a basic opinion.

I'm of the hope that the grant coupled with the absorbed cost of what slates/tiles would cost anyway would make it a more worthwhile investment than Joe Bloggs who just wants to pay for some large panels on his roof, although i know that it will cost more than normal slates!

Any opinions (nice ones please);)