Solar Panel Guide Discussion

Cardew

KevinG wrote: »

But that's peanuts compared with what you earn from the FiT payments.

You are missing the point!

There was a period - after the FIT scheme was announced - when people got the £2,500 grant - given under the old pre-FIT scheme - AND were eligble for the FIT payments when they started in April 2010. So they got the best of both worlds.

KevinG

Cardew wrote: »

You are missing the point!

There was a period - after the FIT scheme was announced - when people got the £2,500 grant - given under the old pre-FIT scheme - AND were eligble for the FIT payments when they started in April 2010. So they got the best of both worlds.

OK, thanks for clarifying that.

mpn226

Pedro1874 wrote: »

Anyone got any links to reviews from experienced owners? I would love to hear from anyone who has owned solar panels for a few years to hear about their results and income?

hi have had my panels since july 2010 will try to answer your questions, send me a pm if you want.:)

thenudeone

Pedro1874 wrote: »

In fact, solar panels can be more effective during the winter months as the sky is clearer and light is able to reach the panel more easily.

But since the sun is only up for six hours a day in mid-winter you will lose a great deal more than you gain:)

Doc_N

thenudeone wrote: »

But since the sun is only up for six hours a day in mid-winter you will lose a great deal more than you gain:)

And, worse than that, even, the angle of the sun in winter reduces the light substantially.

December, for example, is likely to give you only about 17% of the May output.

furndire

Winter is the time when you find out that trees which are fair distance away can shadow your panels, thus also reducing your output.
I keep hoping that the poplar tree in a neighbours garden gets a good gush of wind. I think its angle has changed, but not 100% sure - maybe wishful thinking, but certainly if it noticeably changes I'll be letting them know as apparently they rot from the inside out, and suddenly go. They won't be able to see any change, as they will see it from the wrong angle, but we see it sideways compared to another tree next to it.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

keith_r59 wrote: »

If anyone is interested, The Guardian is running a competition to win £16k worth of solar panels for your home.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/competition/2011/sep/07/solar-panel-competition

The competition closes at 23.59 on 14 September 2011.

And the winner is....

Me!:j

Just had e-mail and telephone conversation with Adam Vaughan of the Guardian.

As luck would have it, we returned the signed lease to the Rent Scheme provider yesterday, so will have to quickly check out the terms of the offer and if all is in order, cancel the rent scheme.

SPK.

Elainemary

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

And the winner is....

Me!:j

Just had e-mail and telephone conversation with Adam Vaughan of the Guardian.

As luck would have it, we returned the signed lease to the Rent Scheme provider yesterday, so will have to quickly check out the terms of the offer and if all is in order, cancel the rent scheme.

SPK.

Hey, congratulations and hope you can get out of the rent scheme without any bother. You have also proved my feeling that no-one ever won anything in these comps is wrong!:T

furndire

Nice win - they are a good money maker. Did you realise you will receive 46 ish pence per KWh. It will go a long way to paying your electric bill for the next 25 years. Probably the best win I have seen on here for a while. Just keep a check that your meter is running properly when they are installed. If you are lucky, it will run backwards, or stand still while producing electric, but occasionally they add electric on like mine did :eek:

keith_r59

Studlea_Phatt_Katt wrote: »

And the winner is....

Me!:j

Just had e-mail and telephone conversation with Adam Vaughan of the Guardian.

As luck would have it, we returned the signed lease to the Rent Scheme provider yesterday, so will have to quickly check out the terms of the offer and if all is in order, cancel the rent scheme.

SPK.

Excellent news. Well done.