Solar panels worth it?

QrizB

Section62 said:

Given the situation with Ukraine/Russia and the impact that will have on food supplies (particularly seed oils) the subject of conversion of 280 acres of good farmland into a solar farm should engage a much wider thought process, well beyond any alleged NIMBYism. (along with all the other farmland being lost nationally to energy production and housing)

If you're looking at beneficial use of land, you could generate enough solar electricity to equal the UK's annual consumption by using less land than is currently occupied by golf courses.

Plus you get more energy from an acre by making electricity than you do with eg. oilseed for biodiesel.

Benny2020

I saw a plan a few years ago to put solar panels on the Moons equator and microwave the energy back to Earth.

Section62

QrizB said:

Section62 said:

Given the situation with Ukraine/Russia and the impact that will have on food supplies (particularly seed oils) the subject of conversion of 280 acres of good farmland into a solar farm should engage a much wider thought process, well beyond any alleged NIMBYism. (along with all the other farmland being lost nationally to energy production and housing)

If you're looking at beneficial use of land, you could generate enough solar electricity to equal the UK's annual consumption by using less land than is currently occupied by golf courses.

Why golf courses?  Most of them are extremely beneficial uses of the land they are sited on, with strict (and/or practical) limitations on alternative uses. (though the details are probably a discussion for a different thread/board)

QrizB said:

Plus you get more energy from an acre by making electricity than you do with eg. oilseed for biodiesel.

Seed oils - for food production.  (Not forgetting wheat and other cereals that we are too reliant on imports of)

However, biodiesel does come under "other farmland being lost nationally to energy production..."

Not just NIMBYism.

Cganddg

Why does everyone ask about time to recoup the cost of solar panels? I read elsewhere, and certainly agree with the sentiment! If yo purchase a new kitchen/bathroom/ car/etc. you don’t expect to get any thing back. At least with solar panels you will save some money, even if the sale of excess energy is nil!
A far better return than any of the above purchases!

lisyloo

Cganddg said:

Why does everyone ask about time to recoup the cost of solar panels? I read elsewhere, and certainly agree with the sentiment! If yo purchase a new kitchen/bathroom/ car/etc. you don’t expect to get any thing back. At least with solar panels you will save some money, even if the sale of excess energy is nil!
A far better return than any of the above purchases!

You don’t enjoy in the same way you’d enjoy a new car (or kitchen or bathroom).
they are purely a financial investment for most people so of course the figures are important.

Alnat1

I really do enjoy my new solar/battery set up, it's like a new hobby.

There's an app or online data so I can see what's being generated, deciding what/when/how to cook , shifting times and days I use the washer/dishwasher depending on generation and export prices, reading other people's experiences of solar and picking up tips. Then the really good bit, seeing how little my energy bill is each month. It really is interesting.

Never found our new shower very interesting tbh.

Spies

Alnat1 said:

Never found our new shower very interesting tbh.

Surely that depends on the company you keep 

caleypine

There are other reasons for having solar panels.  As long as everyone is trying to everything as cheaply as possible, the effect will be the opposite for 99% of the population - that's the underlying principle of economics.

Woodbinev4p

I've had a small solar system now for 7 years (2.3kW). I could not afford at the time to increase the number of panels installed. 
Whilst this is very small compared to most systems, it really does help particularly in the current extortionally high rates for electricity.
The yield varies depending on sunshine intensity and temperature. This is contrary to popular belief. On the plus side, FIT (feed in tarif) is index linked and this was set at the time of installation. The export to the grid is 50% of the generation tarif. 

Originally the emphasis was to have a system on a South facing roof. However, the sun rises in the East, sets in the West, so a split system would yield a better result rather than one that is just south facing.
Shading is also an issue. Roofs, buildings and trees your main culprits. I have all 3. During the months of April to Sept (when the sun is at it's highest) these issues are minimised, for the rest of the year, they are an issue.
Another thing to bear in mind is using appliances during the day. If the sun is shining, then you will use less from the grid than say in the evening. Of course sunshine intensity and temperature will have to be factored in.

My next plan is to have a 2nd system that is connected to batteries. This would really help when the damand for power in the evenings means the PV cannot be used, so the reserve power would be available. I will have to save really hard for this in the meantime!

 

elvisfan21

With the increases in the price of energy, has anyone's thoughts changed on solar panels? I'm thinking of adding a battery to my existing panels. Not sure if I should add a battery or more panels.