Free solar panel discussion

Nang

Doc_N wrote: »

Great stuff, Nang - and incredibly useful. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to do this. Your site's becoming a very valuable resource.

The only other variable I'd be interested in seeing, if it's at all possible, would be the pitch of the three roofs. Simply because the pitch makes quite a difference to the yield, according to the time of year.

Sorry, bit of a delay for this response, harder to find a protractor than I thought.

Got pitch for Myself and Fundire, on site now. Still waiting for confirmation from Max.

Fundire's roof is 9 deg steeper than mine, it will be interesting to see the effect this has.

slacky555

Nang wrote: »

Sorry, bit of a delay for this response, harder to find a protractor than I thought.

Got pitch for Myself and Fundire, on site now. Still waiting for confirmation from Max.

Fundire's roof is 9 deg steeper than mine, it will be interesting to see the effect this has.

I always thought between 30-40 was best but if Fundire is 49 they will gain in winter but as an average all year round should be not as good but the summer figures seem fine???

furndire

I was told that optimum was less than ours, but Shadergreen would have run with it, Ours is a verrrry long roof, and they had thought about putting a larger system than 4kw on it. I decided my pension pot would be better invested in panels than in an annuity, at least I get 25 years out of it, and if not, it will be a legacy for family. I think we are saving about 4/5 kw a day on electric on average - we seem to be heavy users!!!!

iscamaid

Hi

I wonder if anyone could advise. I have recently been surveyed by Homesun and so far have been happy with their professionalism and helpfulness. They have said we qualify for free solar panels and have sent the legal documentation to sign. I have however been informed that in another year the government is bringing in a new scheme which is an improvement on the current system. Allegedly the new scheme will be government run and it will enable you to purchase your panels on an interest free loan which can be repaid through the FIT electricity generated. This new scheme enables you to "own" the solar panels and does not involve renting out your roof for 25 years. Help - have I been misinformed? Apologies if this has already been discussed I have read through many of the pages of discussion but have not see this new scheme mentioned. I really do not want to sign this if I find I am locked into something when there is another better scheme later on.

Last edited by iscamaid; Today at 10:05 PM.

Gizmosmum_2

Sounds like either the pay as you save scheme that the Energy Saving Trust has been piloting for the last few months or the Green Deal which is due out in Autumn 2012. There's no sign whatsoever of renewables being included in the Green Deal and I'm not sure where the funding would come from to service pay as you save. There's going to be a green investment bank next year but I'd understood this was to provide finance for things like large scale wind etc rather than microgen.

furndire

Ref the pitch of the roof, the snow didn't stay on the roof - probably due to the steep pitch, so we have only had a few days this month when nothing at all was produced.

iscamaid

Gizmosmum wrote: »

Sounds like either the pay as you save scheme that the Energy Saving Trust has been piloting for the last few months or the Green Deal which is due out in Autumn 2012. There's no sign whatsoever of renewables being included in the Green Deal and I'm not sure where the funding would come from to service pay as you save. There's going to be a green investment bank next year but I'd understood this was to provide finance for things like large scale wind etc rather than microgen.

Thank you very much for this advice. I have checked the government websites for the Pay as you Save and Green Deal. The pay as you save scheme is currently very limited to the South East and is fully taken up. There was little indication when the scheme will be rolled out to the rest of the country. The Green Deal appears to be much more like the scheme described to me, however again there is a lack of detail on the PDF leaflet.It said that there would be government money "

Additionally, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will provide fixed annual
payments to people who install renewable heating systems ranging from solar
hot water panels to large wood pellet boilers. We expect further detail on the
scheme - including what you need to do to benefit, how much you could receive
and how to apply – to be available by the end of 2010, and the Government intends

that the scheme will be open for business from June 2011. "

Again the information is sketchy to say the least. I would kick myself if I signed up to Homesun and this is better, but with the way government funding is going I could hold off for this scheme and find the money is put on hold or diverted elsewhere. I know Homesun offer the chance to buy your panels off them at a depreciating rate, wouldnt it be good if I could use the Green Deal to buy them in a years time? Still confused what to do!

K4blades

Don't get too excited by the Green Deal.
As Gizmosmum said the details are still sketchy, but all the evidence is that renewables won't be included. In fact, in a recent Lords debate, it was suggested that even boilers wouldn't be covered, it will apply only for insulation measures.
However, even if you could get PVs through the Green Deal will you be any better off?
Unless you buy them yourself, whoever pays for them will want security and they will do this by linking a "charge" to your property, so in that respect it is no different to the rent a roof schemes. Then they will want to get their money back plus a bit extra, with Homesun that will come through the FITs. Under the Green Deal, the idea as I understand it, is that the provider, (the Govt. hope the likes of M & S will be involved, though I can't see it myself), will recover their investment from the utility savings.
So lets say for argument's sake, you currently spend £1000 a year on utilities, then you use the Green Deal to make improvements, so your bills fall to £750.00. The £250 saving is still paid but goes to the provider of the improvement, so you are still paying £1000 until the improvement is paid for, which if PVs, will be a long time. You won't be paying anything less, just emitting less CO2.
Thats my understanding of it, though I stand to be corrected. (And whatever the Govt say, I doubt very much they will be putting any money in.)

iscamaid

Thank you very much Gizmosmum and K4blades. I called the Energy Saving Trust today 0800 512 012 and asked their advice in particular about the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This will not cover solar panels for FITs, but will cover solar panels providing hot water as well as wood pellet heating, wind turbines etc. The person I spoke to was very helpful but like mentioned above was not able to give clear details due to the schmes being in the early stages. They did mention that if new schemes did come in and I had gone ahead with the free solar panels I should ensure they were fitted by a company with a Microgneration Certificate accreditation as this was a Government required standard.

She also sent me the following information (hope it copies ok as it looks useful):

PV FOR FREE OFFERS

This list has been compiled by the Energy Saving Trust and Regen SW. Please note that the Energy Saving Trust and Regen SW does not recommend any particular company or companies nor have we done any assessment of the companies on this list or their offers. It is only a list of the companies we are currently aware of and therefore may not be comprehensive. Energy Saving Trust and Regen SW does not assume any liability for any actions of the companies on this list.
If mentioning any companies to customers, please read text to customer above. Advisers should also direct customers to this part of our web site –
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity/Consumer-guidance-on-free-solar-PV-offers

Name

Details

Upfront cost to you

Homes

Organisations and Businesses

Social Housing

Aelco Energy
www.aelco.co.uk/blog/?p=107
0845 0941752
· 8 year lease to purchase plan
· 10% down payment
· Claim FITs income + savings on electricity bill will more than cover monthly payments

10%

A Shade Greener
http://www.ashadegreener.co.uk/
A Shade Greener
Sterling House
Maple Court, Maple Road
Tankersley
South Yorkshire
S75 3DP
· PV for free
· Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Humberside only. Possibly SW
· 3,3kWp systems, 18 panels, 24m2 in area

£0

CLEVER CO2e - Solar Solution (Carbon Life Ltd/L’atelier)
0845 619 7000
· Lease roofspace (5000-10,000m2) – payment of up to 5% of annual revenue generation
· Discounted electricity

£0

Connaught
www.connaught.plc.uk

· Social Housing
· 50% joint funding

50%

EAGA
www.eaga.com/media/news/households-benefit-eaga%E2%80%99s-clean-energy-programme
· PV for free for social housing

£0

Eco One Ltd
www.eco-one.org.uk
0845 075 6670
· Free PV
· Free electricity
· Free maintenance
· Based in Leeds, West Yorkshire and covering the North of England

unknown

HomeSun – solar share
www.homesun.com/products-solar-share.html
0844 8240000
· £500 initial payment
· £5 per month maintenance & repairs payment
· 2.5kWp system

£500

HomeSun – free solar
http://www.homesun.com/our-products-and-services/free-solar/
0844 8240000
· £0 initial payment
· Free maintenance & repairs
· 2.6kWp and above

£0

INRG Solar
www.inrg.eu
02380 010437
· Lease roofspace (at least 2000m2 – can be spread across adjacent buildings)

?

Isis Solar
www.isis-solar.com/
0800 112 31 00
· £0 initial payment
· Free maintenance & repairs
· 3kWp system

£0

Re-Nu Power
http://www.re-nu.com/about-ppa.htm
01300 342 900

· Lease commercial roofspace (3000m2+ = 100kW)
· Discounted electricity

£0

Solar Tech Ltd
http://www.solartech.org.uk/feed-in-tariff/p-v-free-energy-programme/
0845 838 2477

· PV for free
· Targeted at Housing Associations, Schools & other public & private organisations

£0

The Omni Group (Empower Community Fund)
www.the-omni-group.net
· Investors
· Focus on social housing

sho_me_da_money

In addition to saving money, can someone save me the hassle of reading through 86 pages and tell me if:

1) Should I got Solar
2) Is it better to buy outright (I can afford it) or get them done for free?
3) Who is the best provider for the northwest?

I would be grateful if you could answer the above as if it was you who was making the decision.

Thanks,