Domestic solar panel - good or bad ?

Pep

Domestic photovoltaic panels are still very expensive to purchase and install. They produce most of their electricity in the middle of the day, when families normally need it the least. So what often happens is the owner either sells it to the grid for close-to-zero, or store it in a battery (very expensive, and with limited lifespan).

Payback time seems to be 10-15 yr.

Of course there other aspects beyond the economic one, enviromental or geopolitical for instance.

What's your opinion on the economy of domestic solar PV panel, with or without battery, good or bad?

bendertherobot

I got mine when Feed in Tariffs were good. So my 5 yr loan is balanced out by the FIT. Then for the next 20 years the money they make, and the saving is all mine, if they work.

With the state of FIT now I’d be looking at panel plus storage to make the most of it.

straas

I've looked into them in terms of use in a camper van.

A full system for approx £400 can power LED lights, a fridge full time and charge phones etc.

Seems like a viable solution in an outhouse or shed - but not sure how it'd work that well in a house?

Pross

I'm regretting not taking up an offer to have them installed free when my daughter was entitled to disability benefits.

bendertherobot

straas wrote:

I've looked into them in terms of use in a camper van.

A full system for approx £400 can power LED lights, a fridge full time and charge phones etc.

Seems like a viable solution in an outhouse or shed - but not sure how it'd work that well in a house?

In theory, a Tesla Powerwall plus solar will take you off the grid entirely.

TheBigBean

It depends how much it costs to install, but you can still get an approx 4p/kWh FIT and 5p/kWh export, so it is not all bad. If you don't know how to calculate your expected annual production I can detail that.

I wouldn't get a battery just let for economic reasons. Only consider it if you want a warm rosy environmental feeling.

FishFish

I had a system put in. The economics are questionable but it is the right thing to do. I got 40% off the asking price so don't take their offer without negotiating. There is a need to attach the 'smart meter' to your router so watch out for this potential security leak. If you need to get a loan then I would not bother.

I had panels when I lived in Gambia - basically off grid. They were a great help.

confused@BR

We had panels installed three years ago so the current numbers have changed thanks to the gov becoming less generous with the f i t. However here are our numbers, we have 16 panels (rated at 1.25KWh) on a due south facing roof. It cost us £5,000, a local firm fitted it in one day/two men. We have free electricity in the home when it is running plus an annual income from the f i t of around £700 tax free. That income is guaranteed for 20 years.
It seems to average 7KWh per day over the year (I noticed a reading of 0.48KWh on the evening of a very dull late November day) and we seem to consume 3 to 4 KWh a day. This works well for us as we are retired and occupy the house all day long, that means washing machines, etc. are run in the day to consume our production rather than it go to the grid. The grid pays us very little for that production, most of our income is via the f i t.
My daughter & son-in-law have had an array installed last August, they are on less generous f i t terms but the installation cost less and the panels are more efficient than ours. They used the same firm as us and are happy with the result, even though he is an accountant and as stingey as can be!
Hope that helps. Just to add, we will install battery storage when costs allow but are thinking that an EV with a battery to grid arrangement may be attractive when technology is available.

Pep

Good to hear, thanks

bendertherobot

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental- ... riff-rates

You can see all the rates there.

FWIW, my last 3 month payment was £120 back plus the reduction in my bill for the energy saved.

I'm in the July 2015 rate.

If you want to be stunned, check out the 2010 rates,

confused@BR

FYI Just received notification of the quarter's income up to the first of April £94 48. Altough the winter was cold it was often clear which is why the payment is about £20 better than this quarter last year.
Tax Free.
BTW our rate is about half of the early rates.

robert88

FishFish wrote:

I had a system put in. The economics are questionable but it is the right thing to do. I got 40% off the asking price so don't take their offer without negotiating. There is a need to attach the 'smart meter' to your router so watch out for this potential security leak. If you need to get a loan then I would not bother.

I had panels when I lived in Gambia - basically off grid. They were a great help.

It's "The Gambia" unless you lived there many decades ago. (There are good reasons for the definite article which I am not at liberty to divulge.)

rjsterry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-afri ... -of-gambia

I for one am slightly disappointed that the reason wasn't as interesting as R88 hinted.