Solar panels

adidas

Are they cost effective to install in the current energy price climate and is there any grants etc available for them?

adidas

*are there

pochase

If you plan to get them now to reduce your cost, there is a waiting period of of 12 to 18 months.

deannagone

I live in social housing.  And am investigating if there are any ways at all I can install 100watt social panels in the garden and part feed them into my housing to reduce reliance on power supplied by the National Grid. 

I have written to my MP to see if he has any ideas on encouraging councils to enable social housing residents to do things like this.  Lots of stumbling blocks in terms of safety, standardisation in their housing that councils are so keen on but I think as a whole, the country needs to think laterally to find ways to reduce reliance on the National Grid.

I don't even have a roof (live in a maisonette) but am thinking we have to find 'simpler' ways to use solar panels. There are also problems with people who have less substantial roof structures that make looking at other options a possible way forwards.

There is also a need for education and information on how to safely install these other options, that local government could help with, that are a lot cheaper than current proposals to subsidise energy useage per household.  

I may be posting in ignorance of the problems, but I think ways need to be found to surmount the problems. 

macman

They are increasingly cost effective as energy prices rise, and solar install prices fall, but remember that, without expensive battery storage, they will generate nothing on a dark winter night, which is when your consumption is going to be at ir's highest.

MattMattMattUK

deannagone said:

I live in social housing.  And am investigating if there are any ways at all I can install 100watt social panels in the garden and part feed them into my housing to reduce reliance on power supplied by the National Grid. 

I have written to my MP to see if he has any ideas on encouraging councils to enable social housing residents to do things like this.  Lots of stumbling blocks in terms of safety, standardisation in their housing that councils are so keen on but I think as a whole, the country needs to think laterally to find ways to reduce reliance on the National Grid.

I don't even have a roof (live in a maisonette) but am thinking we have to find 'simpler' ways to use solar panels. There are also problems with people who have less substantial roof structures that make looking at other options a possible way forwards.

There is also a need for education and information on how to safely install these other options, that local government could help with, that are a lot cheaper than current proposals to subsidise energy useage per household.  

I may be posting in ignorance of the problems, but I think ways need to be found to surmount the problems. 

No 100w panels are going to be usable with an inverter to connect to mains electricity. Those panels are designed to charge portable batteries for things like camping, or for use on camper vans and caravans. 

The main problem with solar at the moment is installation dates, it needs engineers to mound them and roofs are by far the best place unless one has a huge garden and the other is electricians to connect them safely. The second biggest problem is that costs have gone through the roof at the moment due to everyone jumping on the bandwagon. 

[Deleted User]

deannagone said:

There is also a need for education and information on how to safely install these other options, that local government could help with, that are a lot cheaper than current proposals to subsidise energy useage per household.  

Often cheaper to have bigger installations and subsidise with cash, then pay to have smaller installations everywhere.

dunstonh

Our local council is doing a  group buy arrangement and the expectation is the installations will be from Spring 2023 if you register your interest now.

QrizB

adidas said:

Are they cost effective to install in the current energy price climate and is there any grants etc available for them?

Cost effective? Yes, if electricity prices remain as high as they will be in October then they could pay for themselves in 3-4 years.

Grants? No, although some low-income households in poor-energy-perdormance housing can get them for free under the ECO scheme.