Solar Panels

IronGiant

Well in terms of hard cash the panels have generated 842kW since they were put in, so have made the installers £350 since 23rd June. I'll be interested in what the next 4 months brings in: )

AndiC

The main issue with free solar panel installation is that your roof has to be perfect for companies to install them as they obviously want to pay back the money they borrow, with interest, as quickly as possible. Therefore you do have to have a south facing roof, of a particular size, that is sloping and isn't shaded.

There is some useful information about the common myths at: Solar panel myths

TheDandy

You wanna check out the feed in tariff deal - you'll save money over time with solar panels that way.

the-demi-god

Useful site thank you. Sense of direction is terrible, how do I know if the roof is south facing, looking out of the front window in the am the sun rises in the front to my left and sets in the back on my right. Really turn me around and I am lost
If as I rather suspect we are not south facing can I assume the panels are not recommended. We are also at the top of the hill and the wind is high, but I thought that would be more of an instalation problem, still the negatives all mount up. I am beginning to think it might be easier to just to move house.
Does anyone else find it a bit surprising that they are not incorporated into more new builds, in the bad housing market it would be a selling point not to mention the fact that it would dramaticly improve the energy rating.

IronGiant

Sounds like you are facing south or south east to me.   A Google link to your house would let me tell, but don't post it on the forum.

The Dark Horse

Can someone explain in layman's terms how this works please, I'm finding the whole process a bit confusing. My understanding, which is probably wrong, is you either pay for an installation yourself or get a 'free' installation and then the government pay you money, is that correct? Do you actually get money paid into your account every month or do you just pay a lower tariff?

BISHI

Free installation - You get free leccy during day light hours.

Pay for your own panels - You get about 43p per KW produced   free leccy during daylight hours   3p per KW for 50% of what you generate as it is assumed you export that back to the grid. By carefully maximising your use of leccy during daylight hours you can maximise free use ( 70-80%) and still get paid for 50% of what you generate ( This assumes you dont get an export meter fitted - whichbthey rarely do.

Both of these systems last for 25 years.

You only get paid if you invest in the panels yourself, you take a reading 4x a year and recieve a cheque for the corresponding amount. So far I have generated about 1000Kw since xmas and have had cheques otalling over £200. I am expecting the big 3rd cheque any time soon. I reckon I'll make £600 in export and  feed in tarrif and probably save at least 50% off my leccy bill.

The Dark Horse

Thanks Bishi. So do you actually get paid, as in money into your bank account? I keep reading the figure £12,000, is that the average cost if you pay for your own?

BISHI

If you pay for your own don't pay much more than 4K per KW ( free ones are quoted at 12K for the maximum 3k installation - use that as your guide for a cost price install).
You will get quoted stupid prices so get at least 3 quotes and play them off against one another. I paid 9K for 1.7 KW and had 2 companies tripping over themselves to undercut one another, I reckon I might have get an even better deal if I had waited a bit longer. Check the country of origin of the panels, most are Chinese and should be avoided - I'd go for Japanese ( Sharp and Kyocera are the best).

You get paid by cheque quarterly.

The Dark Horse

Thats the bit I don't understand, what do you mean by per KW? Is there a figure that is worked out on the size of your home that all installers will use for an installation?

Also is the quarterly cheque issued by the company installing the panels or direct from the government?