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Doc_N

Nang wrote: »

If I have got this right, looks like Fits are going up by 2p from 1st April. For us retrofit < 4 KWP owners.

Check out document at:-

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?docid=16&refer=Sustainability/Environment/fits

Thanks - was wondering about that.

Cynnedd

alzy wrote: »

Looking forward to hear some good news from those that have tried :beer:

Anything that can save money :T

Some of the comments on this site seem quite old and as far as I can see, out of date. However I have now installed a Solar PV system, so if anybody has any questions they would like to ask, I will do my best to answer them. But don't expect instant replies!

Cynnedd

Nang wrote: »

If I have got this right, looks like Fits are going up by 2p from 1st April. For us retrofit < 4 KWP owners.

The facts as I read them from DECC tables are:

For (Domestic) installations ie not greater than 4kWp the following tariffs apply from 1st April, 2010 to 31st March 2012 – for systems installed between 1st April 2010 and 31st March 2012 ie this and the next financial year
FIT = 41.3p per kWh generated and Export = 3p for 50% of kWh generated
Both of these tariffs are RPI index-linked and tax-free for the next 25 years so on April 1st 2011 they will become approx. FIT = 43.2p and Export = 3.14p The RPI was 4.6%
However systems installed between April 1st 2012 and March 31st 2013 will start at the lower FIT tariff of 37.8p per kWh generated
but are also indexed-linked and tax-free. This pattern will be followed from then on for, I think 25 years. I can't see from the DECC report that the 3p will change, except to increase by RPI
Hope this is correct and answers any queries.

cathbath76

We have just heard that we have been approved for a 2.6kWp system from HomeSun. We have a four bed detached with a large south-facing roof, and it looked like there would be no problem fitting the largest (3.5kWp?) system on there. However, it seems that their larger system is just ever so slightly too big, as it would encroach onto the overhanging bit of the roof and would go against planning (although a previous company who surveyed seemed to think this was fine).

I am unsure whether a 2.6kW system would be sufficient for a family of four? I'm around most of the day with young children. HomeSun only do their standard install, but it looks like we would be able to get a more powerful system if we bought the panels ourselves (if I could convince DH that it would be worth the investment...).

Any advice would be very welcome.

Cardew

cathbath76 wrote: »

We have just heard that we have been approved for a 2.6kWp system from HomeSun. We have a four bed detached with a large south-facing roof, and it looked like there would be no problem fitting the largest (3.5kWp?) system on there. However, it seems that their larger system is just ever so slightly too big, as it would encroach onto the overhanging bit of the roof and would go against planning (although a previous company who surveyed seemed to think this was fine).

I am unsure whether a 2.6kW system would be sufficient for a family of four? I'm around most of the day with young children. HomeSun only do their standard install, but it looks like we would be able to get a more powerful system if we bought the panels ourselves (if I could convince DH that it would be worth the investment...).

Any advice would be very welcome.

Regardless of the size of the your system, it won't be 'sufficient' for anyone - if you define 'sufficient' as providing you with power.

The only way to look at these 'rent a roof' systems is that you will be able to use some electricty and reduce your bill, probably by £80 to £100 a year.

IMO it would be absolute madness from a money saving POV to pay Homesun any money either as a lump sum or monthly.

cathbath76

Thanks Cardew. HomeSun have waived any charges for the 2.6kWp system, as we have waited for months and been messed around a bit over the survey. We wouldn't do it if it involved any fees.

I suppose as we wouldn't be getting the FITs anyway, having a smaller system from HomeSun wouldn't make much difference to us in terms of the bills we'd save. We'd still be reducing our carbon footprint.

However we were initially attracted to HomeSun as there is the option to buy the system back in a few years (and the FITs would then transfer to us at this year's rate). But by then the technology may be outdated and/or we'll wish we'd have got a more powerful system on our roof.

It has just made us consider buying our own system up front (although we have many other house improvements that need doing!).

free_juice?

Cardew wrote: »

The only way to look at these 'rent a roof' systems is that you will be able to use some electricty and reduce your bill, probably by £80 to £100 a year.

IMO it would be absolute madness from a money saving POV to pay Homesun any money either as a lump sum or monthly.

Couldn't agree more. My usage has been about 7,000 kWh per year and two months ago I installed a 3.3kW system - since when the weather has been so poor that I have used most of the generation myself.

It is a crude calculation so early in the system's life but on a strictly pro-rata basis I could be on course to save around £150, but on the other hand I have become much more economy conscious than I used to be and have switched from tungsten to low energy lamps, switch the radio off when I go out and turning off the computer if it's not going to get used for half an hour or more. So I am probably over-estimating the PV saving.

There is no way I would spoil (in my opinion) the appearance of the roof for £150 a year, let alone the leasing and possible roof maintenance issues that may lie ahead.

Buying is the way to go.

Equaliser123

free_juice? wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. My usage has been about 7,000 kWh per year and two months ago I installed a 3.3kW system - since when the weather has been so poor that I have used most of the generation myself.

It is a crude calculation so early in the system's life but on a strictly pro-rata basis I could be on course to save around £150, but on the other hand I have become much more economy conscious than I used to be and have switched from tungsten to low energy lamps, switch the radio off when I go out and turning off the computer if it's not going to get used for half an hour or more. So I am probably over-estimating the PV saving.

There is no way I would spoil (in my opinion) the appearance of the roof for £150 a year, let alone the leasing and possible roof maintenance issues that may lie ahead.

Buying is the way to go.

Completely agree.

Freejuice - hope you don't mind but I am keeping a close eye on the link you posted for your sunnywebBox. Got a very similar system to yours installed at broadly the same time. Interesting to see what you produce cf to what our system does.

My conclusion so far, after having a few very sunny days, is that it is nigh on impossible to make full use of the power yourself. Yes, you can switch the dishwasher on during a break in the clouds, but for minimal savings, it simply isnt worth it.

Buying must be the only way for PV to work out financially.

BrummyGit

My HomeSun installation went live today, and so far I am quite pleased. It's a 3.52 kwp system based on 16 x Zen CP 220wp panels and a Fronius IG TL 3.6 kw inverter.

Today was VERY dull and cloudy for us, and contrary to my expectations, this afternoon we immediately started to generate power at around 500w and as the cloud thinned later this afternoon I saw it lift to around 1.3kw. I was also amazed how late in the day I was still producing - only 200w at around 17:00 but it really was a grim day.

Having researched the panels and inverter it seems that HomeSun specify decent quality components and certainly don't use the cheapest possible. One review I read from a couple of years ago listed the Zen panels as the leading panels for generating in diffused conditions common in northern European countries.

I've gone into the rent-a-roof scheme with my eyes wide open, and have only paid a small one-off contribution with no ongoing commitment. I am looking forward to seeing how much we can generate, and how much we can reasonably benefit from it by modifying our consumption habits. I expect to break even in about 1 to 2 years, but I think I've already had my money's worth in entertainment value having thoroughly enjoyed researching and getting to this stage. A bonus of the installation was that the electrical testing identified the existing RCD in my house as faulty - allowing me to replace an important safety device.

I'm going to do my best to report back on the forums giving my experiences in a balanced way - whether positive or negative.

free_juice?

Equaliser123 wrote: »

hope you don't mind but I am keeping a close eye on the link you posted for your sunnywebBox.

If I objected I would give it a local IP address or change the public one.

The 15 minute interval output goes on the web monthly too but you need to know your way around CSV files and Excel to make use of it.

If you want to get really anal about observing my output I have a friend half a mile away with an on-line weather station which includes a snapshot of the sky conditions. It's here.