Solar panels and energy crunch forum

I am extremely new to the world of solar, but after reading your website, I believe it could be a splendid idea to install to my property. I do not know were to start, but an estimate of costings would be a fantastic idea for now?

Hello

Solar heating is divided into two categories. PV electrical, solar panels and solar heating panels. Both are not like buying a new TV.

Let's tackle PV (photovoltaic) solar first:

Each home has variables which need to be assessed before a costings or quotes can be given.

Now for solar heating panels (thermal) which is the most commonly installed in the UK:

Same again with the variable on plumbing systems which we encounter, (i.e. tank ages, tank sizes, tanks types, combi boiler or not, heating upgrades, pipe run lengths, number of people, etc). A full assessment of your home is needed to quote effectively with this technology.

If you would like a quote tailored to your home: http://www.solar-panels.biz/solar-panels-installations-quotes.php

The cost of a solar energy installation does depends on many different factors because homes are set up differently, so that is why a home survey is crucial.

A reputable surveyor can determine:

1. The size of your roof and thus the amount of solar panels that can be fitted during an installation.

2. The layout and amount of work needed to install pipes or wires.

3. Current central heating set up and condition.

4. Electrics condition and integration

5. Roof access.

6. Equipment access.

7. Roof orientation.

8. Calculations of possible savings/income.

9. Feed in tariffs applications.

10. Many other smaller details, which could affect, the amount of solar installer work required.

A good solar company or surveyor will sit down with you (coffee optional) and work out how much electricity or heat a solar installation can produce for you. A calculation of your energy savings and feed-in tariffs income your solar panel installation will generate, based on actual physical calculations, not guess work.

What is the payback period for a solar panels installation?

Well, first and foremost it does have a payback. If you use coal, oil or electricity or gas the supplier does not offer you any pay back at all. No matter how much gas, oil or coal you purchase and no matter how long for, you never get your money back. You have to service, maintain and renew you fuel burning equipment. Similarly, the electricity company never offers you a payback.

Various government bodies define sometimes payback as the annual fuel bill savings divided by the capital cost. This is simply inaccurate misleading and wrong.

If you take a proper view of payback, you have to factor in future energy increases, take account of inflation, look at the savings in boiler servicing and the ability to make a boiler last longer. Doing the sums properly most thermal systems offer a pay back of between 6 and 15 years, depending on the fossil fuel displaced, the future fuel inflation factor you use and the amount of hot water you use.

If the product is built as part of the housing infrastructure, it will last for around 30 years with minimal maintenance. If the product is built into a home in the course of construction, the pay back period declines rapidly.

Although payback is one way of looking at the cost, it is perhaps more accurate to look at the return on your investment that solar panels offer. Typically the financial savings of a robust solar thermal system will be equivalent to a tax free return on investment of between 8% and 12%.

Recently Hips reports have for the first time in history, allowed homes with renewable energy including solar panels, to be valued higher, than those with none.

Solar installations have now become a real, financial investment opportunity, considering their longevity or and long life spans (25 - 30 years), against the higher UK energy pricing policies, and the ever increasing costs of peak oil.

Being a large family our energy consumption is higher than the average family. As energy prices are constantly on the increase, we had to consider ways to reduce our energy consumption and energy bills. After making some minor changes to the way we live, it was obvious, that we needed something more significant like solar technology.

We had read about solar panels and the feed-in tariffs, but we were not fully aware of the full benefits until you came to see us. We were enlightened about the feed-in tariff and the payments we will get even if we use ourselves. The further 3 pence export tariff, even if we do not use it, plus the added advantage of our bills being reduced because we are no longer importing power.

We calculated that the investment if our sums are correct and tax free would pay for itself over a period or 10 – 12 years with 15-13 year’s free untaxed income. We signed up straight away.

A no brainier.

On reflection, we regret not having a solar panel system installed earlier in the year to take advantage of the summer sun.