Free solar panel discussion

Cardew

Erik hamburger,

Welcome to the forum.

A couple of points.

Firstly terminology. It is kWp(Kilowatt peak) not kWh(kilowatt hours) Each kWp of an array will produce between 700 and 1,000 kWh per year. A typical 3kWp system on a suitable roof in cental England will produce around 2,500kWh per year.

You talk of an 8kWp system, but don't mention that above 4kWp you get a considerably lower rate of FIT.

I am not sure what you mean by mono-crystalline panels having 'greater efficiency'. A 1 kWp panel of either type will give the same output; it is just that one panel is slightly smaller in area. The other point is 'quality of components' - says who? and on what evidence?

Panels normally have the longest guarantee with 10 to 20 years the 'norm' on the systems I have seen. Most system guarantees(which includes the inverter) are between 2 and 5 years, although there are insurance backed extended warranties. I personally would agree with you about 'self insuring' rather than pay for an extended warranty - especially as some have a stipulation that the system is inspected annually at a cost of £???

There are many ways of looking at self-financing solar, however I would be very careful talking about a ROI of 10% as that is far too simplistic IMO.

Even if a gross 10% were possible(too high IMO), borrowing £15000 for a solar system at the, say, 7% you suggest will cost you £1,050 in interest for the first year. Your income of £1,500 means you have £450 in the bank! - (don't forget your panels are an investment that cannot be cashed in!) Obviously the payback time will depend on how much your savings increase due to inflation, but you are looking at around 15 years to pay off the £15,000 debt and then you start making big profits.

That is without, considering any repairs, cleaning, inspections etc etc.

John_Pierpoint

It is like owning a mine or drilling an oil well or "writing off" or "depreciating" any sort of productive business asset.
Just because you invest say 15K and get back say 1K a year in reduced electricity bill does not mean you have an investment yielding an inflation proof 6.6% for ever more. You have got to put something aside each year so you can afford to dig another mine shaft, drill another oil well or replace the broken down junk on your storm damaged roof.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/16/newsid_3174000/3174374.stm

grahamc2003

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

It is like owning a mine or drilling an oil well or "writing off" or "depreciating" any sort of productive business asset.
Just because you invest say 15K and get back say 1K a year in reduced electricity bill does not mean you have an investment yielding an inflation proof 6.6% for ever more. You have got to put something aside each year so you can afford to dig another mine shaft, drill another oil well or replace the broken down junk on your storm damaged roof.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/16/newsid_3174000/3174374.stm

I agree. It's quite disheartening reading returns of 10% with the implication (or at least will be taken as by some) that they are similar to a bank deposit account yeiling 2.5% or whatever. 'better than money in the bank' type of stuff.

A much better comparison would be comparisons with the returns from an annuity, but even then there are differences and risks on both sides wihich complicate any comparion (e.g. there are no on-going costs with an annuity, the returns are known in advance, may be of variable length, whereas the return from fits depend on unkown (or estimate) generation, unkown maintenance costs and are backed by a government promise).

Of all those factors, I'm amazed by the generally unquestioned acceptance of the amount the panels will generate over a year. I know they are done to a government formula, but they are still a prediction and there are several reasons that predicition could be way out (not saying it will be, just could be).

Anyone who had a windmill installed on their roof will know that the government approved method of calculating the generation was errrm not accurate.(i.e. in some cases, home winmills use more electicity than they generate!).

Nang

Hi

For anyone who didn't see my post some time ago and who is thinking of buying their own solar panels. I have real FITS income data from April to September. Take a look at 3 x w.uksolarcasestudy.co.uk

1st few months of summer was a bumper solar harvest, last few (apart from a few good days) not so good.

Currently Looks like my system may be just short of its expected yearly output.

Doc_N

Nang wrote: »

Hi

For anyone who didn't see my post some time ago and who is thinking of buying their own solar panels. I have real FITS income data from April to September. Take a look at 3 x w.uksolarcasestudy.co.uk

1st few months of summer was a bumper solar harvest, last few (apart from a few good days) not so good.

Currently Looks like my system may be just short of its expected yearly output.

Useful site - hope you manage to keep it updated. Thanks!

beedydad

Nang

Although not gone on your website, you are indicating the energy you produced - have you or can you advise as to the actual power you used during the day from the panels as oposed to the actual generated electricity?

Thanks

crossleydd42

GeeBeeEl wrote: »

I think he means that they are paid out from taxpayer funds.

The feed-in tariff is the cash that the Government pays the householder who is generating solar power, from taxpayer funds.

I believe the money comes from the power companies who charge a surcharge on all customers. Of course, with customers with the solar system, their bills are lower and the surchargs lower!

Jim02

I submitted my details to ISIS, never even got a call back.

I can't afford to service a loan so I'm forced to get the free installation.

On the assumption that ISIS aren't interested, can anyone recommend another company? I'm in the South of England (Somerset).

Thanks
J

Larnsky

My submition to ISIS took ages, and then probably 6 weeks later I had an email saying my roof wasn't big enough (I have a four bed detatched house) I think they increased the m2 required to be eligible. I applied and was accepted by British Gas however, I too am in the south (Bristol). At the time you had to be a customer of their, but the surveyor said they were about to roll it out bigger.

tiredandtested

Hi
Just a bit of info since I took the plunge last April
I had panels commissioned (2.5kW peak) at the end of April and and have just received my first cheque from British gas for £524 for the 1200 units generated from the end of April to the middle of August. Plus I get to use the 1200 units so save myself another £ 130ish . That,s £650 return in 4 months on an £11000 investment (I did get the grant of £2500 as well so it cost even less )
A return of better than 10% is OK by me and is much better than anything from a bank.
The panels actually make my meter go backwards so people who say you can only use the elactricity at certain times of the day are incorrect, since I 'use' the electricity at night that was made in the day .
The FIT rate is guaranteed at the time you start the contract (but may change for new starters in the future)