Solar Panels - Energy Saving

Kevinwebster

From a link on this site I register to see if I was entitled to 'free' installation of panels. I received a phone call from a company and was advise the they had looked at a satalite of my house and I would, but there would be a £100 charge. Some one came around today and explained that due to my location I could have 16 panels which would generate returns and benefits of feed tariff 3735 kWh x 4.32p (your website indicates 4.39) £161.35 plus Export tariffs 1868 kWh x 4.85p and Energy 3735 kWh £90.59 and Energy saving of 3735x 16p 597.60 so total first year saving 849.54. I am concerned as on your website it says 'The Energy Saving Trust estimates a typical 4kWp system can knock £65ish off a family's bills each year.' Is the information that I have been supplied correct as the energy saving is 10 times your estimate. I have also been told that the systems cost £10,645.00 for which I can have finance. Based on the figures quoted I would just about break even on my electric in the first year, but if it it he Enery saving is £65 them I would be out of pocket. All the way through the rep spoke of the Goverment scheme, finance institutions and Martin Lewis and what Martin was doing to make it fair. I sign up today based on the information supplied but am now not sure how much is true. Can you help ?

Exiled_Tyke

This isn't even worth going into - although I or others can give you the details if needed. Suffice to say that this is all complete nonsense. The return will be a fraction of that quoted and the system is ridiculously over priced. Stay well away!

silverwhistle

Hi Kevin, I see you've posted here instead. What did I say? :-)

I've just reread your post and you said you've signed up? Well, cancel now! Do it tomorrow morning. Other people will be along to confirm this. Late for me, so g'night.

Kevinwebster

Thanks for the advice. Thought it would be legitimate give I clicked on a link from this sight about a Goverment deal so from that link this company have been given my details.

Martyn1981

Hiya Kevin, best advice is as Exiled Tyke said, just run away.

But if you want to learn more, then have a read of the PV FAQ's, and you'll need to aim for a price of around £5k. Then chat away and ask for more info, advice etc.

Regarding leccy savings, I see the EST have changed their calculations yet again, and once again it seems to have turned to nonsense.

It's projecting £65 for all locations with a 4kWp system. Well I save around £180 pa, but admit that's at the higher end, the EST calculator suggests £62 for me, previously it suggested about £120?

Last time I asked for the opinion of the PV'ers on here regarding an update to the FAQ's estimate of £120 (£80-£160), everyone seemed happy with it.

Mart.

Martyn1981

@ all PV'ers. The EST calculations now include this:

For estimates of electricity bill savings it is assumed that 25% of the electricity generated by the PV system is used at home up to a maximum of 450kWh, with the other 75% exported to the grid.

Does that sound right to anyone?

Mart.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

@ all PV'ers. The EST calculations now include (Max 25% of generation)
Does that sound right to anyone?

Mart.

I'd say it was a pretty good estimate for new members of the PV club - and it's probably fair to say that's the target group for such literature.

Those of us who've been working at it for a few years will have adapted usage patterns or even installed diversion equipment so are working towards using all generated power but it's unlikely a new entrant would get anywhere near doing that.

Martyn1981

EricMears wrote: »

I'd say it was a pretty good estimate for new members of the PV club - and it's probably fair to say that's the target group for such literature.

Those of us who've been working at it for a few years will have adapted usage patterns or even installed diversion equipment so are working towards using all generated power but it's unlikely a new entrant would get anywhere near doing that.

Hiya Eric, I'm not 100% sure what you are referring to. Is it what I said in my first post, what I said in my second post, or what you've written, but assigned to me in the quote?

Do you think a 450kWh cap makes sense, reflects typical import savings?

Edit: Sudden thought, 450kWh is equal to 125W for 10hrs average per day. So that looks to me, more like a minimum (than a maximum) and would apply to any system even one as small as 500Wp. M.

Mart.

Exiled_Tyke

Martyn1981 wrote: »

@ all PV'ers. The EST calculations now include this:



Does that sound right to anyone?

Mart.

I've not thought about this since I got my original quote and estimates. I've just done a rough calculation since install (end of Nov) and it works out about 40% of generation which we have used ourselves. Factors affecting this include next to no generation in winter (poor estimates made far worse by gloom and greater affects of shading than anticipated). We don't go mad in chasing generation usage but do avoid using appliances at the same time and we put washing and dishwasher on in the middle of the day. We also imported 1,000 kW in this time which is more than I would expect. I suspect the major culprit is the electric oven which is typically used when there is no generation.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya Eric, I'm not 100% sure what you are referring to. Is it what I said in my first post, what I said in my second post, or what you've written, but assigned to me in the quote?

It was a reply to #6 in this thread. The words in brackets are intended to give a flavour of the quote but not imply that Martyn actually composed those words.

Kevinwebster

Hi and thanks for all the comment, the system basically comes with two batteries so stores the power for me to use so little or none will go back to the grid, that could be why the price is higher. According to the rep all the deadliest have to be confirmed by three other parties, including MSE people, because Martin Lewis would agree it any other way. Is there anyone from MSE who can validate the figures? Could 16 panels really generate 3735 kWh which could be stored and therefore I would not need to use the grid and pay my supplier, which could save me circa £600 per year. I am also a but confused that in the MSE website it indicated the Government scheme indicate the could be free, but I am being told it is 10k which I need to take a loan for.