Solar Panels - Shade Greener - Experiences Please

alipops1986

Good Morning All,

My OH and I have been recommended by a friend for Solar Panels. Our friend has had them installed for free through the company 'Shade Greener' and now pays half the amount for his electricity per month.

I have read some of the posts on here and martin's guide to free solar panels. I must admit i'm a bit suspicious really as only one house on our estate has them.

My concerns are:

1. Are there any specific "permissions" you need? I realise you need to inform your mortgage company and insurance company, I guess it'd be beneficial to do this before we make a final decision?

2. We'd have a 25 year contract? Not that bad as we have no plans to move that we are aware of - this is very much our forever house.


Would anyone be able to give me some of their own concerns/thing to consider or actual experience of having solar panels would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Alipops x

Martyn1981

Hiya. Before folk come back with lots of info, can I ask a simple question, is it at all possible for you to fund the install yourself at approx £5k?

Reading your autosig, suggests that cash may be short at the moment (no offence meant), but ....... is it possible?

Mart.

Martyn1981

For additional general info on A Shade Greener and 'free' PV, try these threads:

Discuss the free solar panel company: A Shade Greener

Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

May take you a week or so!

Mart.

alipops1986

Hiya Martyn,

Thanks for your response. I'm afraid we've just had a new kitchen and have a new bathroom planned, so no available funds to purchase the solar panels ourselves. If the free route isn't advisable then we're happy to go without/wait.

theboylard

Id forego the bathroom for now and get the panels - the income and savings would rapidly help towards the cost of the bathroom!

pete1968_2

I may be totally off with this but I noticed from looking at my older energy bills that over the years the power companies have introduced daily standing charges and the unit price of electricity has slowly been reduced. This means that if you opt for the free panels you will still need to pay the standing daily charge but the amount your actually saving is being reduced due to the unit price being lower.


I, on average, use about 3-4KWH a day, I have a 2.65KWH PV system and an iboost. Not sure how many KWH I'm saving but it was estimated I would save £120-£150 a year on electricity consumption.


I'm just not sure it's worth committing to a contract for 20+ years to save £120 a year. We work most week days and use timers etc for increased benefit. We have not used gas heated water for nearly 5 months now so have saved on gas a little. Might be different if your at home all day, but unless your using high wattage equipment I don't think so.


I'm a complete novice at this but this is one of the reasons I decided to buy them. At the time I balance transferred the money from a credit card at 1.45% which I've managed to pay off within the 7 months I've had them. I've not claimed the FIT payment yet so I'll have a little payment soon of about £350. If I'm way off on this please correct me.

dvdrdl

I have just had the guy at my door.

Seems to good to be true so probably is.

I am thinking I would be liable for repairs and maintenance which I am guessing would def outweigh any savings

loskie

don't count on any worthwhile electricity from Nov to March. Rest of the year if you are at home during the day then you may benefit. But remember peak usage showers, cooking may not be at the brightest point of the day.
Is there a freebie for the friend who has recommended you?