British Gas plans rooftop solar panel launch

BexTech

British Gas is close to launching its first venture selling household solar panels, the chief executive of its parent Centrica said on Thursday.

"We see rising demand for energy efficiency and green power as a real opportunity," Sam Laidlaw told Reuters.

British Gas has teamed up with a number of local authorities, which have agreed to cut council tax bills by up to 500 pounds for customers who install solar panels.

"Consumers need to be incentivised to invest in energy efficiency," said Laidlaw. "Incentives do work, and we would like to see the government supporting this kind of scheme nationally."

Reuters News Article

Gal

The Mini Powerstation part is very similar to a scheme powergen has had running for over a year - with its Whispergen boilers - They use the excess gas to generate electricity in the property.

And powergen has had a scheme running for over a year for customers with solar roof panels that any excess electric is bought from them at the same cost as they pay. - If anyone has these and is interested that is called Solarnet. The Excess electric is fed back into the National Grid and powergen pay you for each kWh you 'give back;.

BexTech

The PowerGen buying back excess electricity has been running for a few years.

http://www.powergen.co.uk/Business/Technology/Technology-Solarnet.htm?WT.svl=8

dc

Most of the articles I have read on solar voltaic panels imply that without a grant it costs around £10k to install, and that you have to sell the leccy for around half price to the utilities.
The articles imply that you cannot use it yourself, possibly because synchronised sine wave inverter costs would be prohobitive. Thus whatever you generate still costs you to buy back.
If that is true it seems a non starter to me.

Can anyone clarify?

Cardew

dc wrote: »

Most of the articles I have read on solar voltaic panels imply that without a grant it costs around £10k to install, and that you have to sell the leccy for around half price to the utilities.
The articles imply that you cannot use it yourself, possibly because synchronised sine wave inverter costs would be prohobitive. Thus whatever you generate still costs you to buy back.
If that is true it seems a non starter to me.

Can anyone clarify?

It seems that everyone on this thread is assuming that the solar panels will be for electricity generation?

My assumption was will be that the panels will be for domestic hot water. There is nothing in the Reuters news article to confirm either way.

Without going over old grounds, neither Solar Hot water or Solar Electricity Generation is anything like financially viable, at the current cost of installing the equipment.

However even the most ardent enthusiast for Solar Electricity would not argue that it would be financially viable; even with a grant of many thousands of pounds.

At least with Solar Hot water your losses each year will not be that high; provided you get a good grant!

To prempt the usual cries, I totally accept that some people will be happy to fit equipment(for environmental reasons) that will never pay for itself .

Ken68

Whenever I read of a grant being hosted by the seller of the item earning the grant , I think of fiddles and cashback and bribes and scheming to get the grant money back from the consumer.
On top of that the manufacturer will be looking for repeat business by making 'limited life' goods.

dc

The references/links to Powergen buy back led me to ask the electicity question.
The fact that Samsung has recently opened a factory in Wales to build Solar Voltaic panels means that they see it as viable. Being market leaders in things like LCD panel manufacture, and the tumbling prices in that field, then the price of these panels ( though similar, and being simpler to make), should follow.

As to heating, it is a pity grants were removed from the DIY approach. However I have discovered a little outfit that supplies vacuum tube system parts at good prices. eg large vacuum tubes around £20 each. These make an efficient, more attractive solution, by comparison, possible. ( self installation with cost towards £1k and no grant of £400).

On the same river that gives its name to Cardew's water supplier,;)

http://www.eco-nomical.co.uk/index.html
HTHs dc

Gal

Cardew wrote: »

It seems that everyone on this thread is assuming that the solar panels will be for electricity generation?

My assumption was will be that the panels will be for domestic hot water. There is nothing in the Reuters news article to confirm either way.

Without going over old grounds, neither Solar Hot water or Solar Electricity Generation is anything like financially viable, at the current cost of installing the equipment.

However even the most ardent enthusiast for Solar Electricity would not argue that it would be financially viable; even with a grant of many thousands of pounds.

At least with Solar Hot water your losses each year will not be that high; provided you get a good grant!

To prempt the usual cries, I totally accept that some people will be happy to fit equipment(for environmental reasons) that will never pay for itself .

Thats true but 'Most' suppliers only provide grants towards electric panels - Solar Hot Water imo is a waste of money - Your better off with a Ground Source Heat pump if you want something like that - Although this really can only be done if your building a new house as you need to be able to drill down pretty deep.

Not sure on costings although would imagine it to be very similar to the solar panels.

Cardew

Gal wrote: »

Thats true but 'Most' suppliers only provide grants towards electric panels - Solar Hot Water imo is a waste of money - Your better off with a Ground Source Heat pump if you want something like that - Although this really can only be done if your building a new house as you need to be able to drill down pretty deep.

Not sure on costings although would imagine it to be very similar to the solar panels.

You are absolutely correct that Solar Hot water is a waste of money.

But compared to Solar electricity it is an absolute bargain! according to the Energy Saving Trust a 2kW installation will cost between £10,000 and £18,000 and should generate 1,600kWh of electricity.

So just the interest alone(before you start to pay back the debt) will cost you £600 to £1,080 per year(at 6%), and you will save up to £160 off your bill(very probably much less)

PabloNeruda

How come on that 'It's not Easy Being Green' programme last week they were saying a solar panel for hot water should work out around £1000-£1200?

Cardew

PabloNeruda wrote: »

How come on that 'It's not Easy Being Green' programme last week they were saying a solar panel for hot water should work out around £1000-£1200?

A Solar panel for hot water should be about £1,000-£1200.

The quote of £10,000 to £18,000 in the post above was giving the Energy Saving Trust quote for Solar panels for electricity generation.

In strict money saving terms Solar panels for hot water are a very poor bet.
You really need 2 panels and most realistic estimates say you will save about £50 a year in costs.(it is only for hot water - not CH). So you will not cover the interest on the installation, let alone pay off the capital.

However as said above, Solar HW is a bargain compared to Solar Electricity generation; which in economic terms is a joke.

Please note I said in money saving terms! Everyone is entitled to spend their money to 'save the world' if they wish.