Ask a renewables installer...

Energetic_2

I dont know the company but a flat roof job will almost certainly require planning consent. This could take many months depending on the LA, what is or isn't included in the quote needs to be very clear.

I don't know the details either but I would be very sceptical of any company that encourages signing on the day. Are they clear about what they are getting and what and what they are paying? Are they happy with what they are paying for what they are getting?

If not I would cancel in writing but if the company is doing things right that doesn't necessarily mean calling the job off. It just takes the pressure and the worry off them (if there is any) untill they are certain they want to go ahead. (if they aren't certain)

Also how elderly is elderly? If you feel they are classed 'vulnerable' then somebody else should have been with them under the REALassurance guidelines to make sure they weren't being swindled.

Energetic_2

Also a nice spanky new website with none of their work on it is a bit of a concern...

aurion22

Energetic wrote: »

I dont know the company but a flat roof job will almost certainly require planning consent. This could take many months depending on the LA, what is or isn't included in the quote needs to be very clear.
...
If not I would cancel in writing but if the company is doing things right that doesn't necessarily mean calling the job off. It just takes the pressure and the worry off them (if there is any) untill they are certain they want to go ahead. (if they aren't certain)

Also how elderly is elderly? If you feel they are classed 'vulnerable' then somebody else should have been with them under the REALassurance guidelines to make sure they weren't being swindled.

Thanks .. I didn't think about planning permission. I'll encourage them to cancel and think again. I've also discovered the Trustmark site and have printed off a list of contractors from there so they can organise another quote or two.

One's 80+ and the other is mid 70s but neither is in good health and the younger one is frighteningly prone to responding to random "offers" which come in the post.

I contacted the company as I couldn't find a company number on the site and they weren't listed at Companies House. Apparently, it's a sole trader but he claims a turnover of millions .. hmm. Must be a very quick worker.

Thanks for the responses.

Loretta

rogerblack

Energetic wrote: »

I dont know the company but a flat roof job will almost certainly require planning consent. This could take many months depending on the LA, what is or isn't included in the quote needs to be very clear.

Forgive me, as I've not reread the guidance recently - however is this just because of the language about distance from roof edge, and maximum protrusion?
It would seem to me that on large flat roofs, this wouldn't always be a killer - for example a nearly flat array with a 6 degree slope would seem to be allowed.

This would output around 777kWh/year/kWp, compared to 855 for an optimally angled system (in london)

Energetic_2

rogerblack wrote: »

Forgive me, as I've not reread the guidance recently - however is this just because of the language about distance from roof edge, and maximum protrusion?
It would seem to me that on large flat roofs, this wouldn't always be a killer - for example a nearly flat array with a 6 degree slope would seem to be allowed.

This would output around 777kWh/year/kWp, compared to 855 for an optimally angled system (in london)

Its been a while since i read it either to be honest and we've not quoted on a flat roof system for some time.

There is the 200mm from the roof plane measured perpendicularly bit which could possible be avoided with a very low angle as you've said but would need quite a big flat roof for an effective system, the flat mounts are generally for commercial roofs.

I'm sure there was something about consent being required if the panels were not in same the plane of the roof which is the bit thats always deterred us. There has been ammendments though so its possible it has changed, i should get myself a disclaimer...

@Aurion22 ... Consult a planner or perhaps approach the company and just speak to them. If they can answer your concerns in a manner that gives you confidence about how they intend to do the job and treat your neighbours then thats a good sign. Do the couple have a son or daughter that would be able to look over the contract to save you getting too involved?

All advice is given with the best of intentions and to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing however i no longer know everything.

aurion22

I've printed out a list of alternative solar pv installers from the TrustMark site so they can get other quotes. It's very delicate as I don't want to imply that they're not capable but I'm uneasy about the fact that this supplier just turned up. One of the ladies said they had "7 working days" to cancel but, when I asked to check that on the contract, she said it was upstairs. As I see it, they signed on Tuesday so this surveyor coming on Monday doesn't give them much time to cancel in writing.

I'm not sure whether they have actually paid anything and I don't like to ask.

One lady has a daughter but she doesn't live near enough to mention it casually and I wouldn't like to approach her behind her mother's back, as it were.

Watch this space .. I have until Monday to clarify what's going on.

Loretta

John_Pierpoint

How much are your neighbours being charged and how big is the kWp of the proposed system (I don't see how anyone can sign a contract for a non specified installation? There is a standardised procedure for PV panel contracts)

You could phone this Rolec, ask to speak to the company secretary and see if they are the same - if not you might talk about "passing off" and glean some information about their "rivals".

Electrical Sales Engineer

Salary:UndisclosedLocation:BostonJob Type:PermanentDate Posted:17-Jan-2013 11:02Add to My Shortlist Rolec Services Ltd Global Specialists in the Manufacture of Electrical Equipment Due to company success and premises expansion, we have the following position available: (Candidates wanting a long-term position with a proactive growing company should apply) Electrical Sales Engineer Applicant would ideally be a qualified electrician with sales customer experience. An exciting opportunity to work within two of our expanding...

Martyn1981

rogerblack wrote: »

I did some calculations based on a localish sites reported output.
Doubling the panel size is not unreasonable (at least for that site, assuming the reporting was accurate.

Hiya Roger. Been pondering some of your thoughts, and similar ideas that have been spinning around in my head for some time.

I think you are spot on, but many aspects of PV are not immediately obvious, hence people think 'up to 4kWp facing south' and look no further.

Going over 4kWp (with a 3.68kW cap) should be less and less an issue, since the FIT drop is only 10%, and there is no penalty on export rates or leccy savings. As FITs and prices fall, hopefully people will think about this more seriously, but not sure how easy this idea is 'to sell' (energetic?).

The issue gets more complex (but supports your argument more) when you take differing orientations and pitches into account. Installing 3.5kWp on both E&W would give less capping than 7kWp all south, and a more useable generation curve, so less leccy but hopefully more leccy savings at retail to make up for lost export at wholesale - if capping on due south is high, then E/W might even generate more!

One other thing, the EMMA GVS - I mentioned on the other thread. This is really for commercial installs and I think 3 phase. Also E suggested it's very pricey at the moment. But it limits export (not generation) to 16A, so on site consumption is also taken into account. Then it directs the excess into water heating, before actually capping generation. This device is accepted by a growing number of DNO's to allow the install of bigger systems.

If a smaller, cheaper domestic version arrived, then that would help justify installing larger and proportionately cheaper systems, to maximise large roofs, or multi-roof installs.

Hopefully as people become less obsessed with the 4kWp 'limit', we'll see more 'optimised' installs. For instance, if a neighbour was thinking of a 3kWp install South, I might suggest they sit down and do the maths to include a 2kWp East or West at the same time (if suitable roofs exists). PV is so predictable, that a bit of number crunching should be possible to rule in (or out) alternative ideas.

Mart.

rogerblack

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Going over 4kWp (with a 3.68kW cap) should be less and less an issue, since the FIT drop is only 10%, and there is no penalty on export rates or leccy savings. As FITs and prices fall, hopefully people will think about this more seriously, but not sure how easy this idea is 'to sell' (energetic?).

To raise this issue alone - how much more time would it take to install 8kWp on a roof, not 4kWp?
Assuming it's the same continuous roof?

aurion22

Great relief: my neighbours have decided to cancel. I've just typed the letter for them and am off to post it now.

Just for information the quote was for 8 panels (245 output) at a cost of £7,500. I don't know how that compares.

Thanks for all the helpful and supportive replies. I love this site!

:-)

Loretta