Solar Panel Install Questions

cdunne

Given the proposed changes to the FIT for the end of the year I decided to see if I could get panels installed before the deadline.

I picked multiple companies from http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/ and asked them to quote.

The first company that came was https://www.cdelec.co.uk / https://www.completegreensolutions.co.uk their quote was much cheaper than the other's I had and they quoted the highest power generation too (£5,650.00 for 16 x Rec 250W Solar PV Panels(made by REC group, Solar Edge Inverter and Power Optimizer, they state a payback period '<8 years').

One thing that worries me is that my houses roofs look like slate but apparently they are imitation slates and will need expensive mounting according to the company who gave the closest examination (and highest quote) I worded my concern to the sales person and got the response 'We have included within the quote the correct mounting brackets for your installation.'

The highest quote company also itemised a structural report. They claimed it would be included if required and when I question this I got the response 'the structural reports are a caution but very rarely required on standard domestic housing, and this will be double checked by our engineer on site survey.' so it does not sound like they plan to do one.

Also worries are the warantees, they seem to quote warantees for the parts themselves (ranging from 10 to 12 years and the panels have a 25 year 'performance guarantee') but this will not cover the labor to refit them. I've asked how the performance guarantee and is it based on the figures they quote'd but am not sure. With regard to their claim of payback period I guess I'll have no come back here but I'm thinking if it's within 10 years they should be worth-wile.

Given the current change in FIT how many of these companies will still be around in even 10 years.

With regard to the FIT itself my electricity supplier (EON) state they currently have about a 8 week weight on FIT applications. The suppler assures me that 'The Feed in Tariff rate you receive is determined by the date of the install on your paperwork, therefore if the paperwork is not processed with EON until after Christmas (unlikely) the FIT payments will be backdated to the date of commissioning. Is this true?

One other fundamental issue for me does the FIT count as taxable income? If it's tax free this makes a big difference, the rep has suggested it is but not directly answered my statement that I assume it is before I go ahead.

Cardew

You would be better re-posting this in the 'Green and Ethical section of MSE as that is where all the experts and owners post.


The FIT is tax free.


IMO many of the guarantees will be worthless as you say. I recently posted to this effect.