Solar Panels

cathyrich

Do I need a south facing roof for solar panels?

Mcfi5dhc

cathyrich wrote: »

Do I need a south facing roof for solar panels?

Yes

The more degrees off south it is, the less you will generate. You can put solar panels on a north facing roof, but you'll increase the payback time dramatically

Have you got any more details? For example is it south west facing (which would be ok)? Also, are you thinking about Solar PV, or solar thermal?

For solar pv, you will need an MCS accredited installer you would advise you whether the roof direction is ok or not. For solar thermal, its irrelavant, cos it won't work anyway

Thanks

Mcfi5dhc

I've just read a few of your other posts. Is this solar question relating to a 200/300 year old house?

If so, that may be a big mistake

Both types of solar panels are heavy - I have a modern house and the installers doubled the amount of joists just to be safe. In a 300 year of house, there could be all kinds of problems. I'm assuming you have a slate roof (extra cost almost certainly), then potential planning problems - is the house listed?

I'm a big solar pv fan, but all the circumstances need to be right. Think about how hard it would be to sell the house afterwards for example?

cathyrich

It is the 300 year old house although the back part (west facing) is newer as its an extension. It's not listed (thank god) do you think it would reduce the value though?

Mcfi5dhc

I'm hoping for you it wouldn't

Purely on a techincal point of view, a west facing roof isn't ideal, but its not a total loss. Is it overshadowed by the rest of the house during the day? Or by trees? PV panels hate shadow

On a south facing roof, youre looking at ten years for the payback, with less than idea conditions, this could be up to 15 years (pure guess by the way, but it won't be less than the ten). Will you be staying there that long?

I'm guessing now youre not talking about solar thermal, which is good news, and that your planning to have PV

cathyrich

We plan to be here hopefully longer than 15 years. Solar thermal, what's that? What do you think would be our best bet? We are getting a heating system as well and after looking at the options are unhappily going for oil. We want to do something green though.

Mcfi5dhc

cathyrich wrote: »

We plan to be here hopefully longer than 15 years. Solar thermal, what's that? What do you think would be our best bet? We are getting a heating system as well and after looking at the options are unhappily going for oil. We want to do something green though.

I would say air source heat pump is probably the best green heating you could get. If youre there more than 15 years, solar PV is still a goer - but you'll need to get some quotes from a few different companies - do post back to say how you have got on. Also, please answer if the roof will have shadows in it (either from the house or trees - if its either or both, forget it).

Different types of solar:
PV - generates electricity. You'll qualify for a Feed-In-Tariff of 41.3p for everything you generate whether you use it or not. If you don't use it, it'll be exported to the grid and you'll get an extra 3p a unit for it

Thermal - makes hot water. Two main types

1) DIY - for those that are interested in saving money and have a remote chance of actually saving it. Typical cost £few hundred. Typical saving a year - £50.
2) Bought (usually around £5,000 for about £1,000 of equipment). Slim chance of ever paying it back. Typical saving a year - £50. So roughly 100 year payback.

They'll be a FIT next year for thermal, but if you are even remotely interested in solar thermal, wait til next year and it is announced. Solar PV owners (like me) who bought before the FIT was announced get far lower payments than those who bought after for some odd reason

cathyrich

Thank you so much, you've been really helpful. The roof just has some shade from a chimney pot.

We discounted air source heat pump because I don't think the produce enough heat unless we had underfloor heating which would be a huge undertaking in this house.