Free solar panel discussion

pauldreed

I thought that this thread was about 'Free solar panel discussion'??
Nuclear, gas fields, economy 7, price of electricity....
Come on guys, stay focussed!!

digitaltoast

pauldreed wrote: »

I thought that this thread was about 'Free solar panel discussion'??
Nuclear, gas fields, economy 7, price of electricity....
Come on guys, stay focussed!!

Well, it IS kind of relevant - people are talking about making a decision that involves handing over their roof, and all rights to subsidies generated by it, to a third party for 25 years. In making that decision, they need to know enough facts to make a reasoned decision.

As many people about to take this big decision appear to be, er, "confused" about basic maths and physics, I think it's very much on topic.

I mean, we've got people on here saying they can use more power than the system generates and still see the meter turning backwards.

Would you rather have a thread just full of people going "go for it" or "bad idea" without giving the reasoning behind it?

quoia

digitaltoast wrote: »

Well, it IS kind of relevant - people are talking about making a decision that involves handing over their roof, and all rights to subsidies generated by it, to a third party for 25 years. In making that decision, they need to know enough facts to make a reasoned decision.

As many people about to take this big decision appear to be, er, "confused" about basic maths and physics, I think it's very much on topic.

I mean, we've got people on here saying they can use more power than the system generates and still see the meter turning backwards.

Would you rather have a thread just full of people going "go for it" or "bad idea" without giving the reasoning behind it?

NOT if you choose HOMESUN for the Free installation.

You can buy yourself out of the 25 year contract at anytime - "take-over" cost is worked out on a linear depreciation rate from day 1. (see my previous post re this)
You then get the FITs payments etc. just as though you'd had the system installed for yourself from day 1.

This buy-out isn't available with ASG or ISIS I understand

pauldreed

digitaltoast - Point taken, but the thread was initially set up to discuss the marketing model of 'free solar panels', and there are so many unanswered questions closer to the topic than what is being discussed here.
The 'free solar panels' is a new idea, and it would be good to hear of the experiences of participants - what equipment is installed, pitfalls, benefits, advice, ect.

John_Pierpoint

The only area of ignorance for me is the relative advantages of the different brands of inverter and the different trade marks and durability of polycrystalline/mono-crystalline/amorphous thin film alternative technologies.

I don't want the "Betamax" (as against VHS) system installed for 25 years on my roof.

quoia

pauldreed wrote: »

digitaltoast - Point taken, but the thread was initially set up to discuss the marketing model of 'free solar panels', and there are so many unanswered questions closer to the topic than what is being discussed here.
The 'free solar panels' is a new idea, and it would be good to hear of the experiences of participants - what equipment is installed, pitfalls, benefits, advice, ect.

So read the other thread that started over a year ago - there are posts there from people who've had these "Free PV" systems installed.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2072787

I'd skim read a fair few posts if you're starting from the top - it's a while before people are getting them installed

Gerrard_8_lfc

BG are offering staff to install them for just under £9000 and then pay 41 Pence a KWH distrubuted back to them.

Is this a good deal ? I was confused with there proposal.

digitaltoast

pauldreed wrote: »

digitaltoast - Point taken, but the thread was initially set up to discuss the marketing model of 'free solar panels', and there are so many unanswered questions closer to the topic than what is being discussed here.
The 'free solar panels' is a new idea, and it would be good to hear of the experiences of participants - what equipment is installed, pitfalls, benefits, advice, ect.

What would really help matters is if the people saying how great it's been for them would put their photos where their keyboard is, and do what several have asked here and post the proof - photos, generation graphs or whatever.
But they seem to have "up and vanished like a fart in the wind", as they say...

Jon_Tiffany

digitaltoast wrote: »

What would really help matters is if the people saying how great it's been for them would put their photos where their keyboard is, and do what several have asked here and post the proof - photos, generation graphs or whatever.
But they seem to have "up and vanished like a fart in the wind", as they say...

You can get everything you are asking for here:

http://www.pvwatts.org/

You can change it to get a hourly breakdown as well if you want it that detailed. This will give you what you need regarding generation. The actual useage will vary dependant on each household. E.g. if you are out at work all day with just the fridge left running you are not going to use much of generated electricity.

Here some sample hourly figures for a 4kWp system in London:

Jan figures:

Date/Time/Watts
1991, 1, 1, 10:00, 14
1991, 1, 1, 11:00, 187
1991, 1, 1, 12:00, 400
1991, 1, 1, 13:00, 402
1991, 1, 1, 14:00, 204
1991, 1, 1, 15:00, 17

July figures:
Date/Time/Watts
1991, 1, 7, 09:00, 0
1991, 1, 7, 10:00, 845
1991, 1, 7, 11:00, 1970
1991, 1, 7, 12:00, 2281
1991, 1, 7, 13:00, 2325
1991, 1, 7, 14:00, 2049
1991, 1, 7, 15:00, 745
1991, 1, 7, 16:00, 0

Annual generation of 3163 kWh


As you will quite clearly see from the figures, between 11am and 2pm is when you are getting the bulk of the electricity - a 3 hour window. The key to making the free pv panels work for you is to maximise your useage in those hours. 3hrs is just about right to run the washing machine followed by the dishwasher and maybe do some ironing in the background while boiling the kettle for your cup of tea

If you are at work all day - not very good.
If you have meter that goes backwards - you will get maximum benefit from the free PV :T

If you are home or can set timers - great

Best generation is in the summer months, if you have and use air conditioning - you are a winner.

There are so many factors, and everyones personal situation will be different. What is best for one will not be for another.

Hopefully this thread will give enough of the pros and cons for people to decide which is best for them. There is no right or wrong answer on this.

Mcfi5dhc

Jon_Tiffany wrote: »

If you are at work all day - not very good.
If you have meter that goes backwards - you will get maximum benefit from the free PV :T

If you've got a backwards spinner, winner!
Once you're given a meter that's smart, dart*


* I realise you can't get out of the contract, but its catchy