being lazy and need advice on solar panels

lemontart

I seem to recall that one or more supplier offered schemes where they will install such for free, reducing your electricity bill and any surplus they buy or something like that.

Can any of the good folk of MSE point me in the right direction also any feed back on these schemes if they still exist would be welcomed

Many thanks in advance ,

Hasbeen

I suspect that you would make minimal savings and that installer would make maximum.

Also would probably give you a lot of grief if you decide to sell within time period/contract.

Personally would not consider as not viable cost effective option unless you pay all your self and stay in property for maximum term to get your costs back.

But I am sure some more knowledgeable experts will be here shortly!:)

lemontart

I was going to move but have decided to stay put permanently as do not wish to take on more debt in moving - not worried about showing profit so much as covering cost of electricity used anything over is a bonus

Pincher

The FIT party ended last year.

The £2,000 car scrappage was 2010.

Flared trousers will come back into fashion any day now.

lemontart

ah well plan b - pity do not have a plan b but will work on it

Pincher

Grow crop. Ferment alcohol.

Plan A: Sell alcohol for cash, buy gas.
Plan B: Run car on Ethanol.
Plan C: Burn Ethanol to get Central Heating.

lemontart

Pincher wrote: »

Grow crop. Ferment alcohol.

Plan A: Sell alcohol for cash, buy gas.
Plan B: Run car on Ethanol.
Plan C: Burn Ethanol to get Central Heating.

lol could also cook a lot of chips on gas and re use veg oil in car, install bottle lights and solar lights where possible that will help and build window duvets for winter to cut loss of heat

But on a serious not will look at small diy installation panels for workshop in garden and battery's from that as well so at least that will be off grid to a degree

Bazofts_Revenge

If you can afford to buy a professional installation the figures look pretty good. I have only had my system installed a month and we've had some pretty poor days and some good ones. During the Day time my system is producing on average about 10kw a day. If I was at home in the day this would be great.either way my daytime use is free. Previously over a year my average daily electricity use is 7kw. now I am consuming an average of 4kw during the night.

As someone else said the best prices for fit have gone but the installation prices for solar have come down seriously too. I am expecting a return of 12% tax free on this investment.

Ecodave

Ok, these schemes still exist, they depend on making profit from the feed-in-tariff that the government is willing to pay for the energy that you generate. Our system has been up about 14 months now (3.3kw system), and comparing to previous years, we have saved approx £150 over the first year, but we have had family members at home during the day, so perhaps we have saved more than the average? Other comments have suggested that you would be better buying your own system, and I agree . Why let someone else get the tariff? If this is not possible, and you expect to live in your property for the duration, then certainly consider the rent-a-roof schemes. But if you can, buy them yourself.

paulmapp8306

As dave said. Ours were done in Feb by A Shade Greener.

The installation company get all the Feed in Tarifs. They effectivly "rent" your roof space to install their panels, the payment for which is the use of any electricity the panels are producing.

If you cant afford your own panels, its actually a good scheme, though buy your own if you can. How much you save on your bills depends on how you monitor and use the electricity produced.

We have saved around 60% of out energy usage so far, but have done so but only turning on devices such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers when the panels are generating enough electricity. If there not - because its dull or dark, then these get left (which can lead to a build up). As I say, we have saved around 60% so far (around 2 months) approx £80 in electricity, but we are at home all day, and have lots on. Pretty much all out iPods, DSs, Laptops, Mobiles, radio/TV usege during daylight hours we now get for free.

Generally, even on an overcast day we get enough elec to power any lights, and the main TV for free from around 9am to 7pm - about 600 watts. When its brighter its around 1.6k - enough for all but irons, tumble dryers or kettles. When the clouds clear its 3.5k which is enough for major appliances.

The issues will come in winter/darker months where your not going to get many clear days, and the days are a lot shorter. My bill is going to be only slightly lower during Nov-Feb, but in the summer with long days - you could save up to 90% IF you monitor and use your devices properly.

If your out all day at work (and cant use timers), have all your appliances on over night, or just use as you always did, the savings are going to be much lower.

There are no issues with selling your house - the space rent goes to the house owner. There is no cost to the new owner and you dont take any with you. Despite popular opinion, houses WITH panels are selling better than those without. Its actually a selling point due to high energy costs - which are only going to get worse.

As for buying - pay back times based on current FITs alone (not energy saved) is 10-12 years, so you need to in the house that long to get your outlay back - but its still worth it. Currently FITs are around 10p per Kwh, (they were 4 times that) and its not monitored, its worked out what % of power your panels CAN generate is sent back to the grid - I THINK its around 40% of your max OP, based on a 10 hour day (averaged summer/winter), which means a normal 4Kw system generates £1 per day in FITs. Thats around £1.60 per day (IF your roof faces the ideal direction, if it doesnt your max output reduces and so do your FIT rates), or £584/year. An average install is around £6000 currently, though its falling.

Bazofts_Revenge

Last time I talked to A Shade Greener well Nationwide Solar which I understand is their retail arm you could split ownership on roofs where it wasn't economical for ASG to give you panels with Nationwide Solar and you always had the option to buy them out for the remainder at any time. That was 2 years ago but if you can't afford to buy outright it is an option you could consider.