Solar panels and energy crunch forum

Rather than the environmental aspects of solar panels, I think, most peoples motivation to buy a solar panel is to reduce dependence on higher rising energy. The long term outlook for UK energy prices are particularly grim indeed, so that is why I and my husband have invested in solar technology.

I bought an evacuated tubes system in 2005 for this very reason. I am extremely happy with its performance, I am truly happy with the quality, and I am exceedingly happy with the cheap bills i now get. Since then, 2 other families on my street have installed systems and they are tremendously happy too.

It was Heat my Home's decision to promote solar technology, because of the quality and experience of the company not only in solar panel installations but larger-scale renewable energy projects too.

An excellent web site, which is doing a tremendous public service, and I only hope the elderly (or their relatives) and vulnerable have access.

I am 70 and have just had a 2 hour high pressure visit from a Stay Warm Energy salesman who wanted to sell me one solar panel (now called Collector!), a 40 gallon hot water cylinder, a pump and a box of electronics for £11,500. He said that if I gave him the commission within 24 hours it would cost me £6,400!!! I then walked him 50 metres down the road to a house that was displaying a Solar Direct advert, with the same Bournemouth telephone number as his own, and denied any knowledge of the company.

Fortunately I still have all my marbles and am computer literate, but I feel outraged that firms like Stay Warm should be allowed to operate.

Domestic solar water heating has become increasingly popular over the last five years. People are becoming aware of the effects of global warming and look to do their part to help the environment.

Solar water heating is also becoming more popular in new builds and renovations, as local councils insist on 10%+ sustainability rather than without. This can usually be achieved with solar water heating technology.

It is a general opinion that solar water heating is expensive to install, and it will take a long time to get your money back on the investment.

Why solar panels make financial sense?

Solar panels can provide a large percentage of your home energy needs for the next 30 years. The UK energy supply is going to rely heavily on Russian supplies as the UK North Sea production wains.

This will create an energy supply gap, meaning more energy price rise’s in the pipeline (excuse the pun) over the coming years, rather than the plentiful supply we are used too.

As a recent Financial Times article points out, the cost of energy, resources, materials and manufacturing is rising globally. It is likely that solar panels will never be cheaper than they are now as future panels and installations will consist of inputs {energy + materials} that cost far more than today.

This month (April 2010) saw the implementation of the feed-in tariff (Fit) also known as the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme. This will benefit homes and businesses that have a PV solar panel system installed with a government backed guaranteed income for 25 years. Also, known as Photovoltaic, solar panels, this harness the free energy to generate electricity.

You will not only be able to generate your own power but also get rewarded for the power, even if you use yourself. This in itself is a double saving as you effectively get the power generated and the feed-in tariff payment.

If that is not enough, the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme as it is also known will pay you for every unit generated and exported. This maybe, when you are out at work or on holiday etc. You are not only generating your own power, but generating an income. The larger the system size you install, the larger the income.

Stuart Lovatt the creator of Heat my Home.co.uk, had been working within the solar industry for the last 8 years, and was inspired to promote solar technology through his website when solar was still a diehard green technology. Stuart has seen his industry come through a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows over the last few years, but as Stuart says in his own words, “The inevitability of solar becoming a mainstream technology has always been obvious to me. The golden age of cheap energy was always going to end sooner or later, and people would have to find alternative ways to heat or power their homes”.

With a new era in power generation beginning, we ask, what else do homeowners have to look forward too? It is like waiting for a bus, the old 3 come along at once scenario. The feed-in tariff is committed, and will see the UK PV market grow exponentially, and next year we will see the unveiling of a similar incentive scheme for solar heating panels, which will also give a guaranteed income for homeowners who install evacuated tubes or flat plate heating panels.

The breakthrough is for people who may not be able to afford a solar panel installation. A pioneering scheme which allows all energy consumers to purchase their electricity and gas supply from a real 100% renewable source. There is no excuse for not powering your home with real green energy nowadays.”

I am just proud to be a small part in the way people, are thinking about and changing the way they consume energy at such a pivotal time in our civilisation.

Solar panels will become an essential part of energy efficiency globally. We all know their benefits environmentally, but their key part in reducing our consumption on expensive and finite fossil fuels like oil and gas, is what solar panels are going to be known.

We have been pleased with the way your installation team handled our order and installation. Although we had to wait for an inverter due to high demand and a couple of small mistakes, the measure of a company is often the way it handles them; in this respect, your installation and management team performed exceptionally well indeed.

Thanks, yes our mission, is to be collaborative, working in partnership with you, the customer to specify a system to your needs, our installer colleagues are the best within the solar industry insuring our no quibble guarantee on the quality. We aim to be ethical and responsible to all. We believe that a proper installation can create substantial economic benefit, if tailored correctly.

I'd like to thank you for the excellent information I've found it is one of my favorite readings on the net at the moment.

I am 25 years old and live in California where I have the passion to share, with family and friends, tips to help them to lower pollution and CO2 emissions. Special thanks for your help stuart who answered most of my questions related to solar energy.