Solar panels and energy crunch forum

So in a nutshell

More people install solar panels for hot water because its more affordable than standard energy costs. A long lifespan means its a brilliant way to reduce energy bills by up to 70%. They work well even in the UK, and anyone installing will either benefit through an increase in house price. An energy efficient home is worth far more than its non energy efficient neighbour.

Or

it will give you lovely cheap, energy bills while your neighbours struggle to pay there's.

Yes, this is a exceptionally valid point you make. Solar panels do help with cutting the risk of legionella.

Legionella is a spore which is harmless in normal circumstances but if breathed in can be serious. Stagnant, low temperature water is a staunch breading ground. If the shower head is exposed to temperatures over 50-60 degree C, then this cuts down the risk.

In these times, people will be turning down their thermostats to temperatures of more like 30 - 40 C. This is grim news.

If you install solar panels, then this will keep the temperature above 50 - 60 C, without using your boiler. This is an added benefit to solar technology, which is not, expressed and should be when promoting solar.

Solar PV does exactly as is said on the box however, solar thermal does not. The 70& saving on domestic hot water costs is extremely exaggerated, and the government has started to realise this. The, actual typical, figures of around 25-30% equating to an annual saving of both the cost savings and the green credentials of these systems are flawed, to say the least.

Take into account the limited lifespan of this third world produced products and their highly inflated price tags, due to the many middle men involved in their distribution. Solar Pv, on the other hand, with no moving or vulnerable parts will last and last and will provide a real benefit for the householder.

Sorry to say but you are quoting incorrect information. Something tells me you sell PV solar panels yourself.

Firstly the 70% figure banded around the hot water solar panel industry is 70% of your hot water needs. Ie, From March to September solar will do all your hot water needs, and it will contribute between 1/3rd to half (depending on the type of technology) during the winter months.

When we talk about overall energy requirements, yes a domestic home requirements is around 30% hot water. (But this is a piece of string figure) A family with children will be more like 50% compared to those without. So to clarify the 70% figure is hot water demand only, not overall energy usage.

As for quality, yes like any industry there is shit quality systems usually from China. With double glazing style companies who sell systems at double their worth, you are right about, avoid these like the plague, but there are fantastic quality systems around which will easily have a lifespan of 30+ years. How many products last 30 years????

Compare this to PV solar panels were a decent sized system is much costlier, compared to a water heating system. More affordable, and useful to more people.

Dan

Why is nobody talking about the environmental advantages of solar panels?

Whether we like it or not, we all have to reduce our impact on our home planet. Some people have gained wealth some have lived exceptionally comfortable lives at the expense of the planet. Now its time to pay mother nature back. I invested in solar panels because I want my children to see that their parents did care.

Craig

May I also add, that a technological revolution, like the car industry and television to name but only two requires those who can afford to buy solar panels to do so. Whatever your motivation (Usual to get on over the neighbours) environment or money saving, those who can afford it will be the pioneers.

Everyone remembers the family who were first to get a TV. It didn't save money it didnt add value to the property, it just provided a service.

I bought solar panels a couple of years ago. I looked into both PV solar and water heating solar.

My choice came down to investment. Although the PV solar was my first choice, the size of system needed to make a reasonable contribution to my household needs was too generous with a size of 3kw needed. This brought the cost to a prohibitive £11 grand. We therefore, updated our water heating system alongside solar tubes for £6 grand. It does depend on how deep your pockets go with PV, but I am very happy with my hot water solar too.

Mrs Green (in name and heart)

PV solar panels, once the flagship of only hardcore environmentalists, this technology has been proven to work on a domestic scale by Germany since 1991, were their feed-in tariffs scheme introduced by the government has been a outstanding success.

With the introduction, of a government backed incentive scheme similar to Germanys will finally bring Photovoltaics into the mainstream consciousness of the UK. A sheer urgent need to localised generation of power, will progress, and economies of scale will send PV into a world wide frenzy of demand. 20 years from now, we will look back and wonder, why it was never introduced sooner.

As from April 2010 a feed-in tariff, which allows self, generators as with pv solar panels is introducing a scheme similar to California, Germany and Spain, will be launched by the UK government. A renewables feed-in tariff system will be introduced as well to give paybacks of 21p per kw h for both domestic and businesses that use solar technology for generating electricity. A mico generation system such as Photovoltaics and also include hydro generation and wind turbines. Most homes in the UK however, are unable to install wind turbines in urban areas.

It is a misconception in the UK that pv solar electricity systems, which convert sunlight into electricity by capturing the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) panels, need direct sunlight. The PV panels can actually generate electricity on cloudy days, although a southerly facing roof is needed to achieve this.