Solar

[Andrew[MG]]

Anyone up here in Scotland got a solar installation? My parents just got one installed and I was wanting to compare how much they are generating....

[e21jason]

Hot water or electric as I have worked on several installations, and by the way they never pay for themselves the only reason we specify them is to offset carbon emissions

Jason

[EC2]

On Solar PV, payback is about ten years IIRC but only at the current feed in tariff which is four times the real price of electricity. When the feed in tariff is halved, payback clearly doubles and the market should die. A classic sign of the government playing with markets and failing.

[AGAR]

EC2 said:

On Solar PV, payback is about ten years IIRC but only at the current feed in tariff which is four times the real price of electricity. When the feed in tariff is halved, payback clearly doubles and the market should die. A classic sign of the government playing with markets and failing.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

The government scheme is reasonably good at their current tarriff, but after December the tarrif the government will pay for electricity you sell to the grid will be approximately halved, leaving virtually no payback at all. What a great way of encouraging people to help supply power to the grid, especially since the UK will have to "import" substantial amounts of electric power from the Continent sooner rather than later; due to our power stations being well past their operational lifespans.

[paulqv]

EC2 said:

On Solar PV, payback is about ten years IIRC but only at the current feed in tariff which is four times the real price of electricity. When the feed in tariff is halved, payback clearly doubles and the market should die. A classic sign of the government playing with markets and failing.

those currently on the FIT wont have that altered it is only new ones after 12th dec that are affected

Paul

[Andrew[MG]]

e21jason said:

Hot water or electric as I have worked on several installations, and by the way they never pay for themselves the only reason we specify them is to offset carbon emissions

Jason

Surely you've got that back to front? With the inflated FiT they do pay for themselves but their carbon offsetting is meaningless?

[EC2]

paulqv said:

those currently on the FIT wont have that altered it is only new ones after 12th dec that are affected

Paul

Thought I'd made that clear sorry if not.

My point is that these systems are completely uneconomic. Payback will be 20 years on the new feed in tariff. Why would anyone investment in that other than for green reasons?

[DCL]

http://scottish-sunbeams.blogspot.com/

is a good blog for Central Scotland. I've had a 4KW set-up since June and I'm very happy with it. It's producing about about 25 units a day in the summer and about 5 unit recently (sunny days). The lowest I've recorded is 0.9 units.

An SE thread of mine http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?...

[gbtvr]

I just love how the consultation on the slashing of the solar FIT on the 12th Dec 2012 has a close date of the 23rd Dec 2012 for responses. Numptys...

[Blukoo]

Yeah, we've got 16 solar pannels installed on the roof of our house.




Not sure what figures they're producing daily, although i'm sure I could find out...

[e21jason]

I have only worked on large commercial projects where the feed in tariffs are less and as Scotland has not built any thing for 4 years most of the installations where before the feed in tariffs were introduced.

The reason co2 offsetting is important is that under the Scottish building regs you need to achieve a co2/m2 target for a new build, the easy way to do this is by solar hot water.

Jason

[aycee]

EC2 said:

On Solar PV, payback is about ten years IIRC but only at the current feed in tariff which is four times the real price of electricity. When the feed in tariff is halved, payback clearly doubles and the market should die. A classic sign of the government playing with markets and failing.

I am hoping on 3-4 yr payback if sun shines.£2.50 today

[Markp13]

aycee said:

I am hoping on 3-4 yr payback if sun shines.£2.50 today

I'm afraid you've no chance.

Be prepared for voltage fluctuation if your on a rural network too.

Bright light, dull light, bright light and repeat. That could get a bit boring.

The network just isn't set up for imbedded generation and there AVC requirements.

[duckwhistle]

Any info on maintenance costs over 20 + years, will the panels need cleaned regularly, what if the roof underneath needs work, how long will the bracket to roof seal last, will the space between the panels become a dirt trap or gunge up with leaves, birds nests etc. Is the space a nice warm haven for unwanted insect infestations, How long before the electrical equipment becomes obsolete or worn out . Will these become a vandal magnet. I can't find answers anywhere on these points. Is this another money making fad soon to be obsolete.???

[Markp13]

I sincerely hope it becomes obsolete as its your money that is being paid (massively over the odds) to householders who have these panels.

And it's not even an attraction to buy a house that has these panels as the money only goes the the person holding the original contract, not the owner of the house.

[Robert Burns]

duckwhistle said:

Any info on maintenance costs over 20 + years, will the panels need cleaned regularly, what if the roof underneath needs work, how long will the bracket to roof seal last, will the space between the panels become a dirt trap or gunge up with leaves, birds nests etc. Is the space a nice warm haven for unwanted insect infestations, How long before the electrical equipment becomes obsolete or worn out . Will these become a vandal magnet. I can't find answers anywhere on these points. Is this another money making fad soon to be obsolete.???

No maintenace should be needed with them at all.
They shouldn't be a vandel magnet, but the idiots out there might do it. Buts too big a job and to hard for them.
The electrical equipment shouldn't be obsolete. Unless a huge jump forward in the equipment happens you should be fine.
I don't think its a fad, some people don't want to destroy the look of there houses. Some don't have a south facing roof. You need a south facing roof period.
I know someone who has done it. He doesn't make money from it. It reduces his costs by about £300 a year. But for £12000, i don't think its worth it. I would rather enjoy £14000 and have a lovely holiday round the world.

Edited by Robert Burns on Sunday 4th December 11:37

[rs200evo]

Robert Burns said:

No maintenace should be needed with them at all.
They shouldn't be a vandel magnet, but the idiots out there might do it. Buts too big a job and to hard for them.
The electrical equipment shouldn't be obsolete. Unless a huge jump forward in the equipment happens you should be fine.
I don't think its a fad, some people don't want to destroy the look of there houses. Some don't have a south facing roof. You need a south facing roof period.
I know someone who has done it. He doesn't make money from it. It reduces his costs by about £300 a year. But for £12000, i don't think its worth it. I would rather enjoy £14000 and have a lovely holiday round the world.

Edited by Robert Burns on Sunday 4th December 11:37

He should be making money with it. I had a 4KW system installed in April. Two payment to date totaling £950, so should be around £1200 for the year. Including the £300 I save on the bill, that's about £1500 per year. Not bad for a £14k install, over 10% per year and tax free. Can't get your capital back of course but the tariff is also index linked, so after recoupment, year 10+ will be very healthy. This is all on a South facing roof in Fife.