Subscription solar panels

toadhall

Hi, I've had to turn my heating off as I have oil and so looking at other options. My house is not suitable for a heat pump, but I have seen Sunsave offer a subscription solar panel option.

I don't have the money to pay up front for solar panels.

Has anyone got information (good or bad) about this company?

thanks

QrizB

Hi, I've had to turn my heating off as I have oil and so looking at other options

Solar panels don't really replace heating, as they produce all their energy at the wrong time of year.

If you want solar panels but can't afford them, a personal loan might be a better idea.

My house is not suitable for a heat pump

What makes you think this?

Edit to add: here's your earlier thread re. solar:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6619813/solar-panels-for-loft-conversion-recommendations-lincolnshire

Newbie_John

Call it what you like but it's a 5.9% loan…

Anyway, what's your goal? And why isn't your house suitable for Heat Pump?

QrizB

Call it what you like but it's a 5.9% loan

Sunsave quote an 8.6% representative APR

So a personal loan at 5.9% is cheaper?

toadhall

Thank you for your replies, since the last post, we have researched and had quotes, to get a heat pump would involve ripping the inside of my house apart and cost a minimum of £22,000.

Thank you for info on Sunsave,we hoped a monthly subscription could work, but looks like oil and the woodburner for the foreseeable future at this time

Newbie_John

Sorry then 8.6%, may have looked at wrong place.

still the question remains - what's the goal here?

tfhnota

What about air-to-air heat pumps, you could possibly start with just one in your longe and upgrade as you get more money… there is a £2500 grant towards a full house system, possibly arriving in April, the full details being worked on now. You are allowed to have two outside units but they can be coupled to multiple indoor units, needing only a small hole bored through the wall to couple each indoor unit. Single units costs from £500 upwards, installation around the £500-1000 mark for the simpler stuff, outside of London et al. They look like air-conditioners but run backwards when working as heat pumps. Inverter types suited to our winter weather. You have to have a separate electric system for heating hot water. Solar panels with battery also have new grants coming soon, which would mitigate some of the running costs, but only if on benefits or have low household income of 36k or less (including taxable savings interest but not the actual capital).

vic_sf49

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659576/subscription-solar-panels

Are you hoping to run electric heating from solar? Are you thinking of getting batteries too?

My system is quite small, as it was installed in the FIT era, (3.86kw ish), and on lots of days in winter, it only covered my background usage (fridge freezer, router, cctv), with little left to even run a TV for free.

So even if I had batteries, I'd have had to have topped them up from the grid, although I could have looked at some relevant fixed tariffs.

sheenas

The op does not have solar/battery so a heat pump is not a good solution. Solar is really a prerequisite and going to give the best returns. If the OP is in Scotland they could get a grant?

toadhall

No suitable location for a heat pump, which is why I'm looking at solar. I'm going to look a solar subscription with battery, it seems doable. Sadly not in Scotland.

Newbie_John

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81922639#Comment_81922639

This is very incorrect.

Air-to-air heat pump (air con) was mentioned earlier - and they cost £2k or under to install for one unit.
And with this your electric heating costs as much as gas heating. Then you have a selection of electric tarrifs that can bring this cost down - making it cheaper than gas. It also doesn't require as much work - one unit outside, can be hanging on a wall and one indoor hanging as well. Cheap, quick, efficient. The only issue is it doesn't heat water.

Solar? £6k+
Battery? £6k+

They take years and years to pay back, now with electricity companies cutting export rates it will only get longer and you don't get much sun in winter, during the nights - when heating is needed.

@toadhall, ok but once you get solar what's the plan? run electric radiators?