getting solar pannels

hosay299

Exiled_Tyke said:

markin said:

hosay299 said:

@paul991 OK so we could get a heater and get free power or use the free power supply for other thing so solar panels are best thing to get either way??

Not free if you could sell that power on a sunny day when you don't really need the heat, and Gas heating could be cheaper.

small amounts of heating from PV is likely to be a good strategy. When I'm working at home on a sunny day I have an electric radiator which I can set at 400,600 or 1000 watts.  In my small office 400 is usually fine.  This is substantially cheaper than heating the whole house with the gas central heating.   

As markin suggests if you can sell leccy at a price no matter how low, then do that rather than use it unnecessary.  

As for gas prices in the future? Who knows.  I'm guessing as more electricity comes in from renewable sources the difference between gas and electricity may well narrow which will point towards using more PV generation for heating. 

so true on all levels thanks

QrizB

Back to your original question:

hosay299 said:

Hi we are things of getting solar panels what is the best way to work out if it is worth it or not
what info do u need??

Let's imagine you are offered a 4kWp system for £5k (a bit higher than it would've been last year, but that's life).

In a good location that might generate 4000kWh/yr. Without a battery you might use 1600kWh and export 2400kWh.

• Self-use @ April's capped variable tariff: 1600 *0.28 = £448 saving on electricity bill
• Export @ Octopus's Outgoing fixed rate: 2400 * 0.075 = £180 credit

That's a total return of £628/yr, a payback period of 8 years, and a 25-year ROI of 4.7%.

This is not guaranteed; we're all hoping that electricity prices fall from 28p/kWh eventually, and Outgoing fixed will probably fall then too.

Benny2020

I have had a 4 kwp system for over 6 years and get about 4300 kwh a year. 
If you heat hot water using excess generation and use generated power wisely then you can use over 60% possibly more.
Probably all have electric cars soon.

hosay299

Thanks for information looking into getting my 1st house and going green.

Aaronsd

If the install is done right, can only be a good investment. In the ideal world solar panels & airsource heatpumps coupled with a sufficiently insulated & ventialled home would be the answer.