Free solar panels?

Lastonestanding

A friend that lives in Leeds has recently had free solar panels fitted 
I thought that free solar panels were no longer being funded. He tells me it's a government scheme.
I got solar panels fitted over five years ago and my FIT is around 5p.
He is saying he needs to get them registered for the FIT and he is looking at getting 7p per kWh.
It sounded fishy from the start, to me?

Martyn1981

Just guessing, but perhaps the 7p is the SEG export payment, not FiT?

Lastonestanding

Martyn1981 said:

Just guessing, but perhaps the 7p is the SEG export payment, not FiT?

Yes, maybe he just means registering with an energy company. But I would have expected the company installing the panels to do everything.
When a searched last year, free panels were available to some in certain areas, but none in Leeds.
It was a different installation to mine too, someone fitted the panels, then the week after they were wired in.

Screwdriva

Lastonestanding said:

A friend that lives in Leeds has recently had free solar panels fitted 
I thought that free solar panels were no longer being funded. He tells me it's a government scheme.
I got solar panels fitted over five years ago and my FIT is around 5p.
He is saying he needs to get them registered for the FIT and he is looking at getting 7p per kWh.
It sounded fishy from the start, to me?

This is not fiction. Several councils across the country had funds to install rooftop solar. See here for an example:

These are government funded and approved schemes. Income must be below a certain level and EPC rating must be poor. Sadly, nearly all are oversubscribed several times over and many won't receive the benefit.

Without over investment in these sorts of Solar PV sponsorship schemes, the poor are going to really suffer for the next year if not longer. 

Skintsaver

This is right, I'm getting mine installed next week. When I asked about the seg payment they said I would have to apply to my supplier for a smet 2 smart meter. 

How big is your friend system? 

Lastonestanding

Screwdriva said:

This is not fiction. Several councils across the country had funds to install rooftop solar. See here for an example:

They generally install them on social housing, my friend lives in a private house.
He is retired, so he could have a low income, he is not receiving his state pension, he isn't short of money though.

Skintsaver

Lastonestanding said:

Screwdriva said:

This is not fiction. Several councils across the country had funds to install rooftop solar. See here for an example:

They generally install them on social housing, my friend lives in a private house.
He is retired, so he could have a low income, he is not receiving his state pension, he isn't short of money though.

You just needed last years income to be less than 30k and the last 3 months not to average more than that. Your epc d or less 

70sbudgie

Lastonestanding said:

Martyn1981 said:

Just guessing, but perhaps the 7p is the SEG export payment, not FiT?

Yes, maybe he just means registering with an energy company. But I would have expected the company installing the panels to do everything.
When a searched last year, free panels were available to some in certain areas, but none in Leeds.
It was a different installation to mine too, someone fitted the panels, then the week after they were wired in.

To register for SEG last year, my installer notified the DNO of my PV installation (G98 notification) and then I had to send the DNO confirmation and the MCS certificate to my supplier to get the SEG tariff. I had a SMETS 1 meter, but I understand that they are slowly being "converted" to SMETS 2, so I wouldn't be surprised if a supplier now required a SMETS 2 for SEG. 

Tarkus2

I am just wondering if it is fair that people who are renting from a private landlord can have all the insulation and solar panels installed free. Not because they don't deserve it but surely if the landlord decides he wants them to leave then he has had all the work done for nothing?

Lastonestanding

Tarkus2 said:

I am just wondering if it is fair that people who are renting from a private landlord can have all the insulation and solar panels installed free. Not because they don't deserve it but surely if the landlord decides he wants them to leave then he has had all the work done for nothing?

My 60+ year old friend recently got free solar panels, he owns his own house.
They get them free to help with climate change, not to help the poor.
People are now realising that countries using more renewables, that they will not be so badly hit by the high energy prices.

paul991

life's  not fair sometimes you win sometimes you lose. I think the rules are you must be earning less than 30 k , have a epc d or lower and live in a area where the council has been bothered to join the govt scheme