Looking Into Getting Solar Panels......

[ToraToraTora]

what's the best way to achieve this? what dodgy deals are there to avoid? Any general advice?
do any of you have them? are they worth it? Is there government help? I have been researching but I cannot get much info without leaving details and I don' want to get pestered every 5 mins at this stage. Thanks.

[nailit]

They havnt gone down to well in my neck of the woods 3T
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/council-backed-energy-supplier-solarplicity-2574005

[Kathyan]

We had them installed 7 years ago. We paid cash for them and we get a three monthly payment from them for the energy produced that we don't use. If you get the free installed ones, the only benefit you get from them is the energy you use, any excess goes to the installer. If you do get them use a reputable installer so you are covered in case anything goes wrong. Hope this helps!

[ToraToraTora]

thanks kathyan how much are they? how much do you save on the bills, what company did your installation? How long is the guarantee, do you pay a service contract? Do they need maintenance? Sorry lot of questions!

[hc4361]

Have you seen this link, TTT? Updated April this year so the info should be current

https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/08/10-things-you-need-to-know-before-buying-solar-panels-in-the-uk

Also this from unbiased USwitch with further links
https://www.uswitch.com/solar-panels/guides/solar-panels-information/

[ToraToraTora]

thanks hc

[hc4361]

I'm holding out because I'm convinced there is something much better on the horizon.

[Tilly2]

...or on the roof, HC. :-)

[hc4361]

That's true. :)

[Cloverjo]

The previous owners of my house installed them. They don’t work.

[ABerrant]

If you do go down the solar panel route please take into account that the pest control business seems to be growing rapidly as a consequence of such installations, not that they have proved of much effect in our neighbourhood.

https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+panels+pigeons

[Tilly2]

We had solar panels installed eight years ago. We had to have them pigeon proofed as the pigeons caused so much mess. When the company came to clean the panels and remove the debris, they collected five black bin bags of nests, muck, dead pigeons and feathers.

We have had no more problems since they were pigeon proofed though.

Today, our panels have generated 16.4 KWH. That's £8.00 worth of feedback to us.

[Tuvok]

Be aware that the feed-in tarrif has ended.

[Tilly2]

Ours hasn't.

[ToraToraTora]

thanks, you've convinced me! to forget it!

[Denton]

Problems also if you want to sell your house in the future,TTT.

[Buenchico]

You're just too late for the Government-backed feed-in tariffs scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/feed-in-tariffs

[KARL]

But what I would urge you to consider (as opposed to photovoltaic, which I never thought were worth it) is one or more heat collector panels. We installed these 9 years ago, they are around 4m² total of vacuum solar collector tube-type (the most efficient heat collectors). Annually we get all the hot water we need (up to 85 degrees temperature) for about 9 months of the year and central heating on top of that to the point where we need no other form of heating for around 6 months of the year (minimum 18 degrees throughout overnight, 21-22 during the day). In the summer, because we don't have anywhere else to send the heat nor do we have covers for the panels, the heat goes to the radiators - we are probably famous for having windows open. For more than 140m² floor area you might choose more panel area and vice versa, all depending on the heat retention characteristics of the house.

[TonyV]

Karl I've been intrigued by water heating systems, but because our house is a semi, not sure neighbour would agree. Other thing I've thought about is a heat pump system where you bury pipe under ground where it heats up.

[Kathyan]

Ours cost £7k. The last reading we generated £196 and next time it will be more because of the summer months. It goes down in the winter months to around £60 or so. They were installed by a company called Greenenergy and we have a 10 year guarantee on them. We have 6 panels. Our daughter has 8 panels and she obviously gets more from hers.

[Hopkirk]

Is the feed in tariff encouraging the pigeons?