Solar Panels - Help needed re Decommissioning, Removing, Recycling

chat01

Hi,
We are buying a two storey house that has a 16 panel 4KW solar pv installed on the (slate tiled) roof.
We need to remove this (long story - but it has to be done and can't be relocated etc) and wondered how to go about it. The panels are owned by the seller, not a third party.
System was installed in 2013 and the FiT unfortunately has 12 years to run which I guess will be 'lost'. The FiT is currently paid via EON Energy.
Given EON's website info (see below) I'm guessing we can't just have any old electrician turn up and 'turn it off' and remove the inverter and a roofer to pop onto the roof and remove the panels?

Does anybody have any experience of decommissioning a residential PV installation and provide some advice? Who will do this? Cost? Does it have to be recycled? Second hand market for equipment? Will there be any damage to the roof tiles that needs fixing? etc etc

Can I remove my solar panels?
Important: If you remove the solar panels they’ll no longer be eligible for the FiT scheme or FiT payments. Please also be aware that the panels can’t be transferred to another site and be eligible again for the FiT scheme.
If you remove the solar panels you must let us know using the 'Contact us' banner above and as a minimum, send us a combination of the following:
1.     Written confirmation from the installer/decommissioning certificate.
2.     Photographs of the site and dismantled equipment.
3.     Keep track of the amount of electricity you’ve generated.
4.     Disposal evidence (if the equipment is being scrapped), for example signed documentation or certification from the transportation or disposal company who are removing the waste.

Thanks in advance.
C

Reed_Richards

In order to get FiT payments I have to submit a reading every quarter.  If I stop submitting readings the payments will stop.  So I don't see why Eon want so much information on the decommissioning.  Are you certain this is necessary?  

chat01

Reed_Richards said:

In order to get FiT payments I have to submit a reading every quarter.  If I stop submitting readings the payments will stop.  So I don't see why Eon want so much information on the decommissioning.  Are you certain this is necessary?  

I'm just going off what it says on their website https://www.eonenergy.com/feed-in-tariffs.html but not sure whether in practice they do.

We wouldn't be able to decommission them straightaway so I am proposing to transfer the FiT from the seller to myself for this intervening period.

gefnew

Try your post on this.
Green & Ethical MoneySaving — MoneySavingExpert Forum
Very wise people on here may help you.