Free solar panel discussion

ronlizpatsimon

Yes "Equiliser123", other subjects have been added - such as politics; but because it has happened, it dosn't make it right. If people want to prattle on about other subjects; they should be introducing these subjects on a separate thread.
Surely most people who read this forums thread are seeking advice on Free installation of Panels. There is so much additional material to read through that new readers will give up on it.

jimmyg1981

Cardew wrote: »

Welcome to the forum.

Do you appreciate that only systems below 4kWp attract the higher rate of FIT?

If you do, then it appears that price is reasonable - I assume two inverters?

I don't think anyone on MSE has reported considering such a large array.

Yes thats two inverters and yes i do appreciate that 6.62kw falls into the next tariff down but on a domestic property it works out better to have more kw and a slightly lower tariff than to stick in the >4kw tariff. it gives a 12+% tax free return for a guranteed 24years linked to rpi, try beating that with any isa. to anyone else outthere, if you can afford to pay for the panels yourself then thats got to be a better option than letting someone else take all the benefits.

Equaliser123

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

Yes "Equiliser123", other subjects have been added - such as politics; but because it has happened, it dosn't make it right. If people want to prattle on about other subjects; they should be introducing these subjects on a separate thread.
Surely most people who read this forums thread are seeking advice on Free installation of Panels. There is so much additional material to read through that new readers will give up on it.

I don't agree. Every post I have seen relates to the provision of PV. Some of the comments talk about buying it, others about the (in my view, ill advised) rentaroof schemes.

They are the two many options available. For my part as an owner of a PV scheme, I would say that the electricity generated does not in any way make the rentaroof scheme attractive. I can say that from my experience of having 14 panels on my roof and the ability to track what they are generating.

Without the FIT, there is no way I would have panels.

Cardew

jimmyg1981 wrote: »

Yes thats two inverters and yes i do appreciate that 6.62kw falls into the next tariff down but on a domestic property it works out better to have more kw and a slightly lower tariff than to stick in the >4kw tariff. it gives a 12+% tax free return for a guranteed 24years linked to rpi, try beating that with any isa. to anyone else outthere, if you can afford to pay for the panels yourself then thats got to be a better option than letting someone else take all the benefits.

This discussion has gone on endlessly.

Firstly if I invest £19,000 in a bank(I can get 4% after tax) I always have the £19,900 + interest available.

If you 'invest' £19,900 on a PV system you have panels on your roof - period! They have no realizeable value.

It is true that in time, all being well, you will be in profit. However to glibly talk 12%+ tax free return is making some pretty big assumptions.

Perhaps you can share your assumptions?

ronlizpatsimon

"Equiliser123", I cannot yet speak with experience as I,m only at the stage of awaiting a survey.
Currently I,m favouring the "Free" or "Near Free" installation options.
I can see that the purchase option probably brings the likelihood of a better financial return than the "Rent a Roof" option. I say "probably" because I do not know your personal details such as what happens when your Inverter fails once or twice during the 25 years (around £1000 each time) or you get a roof problem necessitating the removal and replacement of panels. Then there is the interest you are losing on the cash investment in the panels. I could find the cash for purchase but it would mean withdrawing from fixed interest savings accounts paying 5% (also a penalty for withdrawal).
Finally, if you get some problem, even during your installers guarantee period; it is likely that, as they are not getting the FIT payments, they will have little incentive to rush out and fix your problem

Doc_N

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

"Equiliser123", I cannot yet speak with experience as I,m only at the stage of awaiting a survey.
Currently I,m favouring the "Free" or "Near Free" installation options.
I can see that the purchase option probably brings the likelihood of a better financial return than the "Rent a Roof" option. I say "probably" because I do not know your personal details such as what happens when your Inverter fails once or twice during the 25 years (around £1000 each time) or you get a roof problem necessitating the removal and replacement of panels. Then there is the interest you are losing on the cash investment in the panels. I could find the cash for purchase but it would mean withdrawing from fixed interest savings accounts paying 5% (also a penalty for withdrawal).
Finally, if you get some problem, even during your installers guarantee period; it is likely that, as they are not getting the FIT payments, they will have little incentive to rush out and fix your problem

Posted before, but this might inform your consideration:

http://www.pvsolarpanelcalculator.co.uk/

It's easily customisable, and there are other alternative calculators around to double-check the figures, such as this one:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator

Cardew

Doc_N wrote: »

Posted before, but this might inform your consideration:

http://www.pvsolarpanelcalculator.co.uk/

It's easily customisable, and there are other alternative calculators around to double-check the figures, such as this one:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator

They are useful tools but they don't take into account any repairs, maintainence

ronlizpatsimon

OK "Doc N", the calculation confirms my original acceptance that more profit can probably be made from an outright purchase of the installation. However, no allownce is made for replacement Invertors, the panels or the removal/replacement of faulty Panels. Also the likelyhood of a poor response time for repairers who are not getting the FIT payments

Equaliser123

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

OK "Doc N", the calculation confirms my original acceptance that more profit can probably be made from an outright purchase of the installation. However, no allownce is made for replacement Invertors, the panels or the removal/replacement of faulty Panels. Also the likelyhood of a poor response time for repairers who are not getting the FIT payments

Got a 5 year warranty on my inverter and a new one would cost £1200 at today's prices. Panels have 20 year warranty.

I can't imagine that there would necessarily be a poor response time for repairers. If under warranty, then they could be compelled to do the repair in a timely manner. If not under warranty, then I could select someone who could do the work within the timescales I consider appropriate.

Cardew

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

OK "Doc N", the calculation confirms my original acceptance that more profit can probably be made from an outright purchase of the installation. However, no allownce is made for replacement Invertors, the panels or the removal/replacement of faulty Panels. Also the likelyhood of a poor response time for repairers who are not getting the FIT payments

A question! How much do you think your 'rent a roof' system will save you each year?