Free solar panel discussion

Jardin_du_Lyn

If they installed photovoltaic (?) tiles, these would generate energy even on cloudy days!
:T

Redsolarlee

Consumers

I work in the renewable energy industry at a senior level and whilst what Martin has written is excellent and free solar power is saving you money, it is also costing you money.

I am refering to the generation tarrif income that the consumer is losing when they assign the rights to the tariff to the likes of ISIS and A Shade Greener. Having considered the saying "you get nothing for nothing" I think people should look carefully at the offerings before making a decision to go with "free energy".

The feed in tarrif is made up of three different payments and a good unbiased example can be found by tyoing the following into google.

Energy saving trust, clean energy cashback scheme

Agreed, Isis is giving people the opportunity to benefit from a free install and reduced electricity costs, however the consumer is trading away the generation part of the tarrif, which for the average house is around 0.413p per kWh, so as you can see Isis are making much more out of this than the consumer.

Obliviously, if the consumer is unable to afford the upfront cost of the installation then Isis are providing a solution which is great, however anyone with the means to fund the installation would be losing out on a good fixed rate investment that to the homeowner is tax free, index linked and an anticipated return of between 5 and 8% (Decc figures). So in effect anyone with the funds could literally treble there investment over 25 years !

I suggest people look at both sides before they jump for "free" energy, If they need help then they should contact an independant installer registered under the microgeneration certification scheme for assistance.

buggslife

To help answer the question from ishtar - 25 years is considered the lifetime of solar panel products; at least the photovoltaic type that dominates at the moment.

Solar companies do not expect the panels to work efficiently after this time and write them off. I imagine a high % would go on working fine long after and assume you would have to decide if the maintenance is worth it yourself.

MSE_Jenny

Hi guys,

Just to clear it up, the Ofgem press office says electricity suppliers fund the feed-in payments. It's generally accepted that they will pass costs on to customers.

Thanks

portlandstone

If anyone has a south-facing room with plenty of un-interupted roof area and also have £12000 on deposit in a bank earning 2.4% after basic rate tax, then solar panels are a no-brainer. I estimate our return from our 6 panels is about 8% per year tax-free. We save £130 in electricity from our 6 west-facing panels but get a grant worth £800 per year. Really smart idea of companies to offer free panels if you have no spare cash...you save some electricity bills and the company keeps the grant. I thought about offering to put free panels on my mate's roof and then keep the grant, but it 25yrs is a long-term commitment! But do it for your grandchildren or parents if you can!

mikeashbee

I have solar water heating in my flat in Turkey and there is plenty of hot water for 8 people day and night. So I am sold already! I am looking forward to a similar scheme for hot water here.
I have a large south facing roof. Does anyone have answers to the following?
1. I have cheap economy 7 electricity at some hours during the
night. Would I have to forego this?
2. What if chimney repairers, TV aerial/sattelite dish fitters have to gain access over the panels?
3. Does it affect my house insurance and does the solar panel fitter repair free if there is a gale?
Thanks in anticipation!

Haarlem

MSE_Jenny wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just to clear it up, the Ofgem press office says electricity suppliers fund the feed-in payments. It's generally accepted that they will pass costs on to customers.

Thanks

There seems much confusion on this as it has been reported several times that it is a % levy on all electricity accounts.

As usual Ofgem cloud the issue of what is really happening on the make up of energy bills

TjW

The other day, someone from EAGA came around offering this to us. We had the survey and everything was supposedly ok.
A couple of days later, an electrician put in all the wires, making nice big holes that he said would be covered up.
It was only when it came to putting up the solar panels that we were told that we weren't facing south properly :mad:
So now we have the wiring but no solar power... boooooo!!!!

jas2020

Hi All,

While I understand that at present there is a system that generates electric and another that generates hot water. And there probably be a very efficent version which combines the two in the future.

Why can't the spare electric be sent to the immersion heater? This will probably save more money for the consumer in comparison?:think:

beedydad

Hi all

I would say that it is a good offer...However...

The baslance of financial gains are with the company NOT the house owner.

Without available roof space these companies cannot make any money. So why are people willing to "rent out" very cheaply their precious roof space with little return for themselves.

Reading the other threads as well as this it would seem that on average a householder taking up this scheme may well get a return of around £150pa - £200pa from the generated electricity for their personal use.

whereas the companies may well get £800pa - £1,000pa.

Taking a simple example of the upper figures over the 25 year period

Householder gets £200 x 25 = £5,000
Company gets £1,000 x 25 = £25,000

Of course the company has to purchase and install the equipment say £10,000 - but i know they get this for less - but I am using retail prices.

Profit of, at least £15,000.

Why not charge the company rent as well?

I would suggets say £100 per annum over the 25 year period giving the householder an extra £2,500 profit.

Reducing the companies profit over period by same amount - but still a fantastic deal to them - and a much better deal to the householder!!

Regards