Solar panels and oaps

AllyBeee

Hi,

I am trying to persuade my mum to get solar panels on her house, she owns the house and is over 70 I was wondering if there are any free options, grants etc to make it easier to persuade her? Thanks

penrhyn

Why, if she pays for them she is unlikely to recoup the capital expenditure.
If you use one of the rent a roof schemes, from the likes of A shade Greener, they would only be interested if they can get 16 panels on the roof.
It might make the house more difficult to sell in the future.

Mojisola

penrhyn wrote: »

Why, if she pays for them she is unlikely to recoup the capital expenditure.

Definitely this.

If I had that much spare money in my 70s, I'd be out enjoying myself before I got too old and tired to do stuff!

Andy_WSM

penrhyn wrote: »

Why, if she pays for them she is unlikely to recoup the capital expenditure.
If you use one of the rent a roof schemes, from the likes of A shade Greener, they would only be interested if they can get 16 panels on the roof.
It might make the house more difficult to sell in the future.

Got to agree with this...

NowRetired

If I had that much spare money in my 70s, I'd be out enjoying myself before I got too old and tired to do stuff!

True, I'm of on my third holiday this year so far.

Next a cruise in Sept.

Pincher

The party was over last year.

If you want to do some archaeology, search on Feed in Tariff, aka FIT.

Still, with the collapse of the German solar panel industry, and Chinese over capacity, there is probably loads of cheap panel to be had in some receivership auctions.

AllyBeee

OK i just meant if she could get them free through a grant or something being 70, just to try help with her bills, but if its not a good idea then fine. thanks

penrhyn

Loft and Cavity wall insulation should be the first port of call. Draft proofing, insulating jacket on the hot water tank.Thick curtains.
As above the free systems are from the rent a roof firms.
Then seeking out the cheapest gas and electric tarrifs.

rogerblack

Pincher wrote: »

The party was over last year.

If you want to do some archaeology, search on Feed in Tariff, aka FIT.

Still, with the collapse of the German solar panel industry, and Chinese over capacity, there is probably loads of cheap panel to be had in some receivership auctions.

This is wrong in many ways...
Starting with the FIT.
If by 'last year' - you meant the beginning of last year - yes - the FIT fell from 43p/kWh to (now) 15.

However, over that same period, totall install prices have fallen basically as much - meaning the payback is broadly similar.

Secondly - you can only install solar panels that have gone through a legitimate supply chain - otherwise they don't qualify for FIT.

Thirdly in the past several days, anti-dumping measures have been introduced that are 12% till August, then 50%, which will increase prices.

The perception that payback has worsened lots, perhaps along with a saturation of the market for easy installs in the most common demographic, and the 'early adopters' has meant that the installation rate has crashed.
Since the start of the year, 150MW or so has been installed.
This is about a tenth of the total installed prior to this.
To put it into context - in the week of March 4 2012, as many panels got installed as the year so far.

Solar is still - at the current FIT rates - a good investment for those with a southfacing unshaded roof.

It is _NOT_ a good investment in any circumstances for a 70+yo.

Pincher

Damn, I was hoping they will be cheaper than roof tiles next time I have to replace the roof.