Solar panel energy question
- Thread starter Dickyb0b
- Start date
Been looking at them myself, as the neighbours been having them fitted.
A lot to take in, about FIT's, Feed-in tariffs, grants,etc.
Some useful calculators here.
http://www.solarpanelsuk.co.uk/
A lot to take in, about FIT's, Feed-in tariffs, grants,etc.
Some useful calculators here.
http://www.solarpanelsuk.co.uk/
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By having it installed.
Any excess is piped back into the grid. There's no batteries. If you don't use the electricity from the panels the excess is fed back to the grid and you get a couple of p per KW, then on top of that you get the feed in tarrif incentive.
As above read up on FEed in tarrifs.
what if i dont get it fitted and its just like 4 panels on the shed roof, i am not talking about home installation version , i am talking about a DIY version 
, i understand the energy is stored in the battery , can that energy in the battery be sold to the grid?
, i understand the energy is stored in the battery , can that energy in the battery be sold to the grid?
You need to have it installed by someone accredited under mcs.
No batteries need as said any excess is feed backwards into the grid. You get a feeding tariff for any units generated you can then use or sell these units.
The irr isn't as great as it originally was nut it still isn't a bad investment if you can get the installation for c. £2k per kW and you're south facing.
No batteries need as said any excess is feed backwards into the grid. You get a feeding tariff for any units generated you can then use or sell these units.
The irr isn't as great as it originally was nut it still isn't a bad investment if you can get the installation for c. £2k per kW and you're south facing.
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It just goes back in and you get a FIT for the privilege, PV panel prices are plummeting but the quality and efficiency is soaring, if you can understand what you are looking at you should be able to get a good deal.
You need a MCS cert to be eligible
You need a MCS cert to be eligible
What's the view on photoelectric panels at the moment. I understand the FIT got cut dramatically but I'm guessing (perhaps wrongly) the efficiency of panels has gone up whilst costs have gone down potentially helping offset the reduction in FIT?
We actually use a fair amount of leccy during the day, is that a good or bad thing (i.e. is it better to sell the leccy during the day back under the FIT or is cheaper to use it saving on the bill in the fist place?)
We actually use a fair amount of leccy during the day, is that a good or bad thing (i.e. is it better to sell the leccy during the day back under the FIT or is cheaper to use it saving on the bill in the fist place?)
Fit rates were cut dramatically but it affected larger installations more. Costs have dropped quite a lot but not enough to achieve the returns we saw when the scheme firststarted. EEfficiency is creeping up slowly but you'll pay a lot more for more efficient panels so unless you need a certain capacity from a limited area then panel efficiency is more or less irrelevant in terms of returns.
Re electricity use the big issue with domestic installations is no one is home during peak power production times and it doesn't make sense to use battery storage due to costsand eefficency. You will get roughly 3.5-4 times as much benefit from using the power than selling it.
Re electricity use the big issue with domestic installations is no one is home during peak power production times and it doesn't make sense to use battery storage due to costsand eefficency. You will get roughly 3.5-4 times as much benefit from using the power than selling it.
How so? The unit rate you get for selling it is higher than the rate you pay, isn't it? Although I guess that depends on your provider's tariff and what FIT rate you're on.
You only get a few pence for the exported electricity and you make your return on the overall energy created via the FIT payment - my parents have a 12 panel system which over the first 12 months generated a 15% return on their investment (tax free). Their system is on the perfect roof which is totally shade free and full south facing so they get full exposure to the sun ( when it visits).
They also changed when they use most electricity during the day to reduce their electricity bill further but one thing you need to do if you have a system is to get your electricity meter changed as theirs was spinning backwards for nearly 12 months
They also changed when they use most electricity during the day to reduce their electricity bill further but one thing you need to do if you have a system is to get your electricity meter changed as theirs was spinning backwards for nearly 12 months
I can't remember the rates off the top of my head right now but you will get around 25p for every unit you generate. You can then sell it for an additional c3p or you can use it and save yourself the cost of buying a unit from your supplier c10-16p depending on your tariff.
I decent roof will generate up to 900kwh per kW of panels (4-8 panels depending on efficiency. If your in Cornwall you might get 1000kWh per kW per year and up north obviously less.
A kW of panels will cost between £2500 and £4000 installed.
They run on sunlight not sunshine remember so will generate something everyday. Less in winter and more in summer obviously. Panels will last 25 years plus but invertors won't last more than 15 years if you're lucky so factor that in. Also consider the implications of selling your house with them on.
Panels will also over generate early in there life then drop by upto 20% over 20years.
I just found all the paperwork, makes sense now. I was trying to understand how they could tell the difference between units used by the home and units exported (when there's only one figure given by the meter), but they just work under the assumption that 50% of all units generated are being exported, so you get the Generation rate for all units generated, and then the Export rate for 50% of those.
Of course, other installations may be different, I've no idea.
Of course, other installations may be different, I've no idea.
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We're hopefully moving into our new house in the next 2 weeks and it has a south facing roof. We plan on living there for at least the next 10 years. I'd love to get some solar panels, but are they really worth it anymore? The government seem to be killing the schemes as more and more people get them.