Solar panels on shed roof

endlessdreamz

Hi :j

Me and my husband just had green enerygy solutions to look at putting solar panels on our shed roof today. We were quoted £4500 for the lot (preliminaryly).
Here's a list of the things the sales guy said would be included:
Roof repair (water proofing and refelting)
Electrics in shed and wiring back to our house
Immersion heating for water tank
8 solar panels
Just wondering if that's a good deal or not? And if anyone has ever had any dealings with the company?

I've also called up other companies nearby, but none of them called back/came for a look.:(

Thanks!!

Furts

I would not put solar panels on a shed roof. A careful analysis of the shed would be required, but sheds are short life structures with light weight roofs not meant to have solar panels fixed to them. Even wind loading and uplift need considering on a shed roof.

You do not state the panel output, nor annual electric production, any over shading, the orientation, nor the annual income from this.

I do not understand your comment "preliminaryly". What has not been agreed?

Are you having a new hot water cylinder? What is the relevance of the immersion heater? How are you controlling the electric input into the water tank?

On balance your proposals sound worrying to me - not enough detail and too many unknowns. All this suggests the company doing the work are either not good, or they are not good at explaining the technical, and common sense aspects of their work.

endlessdreamz

Our shed is actually a brick out building with wood beams, it was damaged because the neighbour's roof tore ours off when it was hit by the big storm few years back. The beams itself are still solid, and the space can fit about 8 solar panels on. With the weight of the panels on it should be harder to tear off wouldn't it? The guy also said the roof and panels are guaranteed for 20 years. That was why I wanted to see if we can put solar panels on, as even a repair by a roofer will cost at least £1000.

I hadn't asked the person who came round the output so I will ask him when he comes around tomorrow, as he wanted to do speak to us in more detail.

We actually have a gas system boiler and the immersion for the hot water tank has been cut off by the previous owners, we are currently using gas to heat the water and not electricity. I had been told that the electrician will connect the panels to the water tank via a converter.

The reason why I said preliminarily is because I hadn't had it in writing and this was just a verbal quote. The company itself is a subsidiary of One Call Insurance, so I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing?

Furts

If it is a tiled roof then fine, but in needs to be in perfect condition and the panels installed correctly. i fail to believe there can be a 20 year genuine guarantee on the roof repairs, but over to you here.

I also suggest 8 panels will give minimal output - perhaps 1800kW as a maximum per annum. You have not answered any technicalities here so again over to you. The income from this output will be very little - you get the sums, but I will guess £100 per year. You will save something in electric - at a guess £50 per year. (But the immersion controls could be costing £500.) Hence it will be a 30-40 year payback period which is crazy.

The inverter may not be suitable for use in an unheated, damp, draughty out building - but you certainly need a good roof over it.

For me the figures do not add up, nor the extensive queries.