Free solar panel discussion

andyuk1

Hi All,

I contacted Homesun and had a Survey completed. 2 Weeks later they called me back to say that I would Qualify for free Solar Energy. They emailed me their T&C's and it was at this point I decided not to proceed. I didn't like the Buy Back Option, I currently don't have the money but it seems too high. I had quotes from other installers at around £13k for a 3.8kw install. Homesun would want over £20k if i opted out of the Scheme, which drops down slightly after 7 years(not much). I will wait and see, as I feel the technology will get cheaper next year as more people take it up.

ronlizpatsimon

Thank you "Andyuk1" I had the homesun survey yesterday. I have no intention of buying in after a free install, so that rip-off figure is not applicable to me. If I get approval for a free install I will probably take it; unless they try and get a £500 initial fee, or a £5 a month maintenance fee.

murphydavid

Just to add a note of controversy.
This is such a morally bad scheme and I will vote for any party that will bring it to an early end. In the name of going green companies are investing in a project that will net them a fortune from you and me. They advertise by saying you may (if lucky enough to have the correct roof configuration) gain £100 a year up front. But those with "free" panel's along with the others will soon be funding the profits that these companies will be making. You save a percentage of your bill, but the percentage that you pay (or your tax) will be going up in leaps and bounds once this gets fully under-way. What you should consider is, if your total bill is increased by 30% (or your tax bill by an equivalent amount) by the power company (or government) having to pay for all this heavily subsidised energy and you manage to reduce it by 25% by having a solar system then what did you gain? Or put it another way these companies did not exist, now they do and intend to make a healthy profit. You don't get out for nowt so who do you thing is going to fund their profitability? Its the greed trap con game, you think you're going to get something for nothing and you fall right in dragging us with you. If you are making money (which I doubt) you are not doing it by generating electricity but by getting people poorer than you to pay you a subsidy.

Dinah93

Rent a roof schemes a bad news UNLESS you work at home during the day, as otherwise you'll still need to buy your energy from the grid when you need it on an evening (and its not being generated) - and you're responsible for all the maintenance. These schemes do not give you the option to store generated energy in batteries, it is just sold straight to the grid as it is generated. If you have the £12k in the bank install them yourselves, but only if you're going to stay put. Most people will make back the installation costs in under 10 years. If you don't then leave it alone as it is not suitable for most people and will cost you money.

ronlizpatsimon

Dinah93, I am retired and thus can be at home during the day to use the generated energy. You are wrong about using your generated power to store in batteries. Just plug in a battery charger and a 12v car battery can be used to store the power. However; its probably not finacially viable due to the cost of the batteries.

grahamc2003

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

Dinah93, I am retired and thus can be at home during the day to use the generated energy. You are wrong about using your generated power to store in batteries. Just plug in a battery charger and a 12v car battery can be used to store the power. However; its probably not finacially viable due to the cost of the batteries.

You'd be lucky to store 1kwh in a typical car battery, and charging it fully and depleting it fully would shorten its life a lot. A leisure battery would be better in this respect.

But with the in/out efficiency of a battery and transformers/inverters, you're looking at a value of energy stored and retrieved of say 5p/day, or £18pa. As you say, not financially viable.

Some people restore old car batteries using electronic desulphation on suitable wrecked batteries they pick up for free. But then you need the desulphating equipment which costs a minimum of £35 if you diy from a kit, so it's sort of hole and bucket situation.

Elainemary

Well, surprise, surprise. I was cold called last night by a firm trying to sell us on free solar panels. Pointed out they had already turned us down when we asked last year. Only comment from the caller? " Oh dear ". Name of the firm? Homesun!! The left hand clearly doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Glad I opted for the double glazing!!

ronlizpatsimon

USEFUL INFORMATION
British Gas has now stopped its free installation of panels. I expect their budget for those costs have been used up.

suecoo66

Elainemary wrote: »

Well, surprise, surprise. I was cold called last night by a firm trying to sell us on free solar panels. Pointed out they had already turned us down when we asked last year. Only comment from the caller? " Oh dear ". Name of the firm? Homesun!! The left hand clearly doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Glad I opted for the double glazing!!

Homesun refused to do my survey as I lived too near the sea! Even though this is quite obvious when viewing my roof on Google. They then rung some weeks later asking if we'd had our survey yet? This was the same woman who I'd rung after the survey was refused by the surveyor and told her the reasons why. I've since been surveyed by Ecovision and just signed up for 14 free solar panels on my roof. :T

suecoo66

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

Thank you "Andyuk1" I had the homesun survey yesterday. I have no intention of buying in after a free install, so that rip-off figure is not applicable to me. If I get approval for a free install I will probably take it; unless they try and get a £500 initial fee, or a £5 a month maintenance fee.

When I spoke to Homesun and enquired about the £5 a month maintenance fee I was told that this is to insure the equipment that Homesun own! I told them quite clearly I would only go ahead if they would install the free system and that they should be insuring their own equipment not me.
I've since had a successful survey with Ecovision who do only the free scheme if you meet the requirements and the welcome pack you receive is a lot clearer and explains the system etc.
Also on their website where you pinpoint your roof you also have to mark the 2 points of both ends of your roof so they can see how big it is. None of the other sites I've applied on have done this.