Solar panels, what cost

spurdog1

Really how much cost? (I have just retired)

I have a basic two bed bungalow, it is clear we will have to review our power source. I see plenty solar panels, but realistically how much would I have to pay out to cover our energy usage (I gather gas will be a thing of the past). Currently my electric and gas combined is just shy of £100 per month, with increases due.

a

my take is that uk winters are fairly overcast with limited daylight time and often not much sun. Also you probably want the heat at night, so battery storage, control boxes, on top of panels cost. The way your roof faces could be an issue too?

Then what are you using the electricity for, water, heat, fridge, tv, lights and your batteries will have to support these

Often there is a wind blowing winter and summer, and this could be better? Or it you are lucky enough to have a brook running through your property, then a water turbine.

Think insulation should be the first and cheapest option.

I think you should ask a neighbour, but they may have an old deal that pays well for their electricity that the put onto the grid in summer, but in winter they recoup part of the energy back. Think the initial good contracts have stopped ages ago

jamesd

Heat is a major part of energy bills so reviewing your insulation levels and heat source is a good first move. Energy Performance Certificates can analyse your home and tell you what the issues are. If you bought it in the last fifteen years it might already have been done, see whether you can find one at https://find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/ . Even if it doesn't have one, the search will show you the ratings and reports for other properties in the same postcode so you can see what their reports said were needed and the estimated costs for their work. The older reports will have out of date costs but maybe a better idea of the work yours might need.

If you're using radiators you could replace them with larger ones and use an air source heat pump. It's likely to cost at least £4,000 and it could be a lot more depending on the size and properties of the building. £4k is about right for a smallish flat that's well insulated, where hot water is the main heating load. Installation and radiator changes extra. Heat pumps work better with lower temperatures in the heating system and while larger radiators can deliver this, underfloor heating is best, but yet more expense. Underfloor is also best for comfort because there isn't a cold layer near the floor. The Renewable Heat Incentive will pay you some money each year for ten years if you go with a heat pump. A less generous scheme is expected to replace it in April 2022.

Heat pump systems can also use a roof-mounted solar heater to arm up water in a heating or storage tank, further reducing costs. Just one panel or maybe two is likely to be enough and it's a better deal than solar electricity for efficiency. More cost, again, of course.

Draft proofing and lost insulation are two of the cheapest options.

If you do happen to find a certificate for your property or a close match you could try pasting what it says here initially then in the home improvement section to see what the pros there say it might cost.

mgfvvc

Last I heard the return on solar panels was no longer good value. Buying a share of a wind farm through Ripple Energy may be a better bet?

As always DYOR. I don't claim to have have evaluated any of this thoroughly.

Heedtheadvice

Your aim, save money on cost of power.

Considering electricity:

Assuming you install panels that will on average over a year produce the same as you would purchase from the grid....

At present prices you can not do this by installing solar panels on a fully costed and return basis.

Battery storage also seem a sensible thing to do. Both are beneficial to the environment i.e. green to a large extent (though not entirely). It is very difficult to use all your generation from solar panels. At times you will have an excess, at others insufficient generation. So you will have to buy or get a small income from an export contract. Battery storage might seem the answer but the cost to benefit comparison they are much worse than solar panels on the financial front.

Since government changes regarding home renewable incentives you have, well, missed the boat. Not really any incentive anymore.

Now the above presumes costs and incomes rise in line with inflation and you probably think that will not be the case - quite reasonably. It looks like gas prices will rise possibly by several multiples owing to demand and environmental reasons. This might make gas equate to current electricity prices - as an example only. If so the considerations above would be similar, if solar power replaced gas purchase, to the electricity considerations above.

Gas and electricity maybe will rise generally above inflation so the story could become a little better for you. You still probably cannot generate enough power to provide most of your heat when you most need it!. [ From 16 panels I generate about 3,600 kWh a year, buy 2,000 electricity but 13,000 gas. Because of the now defunct ( to new entrant) FIT scheme cash income helps a lot with energy bills but it cost £6000 to install.]

Much discussion on the threads in the Green and Ethical board such as https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6303940/low-elec-usage-should-i-consider-solar-panels .

I agree virtually entirely with the thoughts of save losses etc first- much more cost effective and look at lifestyle changes too if that is possible.

If you need to borrow to finance a purchase/install then it makes even less sense financially.

If you have the spare capital then investing in a 'green' fund or trust in an S&S ISA makes much more sense in the long term. Not so ething to be done over a short period. >5 years minimum, ten much better on the risk front. You can for example invest in a renewable or storage collective investment, your money ought to grow in real terms over the long term and you get an income perhaps of 5% too over that ten years.

Consider £5000. Invest in fund get £250 per annum tax free (how much does your power cost and after ten years it could be worth £6000 in real terms -not guaranteed do different risks.

Some do it because it is the responsible thing to do environmentally. Or look forward to charging their electric vehicles with free or cheap electricity at certain times.

Associated heat pumps look attractive too by collecting heat from electric power, but, even with grants can be costly to produce a lot of heat and often struggle to do so in winter. An aquaintance has recently reverted back to oil!!!

ritz55

I recently had a company in to give me an estimate and cost to install was around £3800 and annual saving on bills was around £175 including any feedback to the Grid. Would take over 20 years to see the return.
I'm also guessing there would be maintainance costs for the solar panels and the suggested saving of £175 may not be accurate so being a sales team is probably on the higher side. In the end decided against it.