Scheme for Solar Cells

AlphaCentauri

Hi, I've been offered a scheme to have solar panels installed.  I believe the idea is that this energy supply will be used to heat my property more cost effectively.

However, I don't have experience with Solar Energy.  How would this work out in practice?

Also, obviously in the summer there's plenty more solar energy which is not really needed; does this extra energy get resold back to the grid and issued as credit to be used for the winter?

Newbie_John

It's all about the costs really.
Most of the heat you need is during winter nights - when there's 0 generation. Then you can save few £ on a random few days during the day when it's sunny.

Summer.. yeah, most generated here, and you can sell the excess for let's say £2 a day (7-15p/kWh).

Let's say it costs you £5000, if you put it to a 5% savings account you'll get £20 a month which you can use towards electricity bill.

It does require some efforts/knowledge (where to sell for 15p, usage shifting - run dishwasher when it's sunny etc.) to make most of it.
And returns (when you pay off what you paid) can take 10+ years.. 

runsonair

AlphaCentauri said:

Hi, I've been offered a scheme to have solar panels installed.  I believe the idea is that this energy supply will be used to heat my property more cost effectively.

However, I don't have experience with Solar Energy.  How would this work out in practice?

Also, obviously in the summer there's plenty more solar energy which is not really needed; does this extra energy get resold back to the grid and issued as credit to be used for the winter?

You probably need to explain what the "scheme" is, the important thing is will you own the system in your name ?