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[Sir Tigger KC]

My Mum's house has a large south easterly facing roof that dosn't have any obstructions like overhanging trees etc and I've been thinking about a solar PV system as it seems the price of these has come down considerably.  A local firm is offering a 4Kw system for £5495 which is 16 panels. 

I know that the feed in tariff has been reduced considerably, but I'm wondering that as the prices have come down is it still a good investment? 

Please, no political rants, green lectures or anything like that it's just the investment side of it that I'm interested in as we're practically paying the banks to keep our savings these days!! 

I think that there's a few people here who have them so I'm after some first hand experiences.  Feel free to PM if you don't want to share publicly.  Many Thanks!! 

[Varche]

On the Martin Lewis money programme(Friday night?) they were talking about this. He said you have to read through sheaves of paper "Green" to find out whether it is a good deal or not. Surprisingly there are still loads of grants available for loft, cavity insulation and even new boilers..........

In Spain loads of people have them but the concensus is that they cost in only after many years. However if you are not on mains electric they were a good idea. Now the government have gone doolally and brought in a law where you can get fined a substantial amount for not feeding into the grid if you are "reasonably close by". I know some folk with HV lines above their house but connection would be about £15k. You couldn't make it up.

[Shackeng]

http://www.solarcentury.com/uk/solar-estimator/

There are plenty of sites like this that allow you to work out the figures. I fitted them for the same reason as you, no return on capital from banks, and was really not bothered about the money back side of it, as a pensioner I just wanted the income. However on present showing, I will have made back the capital in about 8 years, and have had them fitted for just over 3.

HTH

[I_want_an_Omega]

I think that new installs have to be AAA insulated to qualify - which essentially means that only new-builds qualify. WORTH CHECKING.

Also, ISTR that the FIT is only 20 years now as well ...........

[zirk]

Also worth looking in to Solar Water Heating Panels with on a Feed in type Tariff, longer lasting Panel Life and more efficient in the winter months.

[blackviper90210]

My dad had these fitted about 3 years ago. He lives on his own in a bungalow and said tbh wasn't really worth it. It seems to be hit and miss when he's actually getting "free" electric. Some days, clear skies and sunny hardly anything, overcast dull days gets more? Never consistent.
He uses the dishwasher and washing machine between 10 & 2 daytime only, just to be on the safe side.
If he knew then what he knows now, he probably wouldn't have bothered. 

[Shackeng]

My dad had these fitted about 3 years ago. He lives on his own in a bungalow and said tbh wasn't really worth it. It seems to be hit and miss when he's actually getting "free" electric. Some days, clear skies and sunny hardly anything, overcast dull days gets more? Never consistent.
He uses the dishwasher and washing machine between 10 & 2 daytime only, just to be on the safe side.
If he knew then what he knows now, he probably wouldn't have bothered. 

I am amazed, I've had over £4500 in payments, plus the electricity bills are way down.

He didn't by any chance fall for the line "We'll fit the panels for free, and you will get the free electricity, and we'll take the FIT payments" Did he?

[Shackeng]

My dad had these fitted about 3 years ago. He lives on his own in a bungalow and said tbh wasn't really worth it. It seems to be hit and miss when he's actually getting "free" electric. Some days, clear skies and sunny hardly anything, overcast dull days gets more? Never consistent.
He uses the dishwasher and washing machine between 10 & 2 daytime only, just to be on the safe side.
If he knew then what he knows now, he probably wouldn't have bothered. 

I am amazed, I've had over £4500 in payments, plus the electricity bills are way down.

He didn't by any chance fall for the line "We'll fit the panels for free, and you will get the free electricity, and we'll take the FIT payments" Did he?

I assume that's a yes then. I'm afraid a lot of people got caught out this way by smooth talking salesmen, although to be fair, there were/are lots of warnings against it on t'net.

Rechecking my figures, now £4801 since Nov 2010.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its very intereting that they pay 50% of the generated power as infeed as the actual infeed is not measured by the meters.

So if your in during the day (e.g. retired) and can use more than 50% of the electric produced then you will benefit more.

[I_want_an_Omega]

Its very intereting that they pay 50% of the generated power as infeed as the actual infeed is not measured by the meters.

So if your in during the day (e.g. retired) and can use more than 50% of the electric produced then you will benefit more.

Broadly true - however ........... The only reason this is done is to avoid the need for a supply meter which will record in each direction and present the import (i.e. normal) consumption, and export consumption as two separate readings.

If however you have a supply meter which will show export readings then they will accept these and pay at the actual rate rather than the 50% estimate from the generation meter.

In my area they are looking for a one off £100 to swap the meter out. 50% seems fair given the logic behind it ......

[Shackeng]

Its very intereting that they pay 50% of the generated power as infeed as the actual infeed is not measured by the meters.

So if your in during the day (e.g. retired) and can use more than 50% of the electric produced then you will benefit more.

True, my leccy who fitted mine, lives in the Village, he has an export meter, and tells me that he exports more like 65%. He is working still. I'm told that some people still have old meters which run backwards when exporting.

Also now there are systems which will divert excess solar energy to your immersion heater. Immersun for example.

[Kevin Wood]

Its very intereting that they pay 50% of the generated power as infeed as the actual infeed is not measured by the meters.

So if your in during the day (e.g. retired) and can use more than 50% of the electric produced then you will benefit more.

True, my leccy who fitted mine, lives in the Village, he has an export meter, and tells me that he exports more like 65%. He is working still. I'm told that some people still have old meters which run backwards when exporting.

Also now there are systems which will divert excess solar energy to your immersion heater. Immersun for example.

Yep, bloke at work had a meter that ran backwards. He got a bit too greedy, though, and was rumbled.

[I_want_an_Omega]

Its very intereting that they pay 50% of the generated power as infeed as the actual infeed is not measured by the meters.

So if your in during the day (e.g. retired) and can use more than 50% of the electric produced then you will benefit more.

True, my leccy who fitted mine, lives in the Village, he has an export meter, and tells me that he exports more like 65%. He is working still. I'm told that some people still have old meters which run backwards when exporting.

Also now there are systems which will divert excess solar energy to your immersion heater. Immersun for example.

Yep, got one of those 

[Entwood]

Whilst not wishing to enter the "yeah or nay" for solar PV ... I would mention a word of caution ....

My Niece and her husband have just, eventually, purchased a house where Solar PV was fitted 6 years ago. The system was NOT purchased outright as I believe Shackeng's is, but is one of the "lease your roof" type systems - I expect there is a better name but you'll get the drift ...

The house purchase took over 4 months longer than expected/planned, mainly due to the mortgage providers legal department being extremely exact (and perhaps picky) over the fact that there was a legally binding "owner of rights" to the roof, who actually have - in some respects - more "rights" than the mortgage provider ... if, for example, the mortgage  provider were to evict the owners for non-payment of the mortgage ... they cannot "evict" the "owners" of the roof but would have to ensure that the rights of the Solar company were protected throughout any eviction and subsequent forced sale of the property.

As said .. this caused many delays as well as increased legal costs during the purchase ... perhaps they were just unlucky ... I don't know ... but its something to think on .....

[Sir Tigger KC]

Also now there are systems which will divert excess solar energy to your immersion heater. Immersun for example.

I like that idea and I should think you can save a fair bit on the gas bill if you have a hot water tank!   

Maybe you'd still need to perk it up a bit first thing with the boiler for morning showers though?