SO16_Saint Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Has anyone installed the free / paid for solar panels? I've been thinking about this for some time, and today received a leaflet through my door saying we're eligible for the free installation offer. Anyone taken up this offer?? Is it worth doing (considering it's free, I cant really see a downside) or am I being blinkered? Southern Energy Solutions are the company in question - http://www.solar-panels-in-hampshire.co.uk/Home/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Investigate insurance implications and if you want to sell the house in the future: there have been some issues. When I move back to the UK I'm thinking of getting them for my house, but I'd pay for them myself in order to get the reduced FITs and spend a few of those savings for which the banks are giving me sod all.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Good points - Supposedly free 'leccy during the day (if you are around to use it). Points to consider - unless you have about 25m2 and above of south facing roof at 40degree pitch that is unobstructed by trees, telegrpah poles, etc, they generally aren't interested. They get the FIT's (although recently reduced), You agree to have them on for 25 years (could be a problem for selling house, believe it or not). Defo worth considering though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedg Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Even with the reduced tariff they are still a good investment so if you have the money to pay for them yourselves its worth considering. When we had ours installed last year it was about 9K for 4kW but that's down to about 5 or 6K now I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Someone on the forum sells/fits them, but I can't remember who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Someone on the forum sells/fits them, but I can't remember who? Probably Junction 9 - he's our resident handyman isn't he? Anyway, I would definitely look into insurance if you are having them fitted. Also get your roof surveyed by a structural engineer. Those panels aren't light and your roof was designed to hold up the tiles and the occasional snowfall. Imagine having twelve or fourteen panels on the roof and a deluge of snow, worth checking that the insurance would cover you if the roof caved in! Other than that I guess they are a good idea, but I'd personally prefer some way of storing the 'free' leccy generated during the day and using it at a time when I need to use it - in the evenings generally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedg Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Other than that I guess they are a good idea, but I'd personally prefer some way of storing the 'free' leccy generated during the day and using it at a time when I need to use it - in the evenings generally! One think I nearly had done with our solar panels is you can get a box that measures the energy from the panels and what is being used in the house and when more energy is being generated than being used it sends the excess to an immersion heater in your hot water tank and will only 'export' excess once that is warmed up fully. In our case it was not such a good idea as also had a new efficient gas boiler and insulated tank installed so the payback time would be too long but for anyone or oil or electric water heating it might be more worth while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100016121/when-free-solar-panels-can-prove-an-expensive-mistake/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Share Posted 14 September, 2012 Couple of comments, just had Solar panels installed yesterday at my house after realising, as someone else did, that the banks aren't giving much interest and as it's tax free money then why not ? 1. If anyone is interested in Solar Panels then drop me a PM for a recommended company. They are Southampton based and I know of 4 separate installs they've done now and everyone is very happy with (a) the price and (b) the workmanship. 2. If you've got solar panels installed then the Wattson device (http://www.diykyoto.com/uk/wattson ) is well worth a look. It gives you instant colour feedback on whether you're exporting leccy to the grid (green light) or are taking from the grid (red light). Never thought I'd be checking the weather outside to see if it's worth putting on the dishwasher before It does a whole load more measuring and reporting but, unfortunately, falls short from actually turning on devices in the house when you're exporting.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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