Self funding solar panels

applepad

Do you think these are a good idea?

A local window firm has just rung me and explained they have now changed and it's more about light rather than sun.

I get to use for free the electricity generated during the day and any excess goes back to the grid to pay for my panels.

Sounds good to me, but what's in it for the supply co? Do they charge me £4k for panels that cost £2k?

I'm home all day, and our electric use is quite high.

vuvuzela

The only comment I would make is that it is a very rare occasion when a cold-call benefits the person being called, more than the caller.
Proceed with caution. Personally I wouldn't take anything that I was cold-called trying to be sold.

WestonDave

Have a wander over to the Green and Ethical board on here and get any quotes checked out on there for value etc. The residents are pretty adept at cutting through the sales b.s. and know what particular size systems should cost and will return.

Andy_WSM

applepad wrote: »

A local window firm has just rung me and explained they have now changed and it's more about light rather than sun.

And if it's not Sunny it's not particularly light!

My 4kW system has generated just 2kWh so far today, earning me about £1 - and I'm on the very early, very high rate. You would get pennies on a day like today.

Martyn1981

applepad wrote: »

Do you think these are a good idea?

A local window firm has just rung me and explained they have now changed and it's more about light rather than sun.

I get to use for free the electricity generated during the day and any excess goes back to the grid to pay for my panels.

Sounds good to me, but what's in it for the supply co? Do they charge me £4k for panels that cost £2k?

I'm home all day, and our electric use is quite high.

It's a load of BS to get their foot in the door.

I had a similar call today, which I let run ...... a bit. I kept pointing out that PV panels have always operated fine on daylight but generate a lot, lot more from direct sunlight.

Lady told me I was wrong, that these were new panels (invented 6 months ago especially for the British climate).

She went on to say that there was a new scheme for people up to the age of 74, I pointed out everyone can claim FiTs if they want. She said not if you live in a conservation area, I pointed out that they are permitted development (though you should check status first).

She went on to say that these new panels can be fitted south, east, west, north ..... ok not north. Why not north I asked. Because the sun is to the south, she explained. I asked why that's so important if the panels don't need sunlight, just daylight.

I asked why I'd never heard of these new 'special' panels - She told me to do some research on the internet, I asked where, quickly rattling off 4 solar news sites as suggestions ....... she hung up on me.

There's nothing wrong with PV, and looking at some recent posts on the Green & Ethical Board prices have fallen again recently. But this dodgy sales BS is counter-productive, and going back to what you asked, is almost certainly so that they can sell you £2k of panels for £4k.

Rant over!

Mart.

applepad

Thank you all, I will have a look on the other boards.

But guess, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is.

When solar first came popular I did enquire only to be told that my roof did not face the right way for free panels, but I could pay for them. I don't think so!

System

applepad wrote: »

I get to use for free the electricity generated during the day and any excess goes back to the grid to pay for my panels.

Are we talking about a 'rent a roof' scheme here or a paid for installation? If the former, then the installer gets all the FIT and export payments and you get the free use of the electricity.

Let's do the maths. My 2.225Kwp installation generates about 1950Kwhs of electricity per year. We have to work hard at using 60% of the amount generated. The saving is about £130 per year. I think that I am right in saving that the Energy Savings Trust has just reduced home PV energy consumption from 50 to 25%! (at this point, I know that others will jump in and say pay more and heat your hot water with Immersun or something similar).

So what about the electricity going back to the grid? In my case, I get about 50p for every Kwh produced £950. This income alone will give me an 8 to 9 year payback with 16 years of income to follow. If you cannot afford PV, then both you and the installer my benefit from 'rent-a-roof'. If you can afford to pay for it yourself and you do not get taken in by the cumulative effect of LED light savings etc, then there is only one winner - YOU.

Take your time and read through the various threads on this subject here and on the other MSE forum.

brightonbabe_3

Just had the guy in my house after reacting to a cold call. (Something I never normally do but this sounded too good to be true so had to find out, he said:
For £105 I could have 10 panels fitted, this would give me £60 per month payback of which £45.00 goes back to the lenders (Barclays) After 10 Years its mine and the £60 gets paid to me.
OR:
I buy outright now for £8140!!! but all the saving is mine.
Now I'm pretty sure I can get the panels fitted for half that!!

applepad

It's a rent a roof scheme.

Will do my home work, she said I did not have to pay anything up front.

We spend about £90 a month on electricity, so a reduction in that should be nice, but not sure it's worth having the panels if I'm only going to be £10 a month better off.

penrhyn

The money in solar panels is in FIT payments, which the rent-a-roof company will recieve along with the payments for exported units.
...............and some people may not wish to buy your house with panels on the roof and an ongoing contract.

applepad

penrhyn wrote: »

The money in solar panels is in FIT payments, which the rent-a-roof company will recieve along with the payments for exported units.
...............and some people may not wish to buy your house with panels on the roof and an ongoing contract.

They say I get day time electricity generated, any excess back to the grid and payment to them. They get the FIT payments until the solar panels are paid for. I asked for an example of payback time and she said 4-6 years. Which does not sound long. Once the panels are paid for we get the FIT.

Not planning on moving, got 2 teenage children so I am sure they will be with us for some time.