Free solar panel discussion

Perry525

Gazza68 wrote: »

Thanks Perry525,
It's Ayr, on West Coast.
Thanks

The closest I can get is Prestwick.
3219 kwh per year.
Orientation -2 degrees. Inclination 39 degrees. Losses 23.1%
On shortest day sun gets up to 10 degrees.
That is a lot better than I expected.
Hope you are able to fit the panels to take full advantage.
Perry.

Portfolioman

In addition to being south facing and not shaded by any trees, buildings, etc., to qualify for the free solar panels your roof must be big enough to accommodate a retangular 30 sq metre area, i.e. not including any area within the triangular part of the roof adjacent to the next side of the roof if it is hipped (a hipped roof is one which slopes down to the walls on each side). This restriction is applied by all the firms offering free solar panels.

I imagine a smaller installation would not deliver sufficient power to assure the supplier of the panels a sufficient buy-back return to recover the inital outlay.

I live in a very typical three bed semi, of which there must be millions in England alone. Unfortunately, the roof of such a house does not come close to having 30 sq m within the one side.

It seems this initiative to supply free solar panels applies only to those wealthy enough to live in a sizeable detached property.

liquidity_2

Sorry but I can well imagine that the admin costs for these companies (Isis, A Shade Greener, Home Sun et al) is much the same whether they install and maintain a 2 kWp or a 4 kWp system. The installation costs once on-site are only marginally higher for the larger system. The actual kit cost is the only aspect that is significantly more expensive for a 4 kWp system than for a 2 kWp system - I would guess each extra kWp costs them £1000-1500 at the bulk quantities they buy, perhaps even less. Thus they have every incentive to "go big or go home", if you'll pardon the pun. And judging by the lead times and interest levels generated by the media they have all the potential customers they could ever ask for so they can be selective to optimise their return on investment. I don't mean to be harsh or poke you in the eye with this; I just want to give some insight where these companies are probably coming from. Make no mistake - this is a profit-making business for them - any "green" benefits are merely a convenient side benefit.

alan101140

I have tried Isis Solar, home sun and My energy Station. They all agree that I am a suitable applicant and say "the surveyor will contact you in a few days". However, despite phone calls and emails, which all get the same reply "the surveyor will be in touch", I have been waiting over a month without getting any further.
I dont know if its pressure of work, or downright incompeance, but I am now hesitant to enter a contract with any company that fails so badly to communicate properly.
Does anybody know of any other companies that do free solar panels in the southwest?

Doc_N

alan101140 wrote: »

I have tried Isis Solar, home sun and My energy Station. They all agree that I am a suitable applicant and say "the surveyor will contact you in a few days". However, despite phone calls and emails, which all get the same reply "the surveyor will be in touch", I have been waiting over a month without getting any further.
I dont know if its pressure of work, or downright incompeance, but I am now hesitant to enter a contract with any company that fails so badly to communicate properly.
Does anybody know of any other companies that do free solar panels in the southwest?

British Gas (see above)?

clc5

Gizmosmum wrote: »

If you must install ashp (and I wouldn't recommend it) make sure you have your heat pump sized properly and don't assume that the quote you get for co-efficiency of performance is completely accurate ask for figures to back it up.

I was involved in the first installations of ashp in Scotland and Northern England. We were promised CoP of 3.5 to 4. Our research came back with cop of 2.2 to 2.5 at it's best. With the cost of economy 7 being so much cheaper than standard rate there weren't any financial savings. Gas is cheaper than economy seven and has traditionally increased at a slower rate than electricity making gas the best option. I haven't done the calculations for the RHI for gas yet but be warned that all of our systems stopped working between Christmas and New Year when the temp dropped to -1 and the whole system froze up.

The latest info I've heard is that Mitsubishi has had to recall 5,000 units because one has exploded and there doesn't seem to be an explanation for it.

Ashp are brill in small, well insulated properties that are off the gas grid, they provide loads more flexibility in relation to heating rooms etc but they're not perfect for everywhere. Incidentally, the CoP is calculated at 15 degrees which always seem strange to me because you don't need much heat when it's 15 degrees outside!

You might want to wait and see what happens with micro chp and tap into Fit through that once it's more readily available.

Thanks. I dont know what micro chp is but I'll look into it. I had originally planned to go for the Mitsu Ecodan but am now inclined towards the NIBE as it is more efficient at lower temps. My property is a well insulated 1930s 3 bed semi. As I said, its all conditional on RHI going ahead as proposed. I estimate I would receive around £1000 per annum in RHI payments. The NIBE will cost me £5600 after 30% grant. Add £300 for 2 new rads, total £5900. I've been offered 8 year interest free loan from Scot Govt so repayments = £737 per annum. I currently have an old G rated combi so I expect my total fuel bill to be much the same as at present. So in years 1-8 I make profit of £262 per annum. In years 9-18 I make £1000 profit per annum. Seems like a no brainer.

Gizmosmum_2

clc5 wrote: »

Thanks. I dont know what micro chp is but I'll look into it. I had originally planned to go for the Mitsu Ecodan but am now inclined towards the NIBE as it is more efficient at lower temps. My property is a well insulated 1930s 3 bed semi. As I said, its all conditional on RHI going ahead as proposed. I estimate I would receive around £1000 per annum in RHI payments. The NIBE will cost me £5600 after 30% grant. Add £300 for 2 new rads, total £5900. I've been offered 8 year interest free loan from Scot Govt so repayments = £737 per annum. I currently have an old G rated combi so I expect my total fuel bill to be much the same as at present. So in years 1-8 I make profit of £262 per annum. In years 9-18 I make £1000 profit per annum. Seems like a no brainer.

If you do go ahead have a look at the heat & hot water council heat loss calculator http://www.centralheating.co.uk and work out what size heat pump you need. Don't leave it to someone else - I did and suffered the consequences!! I assume that the Scot Gov grant is only available until the RHI (if it happens) takes over - sounds like it could make quite a difference. Just remember, whoever tells you, 8kw heat pump will not heat any area greater than 80m2 - been there, done that;)

barneygumble

I had an email saying I was eligible from ISIS 2 weeks ago but still not received a contract yet. Has anyone else received theirs?

hansi

Yes, I had an email from Home Sun three weeks ago saying I ws eligible, but nothing since.

liquidity_2

barneygumble wrote: »

I had an email saying I was eligible from ISIS 2 weeks ago but still not received a contract yet. Has anyone else received theirs?

How long ago did you register your interest?