So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

don0301

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Yes you are.

There's little doubt that you will get a fat cheque for a few years (I doubt it will be anything like 25 years though).

If that's all you are saying, then there's not a great deal to discuss.

But some of us (a very few) like to look at systems to see if they benefit society in general, rather than burden the majority (many who have no spare cash at the end of the month) for the benefit of the minority who, in general, will be better off on average than those who are paying them the fat cheques.

Away from finances are the considerations of whether solar in the uk is environmentally sound. My view is that it isn't - it is wasteful of resources due to redundancy for various reasons

If thats the case shouldnt you be doing it on I like to look at systems to see if they benenfit society in general.com?

it must be very boring for many people on here, to read the same one sided view from the same people, i know im getting bored of it already...

ps thanks for subsidising my FiT

orrery

Cardew wrote: »

OK even if one accepts your argument, why have solar PV on(often unsuitable) roofs in far flung locations and pay the house owners huge subsidies...Why not have it generated on far more efficient huge solar farms in ideal locations and pay a lower subsidy; and all of the generated electricity is exported?

Roofs are good because it is space that isn't usable for anything else. I'm not sure what an unsuitable roof is - the best output would be south facing, but the best for the country would be to use both east and west facing roofs to maximise output at peak usage times.

The efficient place to put solar generation is in Libya, on desert that would be otherwise unused - and of course, we should do that. Not in the UK at all, as that would take valuable land to be used for food and biomass - hence the attractiveness of the roof, and it is local to the point of usage.

We need a massive increase in solar to the point where the peak generation results in a huge surplus that can be stored (pumped hydro, hydrogen generation) no matter how inefficient this is, to power small local generating stations.

This isn't a case of what renewable to choose - we need it all, and even then we might not make it. Even wall to wall nuclear will only last a few tens of years because of the limited supply of fuel.

Cardew

don0301 wrote: »

it must be very boring for many people on here, to read the same one sided view from the same people, i know im getting bored of it already...

Believe it or not there are new people visiting MSE all the time; indeed some only joined last month! So it does no harm to repeat points.

I appreciate the you have onlly just joined MSE, however reading posts from people who bore you isn't compulsory; nor indeed to respond with such witty remarks. There is a facility to place any contributor on ignore, and speaking for myself I would be delighted if I came into that category.

don0301

repeating you dont like solar panels on individual's roofs again and again.

how does that help anyone reading it again and again?

you dont like them, i get it

stop crying, move on

or like i suggested, write to your MP

the Government has decided to encourage them

they decided to encourage them by offering FiT scheme

the FiT scheme is a good incentive, and investment, even now

ive got them, and im enjoying the benefits

Martyn1981

orrery wrote: »

Roofs are good because it is space that isn't usable for anything else. I'm not sure what an unsuitable roof is - the best output would be south facing, but the best for the country would be to use both east and west facing roofs to maximise output at peak usage times.

This isn't a case of what renewable to choose - we need it all, and even then we might not make it. Even wall to wall nuclear will only last a few tens of years because of the limited supply of fuel.

Orrery, nice post. Big picture, long term thinking. You don't kick a three year old because they can't do a 'mans' work. You invest in them, and let them grow.

Then you sit back and get them to mow the lawn for you!

Mart.

Cardew

orrery wrote: »

Roofs are good because it is space that isn't usable for anything else. I'm not sure what an unsuitable roof is - the best output would be south facing, but the best for the country would be to use both east and west facing roofs to maximise output at peak usage times.

The efficient place to put solar generation is in Libya, on desert that would be otherwise unused - and of course, we should do that. Not in the UK at all, as that would take valuable land to be used for food and biomass - hence the attractiveness of the roof, and it is local to the point of usage.

We need a massive increase in solar to the point where the peak generation results in a huge surplus that can be stored (pumped hydro, hydrogen generation) no matter how inefficient this is, to power small local generating stations.

This isn't a case of what renewable to choose - we need it all, and even then we might not make it. Even wall to wall nuclear will only last a few tens of years because of the limited supply of fuel.

Large solar farms could be errected on scrubland, Brownfield sites even supermarket/factory roofs - preferably in the South West where output is higher.

If you feel 'valuable land for food' is a showstopper, would not this solution meet objections?

A large photovoltaic power project, the Serpa solar power plant, has been completed in Portugal, in one of the Europe's sunniest areas.[1] The 11 megawatt plant covers 150 acres (0.61 km2) and comprises 52,000 PV panels. The panels are raised 2 metres off the ground and the area will remain productive grazing land. The project will provide enough energy for 8,000 homes and will save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.[2][3]

The Libya(well N. Africa) proposal was considered by the EEC but ruled out mainly because of the vulnerability of the installation and supply line to terrorist attack.

It has also been muted that Southern France or the Iberian Peninsula would be suitable for UK funded solar farms with the supply to the UK via the Interconnector that brings French Nuclear power when required.

Pennylane

I don't understand why some people say they don't like solar panels on roofs. It's not like you go and view a house to buy and say "OMG I love those roof tiles" do you? You give the roof a cursory glance to make sure it looks in good order and that's it.

The way I see it is, we do nothing with our roofs so if we CAN make use of them and get a bit of free electric or some cash then we might as well.

grahamc2003

orrery wrote: »

. Even wall to wall nuclear will only last a few tens of years because of the limited supply of fuel.

Really?

Well one hell of a lot of Nuclear experts are badly informed then. Where do you get your information from?

Most seem to think Uranium is ubiquitous on planet earth, and pretty easily extractable from the sea for example, for prices around 3 or 4 times current prices.

A recent reliable study showed the reserves of Uranium were sufficient to last several billion years, even assuming a more rapidly expanding worldwide Nuclear program than is occuring at the moment.

When you are converting mass into energy, you don't need much mass for the energy mankind will use during his total existence.

Strange.

Martyn1981

Cardew wrote: »

It has also been muted that Southern France or the Iberian Peninsula would be suitable for UK funded solar farms with the supply to the UK via the Interconnector that brings French Nuclear power when required.

Not just southern France, also Nancy NE France

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/10/115-mw-solar-power-project-5-more-large-solar-power-projects/

Nancy has roughly the same solar radiation levels as Taunton.

Mart.

jackieblack

Cardew wrote: »

Believe it or not there are new people visiting MSE all the time; indeed some only joined last month! So it does no harm to repeat points.

I appreciate the you have onlly just joined MSE, however reading posts from people who bore you isn't compulsory; nor indeed to respond with such witty remarks. There is a facility to place any contributor on ignore, and speaking for myself I would be delighted if I came into that category.

The above may be be true, however don0301 is correct when he points out that the title of this thread is:
So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

Maybe those who want to have a debate on the rights/wrongs of the FIT and the merits, or otherwise, of solar generation in general could consider starting another thread rather than continuing to hijack this one?

And maybe those people who only want to tell those of us who have already installed solar pv systems how stupid/greedy/evil/ill-informed etc we all are could just accept that we have made our decision already (and, whether you agree with it or not, please respect that we are all entitled do so) and are not going to turn back time and remove those systems now, so berating us at this point is totally pointless.

Please could we have this thread back for the purpose for which it was started, 53 pages ago?