Solar PV returns in Scotland

counting_down_the_days...

I've been reading through all the info & we've decided to jump on the bandwagon and get solar pv.

I've fancied it for the last 3 years, but when we weren't accepted for the rent a roof scheme, DH said if it wouldn't make them enough money, it wouldn't make us enough. However, I've applied for the £2k interest free loan from the energy saving trust & taking the other £3k out of my 2% savings account. So the system will have to be installed & complete by 31st March :eek:

So we will have a 4kwh system, 5 degrees off due south (I believe, far too complicated for my little head) and in Central Scotland, costing £5k. I really want to knock on a couple of doors in the area that have them and ask what they generate but just can't bring myself to do so!

Is anyone on here localish that can divulge how much they are generating? Also, are the figures quoted usually accurate?

Thanks in advance, can't wait to get started! :j

EricMears

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

I've been reading through all the info & we've decided to jump on the bandwagon and get solar pv.

I've fancied it for the last 3 years, but when we weren't accepted for the rent a roof scheme, DH said if it wouldn't make them enough money, it wouldn't make us enough. However, I've applied for the £2k interest free loan from the energy saving trust & taking the other £3k out of my 2% savings account. So the system will have to be installed & complete by 31st March :eek:

So we will have a 4kwh system, 5 degrees off due south (I believe, far too complicated for my little head) and in Central Scotland, costing £5k. I really want to knock on a couple of doors in the area that have them and ask what they generate but just can't bring myself to do so!

Is anyone on here localish that can divulge how much they are generating? Also, are the figures quoted usually accurate?

Thanks in advance, can't wait to get started! :j

Not in Scotland I'm afraid but if you check the pvgis website (see the 'sticky' posting about solar FAQs) you ought to get a good idea of expected yield. Most people here seem to report that they usually do slightly better than those forecasts.

Location may not be the problem you think. Obviously rubbish generation in Dec but extra day length in June may prove something of a bonus.

rogerblack

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

So we will have a 4kwh system, 5 degrees off due south (I believe, far too complicated for my little head) and in Central Scotland, costing £5k. I really want to knock on a couple of doors in the area that have them and ask what they generate but just can't bring myself to do so!

I'm in Fife.
Ballpark is 890kWh/kWp.
So, about 3560kWh.
The current rate is about 18p (including the deemed export payments).
This is close to £640/year.
Plus maybe £50 of energy savings.
So, payback without interest in under 8 years.
If you can in fact get money at under 2% interest, it's a very good return.
(Unless of course you suddenly need the money)

dreaming

Hi Counting Down etc.

I have just ordered my system and hope to get that installed in next couple of weeks. I will be redundant in August but am treating it as early retirement si am trying to spend now to try to make the future a bit better, and with negative interest rates mooted thought I would use my ISA savings to pay for it now. Then I thought, why not get a 0% credit card and bung it on there. I can then pay it off over the next few months and keep my "better than nothing" interest on my ISA for a few more months.
I don't normally suggest people take on credit but if you are disciplined with cash this is a slightly more efficient way of paying for it.
Good luck with the installation.

jeremymoneysaver

Hi there from sunny East Lothian.

2012 was our first full year (installed Nov '11) and we made 3549kWh or 106% of what the installer quoted and were very happy with that given it was a pretty poor year weatherwise

4kW system pretty much south facing

PM me if you want a blether

[Deleted User]

jeremymoneysaver wrote: »

Hi there from sunny East Lothian.

2012 was our first full year (installed Nov '11) and we made 3549kWh or 106% of what the installer quoted and were very happy with that given it was a pretty poor year weatherwise

4kW system pretty much south facing

PM me if you want a blether

Also East Lothian but lost about a month of generation last year and again this year :mad: Anyway still clocked up 3149.

Turns out that after a power cut solar does not always come back on line so have decided to install remote monitoring

loskie

we had a 3.6kw system fitted on a SSE 40 deg roof with minor shading. Location Castle Douglas(DG7) so 80m south of Glasgow.
Fitted in Oct 2011 made 3100kwh in year one and I guess saved £120 to £150 off our electricity bill. I think last year may have been poor.
In my opinion and we are lucky to get the higher FIT I would not do it for the electricity (that is a bonus it is only worth it for the FIT.
To benefit from the electricity we have to be organised, using timer for dishwasher and washing machine.
Don't just look at the direction you face, look carefully at shading(chimneys, trees, electricity poles, neighbouring roofs). Shop carefully there are many many cowboys out there and the accreditation bodies(MCS etc) seem unhelpful and spineless.
Although ours has been working well the quality of fitting left a lot to be desired.

counting_down_the_days...

Thanks for the responses

Dreaming, I had also thought of a 0% cc, also for the added security, but the quotes we've had don't accept credit cards

Jeremymoneysaver, thanks, I was keen to know if the figures were accurate, they say they under estimate, but I wondered.

We only pay £30 for our elec each month, so we are fully aware we won't save much, however, I am home 4 days out of 7 and have 2 young children. So all appliances will be getting used during daylight hours! But the main reason, other than being a bit geeky, is for the fits payments.

Also interesting reading about the power cuts - who would've thought? And how frustrating, especially if you had been putting on appliances thinking they were using your generated power.

I'm waiting to hear about my interest free loan, but starting to get cold feet. We do have the money, but it is a big chunk of our rainy day fund. We've had the money for ages though and never used it, but as soon as it's gone, the car will probably die! I wish it would hurry up, I could sign the papers and then stop worrying and just enjoy watching my export meter

counting_down_the_days...

Just had a thought.... Would it be bad to take the money out of our two childrens accounts and then over the 20 years they can have all the returns? I always said I wouldn't touch their money, but this means they would get a decent return, rather than the pitiful 1% in their children's saving's account.

I don't think it's a gamble, as the returns are guaranteed, right? They should get £10k each without us having to put anything in. This would also leave our savings should something happen and we need them. I can probably also get a slightly better rate with our savings moving them around each year.

I just don't like touching money that isn't mine, and they can't decide how they want to invest their money. Mmmm, decisions.

Martyn1981

counting_down_the_days... wrote: »

Just had a thought.... Would it be bad to take the money out of our two childrens accounts and then over the 20 years they can have all the returns? I always said I wouldn't touch their money, but this means they would get a decent return, rather than the pitiful 1% in their children's saving's account.

Hiya. That's a really interesting idea, got my head spinning with all the angles. So your kids money is invested in their financial and environmental future, cool!

I'm guessing that the idea sounds great, but also scary (responsibility wise). To nail down the numbers:
Are you happy with the estimates of generation, since you've been given lots of 'real' numbers?
Have you tried using PVGIS and sticking a virtual pin right on top of your house?
As Loskie mentioned, have you assessed any shadowing/shading especially in the better 8 months (Mch to Oct)?

If you've got a good estimate of generation, then that will allow you to quite accurately estimate your FITs and export income.

Leccy savings (which should really go into the kids account too) are harder to guess at, but should be around £100pa (£70 to £150).

Don't forget to allow for a replacement inverter maybe somewhere around year 10. Possibly allow £1k(?)

If the numbers stack up, then I think it's a great idea. And the system could well last for 20 years after FITs has ended.

Edit: Just a thought, how old are the children, and what might they need the money for? What I'm thinking is, if they are say 3, then big money such as a car or Uni costs won't be needed for 15+ years. But if they are 12 or so, then a sizeable amount may be needed in only 5 years or so.

Mart.

counting_down_the_days...

Hi Mart

Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate them.

The kids are only 1 & 3 so they won't need the money for a while. Also, they will get birthday & Christmas money, so if they wanted to buy something in a couple of years with their money, they will have some to do this.

I've just had a look at my sons savings account. And for an average of £2.5k for the year, he got £32.64 interest I've got a Santander account with 5% interest (I think) I try to keep it at the £2.5k limit and get about £7/8 a month after tax I could move their money about, but I like to know where it is & they have their little books to see how much they have.

I am quite confident from what I've read that I will get the return suggested. I did ask a neighbour that just installed theirs last month and for February they got £39 just for the month. It was a nice month for February, however, still short days, so this is reassuring.

Also, when we bought this house, we did push the budget, but with the intention of never moving again, so this is our forever house. On a separate note, just remortgaging too, got the Britannia deal at 2.79% and paid our £8k early repayment fees :O to get out of our 5.79% mortgage, and reduced our term from 27 years to 15 and only increasing the payment by about £10 a month Sorry, that is really irrelevant in this thread, but can't believe the savings! I never imagined for one minute I could save enough to cover the early repayment fees.