Self funding solar panels

captainhindsight_2

In response to the op yes they are a good idea, if your roof is pointing in the right direction, you have no shading, and you pay the right price they will easily pay for themselves. But only if you tick all the boxes above.

Think the 'new special panels' is just bull, but don't let that put you off buying your own panels.

And if you have no plans on moving, the 'rent a roof schemes' can be an easy zero cost way to saving some money maybe not a lot but it can all add up. A lot of people blindly critise 'rent a roof' but it can be good for some people.

Cardew

Hengus wrote: »

I think that I am right in saving that the Energy Savings Trust has just reduced home PV energy consumption from 50 to 25%!

Being pedantic, those of us who understand PV panel finances will know what you mean, but perhaps others??? For those who don't ----


The Energy Savings Trust(EST) are seen as the authority to calculate the potential income from fitting panels.


The output from the panels depends on their size, orientation(South facing is optimum) pitch of roof and area of the country.


The largest size for maximum subsidy is an array of 4kWp. Depending on the factors above, the output will generally be between 3,000 and 4,000kWh a year.


Knowing the estimated output of the panels, subsidies(FIT/Exports) that will be paid can be calculated accurately.


The unknown factor, which will vary for every property, is how much of that 'free' generated electricity can be used in the house. The EST had used a figure of 50% of that electricity in their calculations of savings.


However experience has shown that 50% was too high for many households - particularly if occupants were out during the day - so have revised their estimate down to 25%.


Thus taking the case of a 4kWp system generating 3,000 to 4,000kWh pa, the EST estimate savings will be between 750 to 1,000kWh pa. So with electricity @ 12p/kWh likely savings are £90 to £120 pa.


Many salesmen for PV systems(including Rent a Roof) exaggerate the probable savings for 'in house' use of this free electricity.

jenmariew

A door to door salesman I have just spoken to about what he called "Self Funding Solar" has just told me that there is no problem if you want to move house because they will move the panels to your new house. Is that really true?

stator

jenmariew wrote: »

A door to door salesman I have just spoken to about what he called "Self Funding Solar" has just told me that there is no problem if you want to move house because they will move the panels to your new house. Is that really true?

:rotfl:No, at least not for free.

If you are doing self funding, then the panels belong to you. You would have to pay someone to take them off your roof and put them up at the new house. I suggest this would cost a lot of money.

These self funding schemes are a bit of a scam. They're selling you two things. A loan to pay for the panels and they are selling you the panels. The money you receive from the panels will probably not cover the cost of the loan.

Cardew

In addition to the above, even if they did move them(and they won't do it for free) it will count as a new installation and you will get the extant rate of FIT. Not your old rate plus inflation.

The trouble is that this type of firm can promise you the earth - 20 year guarantees, move panels for free etc - as they will not be around for long. The usual scam - particularly in the solar industry - is for the firm to stop trading every couple of years and start up again using a different name.

Also as said above, the self funding is for you to borrow from a bank like Barclays at high interest rates to cover the high installation costs.

[Deleted User]

I ,and a couple of other colleagues are having a focus on just how many solar panels are allowing their old analogue meters to run backwards. On a sunny day on Wednesday I spotted two reversing the units they clicked up the previous evening. This has been going on for a number of years..Just yet another large cause of free energy being wasted to the dishonest public. Many of them will not inform the suppliers and will get away with it for as long as possible. This is only on the old analogue meters, digitals cant do it

Martyn1981

jenmariew wrote: »

A door to door salesman I have just spoken to about what he called "Self Funding Solar" has just told me that there is no problem if you want to move house because they will move the panels to your new house. Is that really true?

I doubt it's true, but regardless it's irrelevant. For FiT purposes you can't use second-hand panels, so if moved, the system (in its new location) would not receive FiT payments.

If you are thinking of moving in the next 5 to 10 years then PV might not be the best investment for you.

Mart.

Cardew

selastino wrote: »

I had a call from this company called

---

and like your call they offered me the self funding option. at first i thought that it was too good to be true. i called them back and went with the offer and i cant believe how good it works. i would say shop about first but all i can say is im very happy with the self funding option because i have not had to pay the cost upfront myself.

Just joined MSE specifically to promote this company - well I never!


What an original approach - not!

zaax

Repayment time on solar panels 12 years. Life time of solar panels 10 years

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/feed-in-tariffs-explained/feed-in-tariff-cuts/

Smiley_Dan

Likelihood of accuracy of previous post 0%

[edit: note the previous post is on the previous page, not the "first post" above in this new forum design]