Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Ok chaps I'm calling on the collective knowledge of the club. I had a chap round today to give me the figures for PV panels, some of which were just what you would expect from a salesman, y'know "to get this deal you have to sign today" all that kind of stuff. So I've got part of my roof that's dead square south facing and as everyone knows the sun allways shines on me so it should be perfect. trouble is, it's not very big approx 6 x 3 metres, so we'll only get 6 maybe 7 panels up there, which will only produce about 1.5kw. The cost of installation will be just under 5k. What have you got? does it pay? is it worth it for me? bearing in mind I'm nearly 65 I dont think I'll get payback in my lifetime unless I live to 120, now that is part of the plan, which leads to another question, will I still be able to get insured in the Westy at that age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Calling Pete to the boardroom ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Car Electronics Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Paul, that sounds way too expensive to get a sensible return/ payback. At the latest fit rates, IMHO you need to be paying under 3k for a 6/7 panel system. That should be easily possible now the hardware cost is so low. For comparison, my 3.9kWp system on a south facing Essex roof has generated almost exactly 3450 kWh for each of 3 years so far and was well worth doing, but I have the 45ish pence FIT. If you can get the right price to show a 10 year payback then I think it's worth doing, personally, but like most things, you need to check the maths carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinten Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 We moved into a new build home with a 1.4K solar canopy (not FIT qualifying ) and in the year since commisioning, it has generated around 800kWh. In other words... fck all of nothing Ours is not south facing though, and I got a nice compensation cheque to take care of the FIT mishap, so I don't really mind that much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete g Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 sounds expensive . do your home work prices have dropped big time but so have the rewards. had mine install 3 years now and has returned over £5k tax free so far plus my electricity bill halved and now my heating water bill reduced too in the summer.[now turn off the boiler] there's a few forums about like the navitron renewable energy site. worth going on and seeing what people are paying . theres a lot of cowboys still fitting them, and im sure you must have seen some poor installs. you must have no shade or it will kill the returns. but it does not have to be south facing. west give good results too. don't rush into it find the best price then find a good installer to fit at that price. they all seem to work the price of install on a 10 year return. but you can do better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete g Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Quinten you need to get a immersun unit to heat up your water .it makes sure you use all your generated electricity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinten Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Already installed pete The house has PV (as above) and solar thermal panels so I should say, the 800kWh is what has been generated above and over what has been used. Do not notice much on my energy bills though... my house is twice as big as previous and costs about twice as much to run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 Thanks chaps, thats all I wanted to hear, I did the right thing when I told the guy not yet, I need some more time for research and prices The costs he gave us just didn't seem to add up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrisisWolf Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 We moved into a new build home with a 1.4K solar canopy (not FIT qualifying ) and in the year since commisioning, it has generated around 800kWh. In other words... fck all of nothing Ours is not south facing though, and I got a nice compensation cheque to take care of the FIT mishap, so I don't really mind that much I have a new build 1kW Solar System and in just under a year (~ about 11 months) I've generated 960 kWh which I get 15.4p per unit and 4.6p per export (assumed half) So I've made (960 x 15.4p) + (960 x 4.6p x 0.5) = 147.84 + 22.08 = £169.92 for the 11 months plus saved a bit on what I've used (no idea...) Its South Facing and has no obstructions (trees etc). Feel free to play with those figures: Assume 1kW System = £170 per Year maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyonspride Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 In the UK, solar power is utterly pointless. What the salesmen don't tell you is the cost of replacing the batteries (and eventually the panels). I could built my own system for around 1/2 the price and it STILL would not pay to do so. I've done a dozen or so little solar projects and a few much bigger ones (charging multiple car batteries), we just don't get enough sunlight to make it viable during the months when we really need it. In countries where aircon is a must in summer, then yes it's completely worth it, in fact if you live in such a place then you'd be mad not to. So for example (i've done many solar projects of my own) A 12v solar panel will kick out as little as half that voltage if a cloud so much as passes by, if your batteries are all 12v, then anything less than 13v means your not charging them at all. The govt are pushing these projects, most likely because green energy companies are paying them to, because they know that in future they'll make a fortune servicing and replacing all this stuff. This is a pretty good article "The solar panel is the ideal modern status symbol, which signifies both wealth and moral superiority, even if it's perfectly useless." And ermmmm.... I don't mean to offend anyone, i'm an engineer (electronics) and I have to tell it as I see it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrie Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 So, for £5,000 you get something that returns £170 a year, or payback in 30 years if it lasts that long Strangely, that's about the same as an annuity, and we all know what's being said about them My local friendly electronics engineer can run a fridge from a couple of solar panels, so there is some hope, but my instinct is with Lyonspride - the weathers just not good enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrisisWolf Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Mine were free so I feel except from some of the above - I also studied electrical/electronics. I'm happy that it powers the beer fridge in summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 It seems to me that a few water solar panels, a suitable grey water storage cistern, large and well insulated, and a water source heat pump dangled in the cistern to pre-warm your boiler output, or supply a heat recovery positive ventilation system with extra heat would save money. Or buy a gas boiler.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell O'Neill Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Go for wind power, the neighbours will never talk to you again, but the returns are huge ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 It was quite sensible to have solar heating 3 years ago, FIt tariff was 45p. per kw. hour then, I just missed out and receive 21p. per kw. Now it's down to 16p. per kw. Plus you need to have a Energy Performance Certificate better than 'D' before the Government give you the Fit payments. The other payment you will receive is an Export tariff of approx. 3.5per kw Hour and the is paid on 50% of the total kw. hours you produce, therefore 50% of the Fit kw. hours. My 4kw. panels are split 50/50 between east and west, not the best direction South is always the best. I worked out it would take 7 1/2 years to reach breaking point, assuming nothing goes wrong and I have to pay for repairs. You can buy the panels from a wholesaler yourself and then find an approved fitter to complete the work, he would need to supply the necessary supporting paperwork for you to claim the FIT payments. I can't say I have noticed a drop in my electric consumption in the last 3 years but that is mainly down to the house being empty during the day and we still do all the showering/washing/ dishwasher cleaning in the evening. It is nice to get a bank credit every three months though, for something that it working passively on your roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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