solar energy good idea or not
Discussion
Hi I see you are in Yorkshire, try these people http://www.ashadegreener.co.uk/ they are offering free supply and installation of photovoltaic panels ( they are using the Goverments subsidies for renewables). There was a discussion on money saving expert seems they are cosher.
Let us know how you get on.
Jimmy
Let us know how you get on.
Jimmy
Solar PV - electricity - is close to pointless, certainly in the UK. I believe it does have a theoretical payback time, but that depends on whether it'll still be working in a couple of decades. In europe, the electric co buys back your generated power at a good price, enough to make it worthwhile. Here, you don't get the incentives.
Solar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
Solar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
saleen836 said:
Do a search on here for 'solar power' a few threads have been started in the past, basic upshot it it will take around 20 odd years to recoup the outlay for a solar set up.
Not true.andy43 said:
Solar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
True.If you want to save money, the first thing to do is ensure you have got your insulation and draught proofing completely up to spec. If your boiler is due to be changed, get an A-rated model. If your windows are due to be changed, you can search out the lowest U-value that makes financial sense (no point in installing Scandinavian triple glazing in a 1930's semi for instance).
To get best use of solar thermal, you will probably need to change your hot water tank as well - usually for a much bigger one. If space is at a premium, or you don't have a decent south-ish facing roof for the panels, you're going to struggle.
Here are our solar panels:
rovermorris999 said:
I looked at solar themal recently as I'm renovating a cottage. An online calculator (can't remember where) suggested savings of £70-£100 per year on hot water versus a modern oil boiler. Installation cost would have been around £2000. So I'm not bothering.
I keep coming back to the question of installing panels, and the issue for me is less the cost of the installation but more getting away from reliance on oil when supply and/or price may be subject to fluctuations for political or other reasons beyond our control.rovermorris999 said:
I looked at solar themal recently as I'm renovating a cottage. An online calculator (can't remember where) suggested savings of £70-£100 per year on hot water versus a modern oil boiler. Installation cost would have been around £2000. So I'm not bothering.
Apparently I was wrong to quote those figures.I have 2 large flat plate solar collecting panels at my place in Southwest Turkey. Out there these panels are cheap as chips and everyone runs them. From April through till November this provides plentiful hot water for 10 showers per day. You do have to get used to only showering in the evening though.
In the UK costs are exponentially higher - you need more sophisticated panels - and the benefits are far less. Once the imbalance is addressed solar will take off.
In the UK costs are exponentially higher - you need more sophisticated panels - and the benefits are far less. Once the imbalance is addressed solar will take off.
TimJMS said:
I have 2 large flat plate solar collecting panels at my place in Southwest Turkey. Out there these panels are cheap as chips and everyone runs them. From April through till November this provides plentiful hot water for 10 showers per day. You do have to get used to only showering in the evening though.
In the UK costs are exponentially higher - you need more sophisticated panels - and the benefits are far less. Once the imbalance is addressed solar will take off.
Would help if the sun shone, as well. Which it doesn't seem to much in Cumbria. I don't think the North gets a lot of sun. Wind, yes.In the UK costs are exponentially higher - you need more sophisticated panels - and the benefits are far less. Once the imbalance is addressed solar will take off.
TimJMS said:
eldar said:
Would help if the sun shone, as well. Which it doesn't seem to much in Cumbria. I don't think the North gets a lot of sun. Wind, yes.
Well quite, but if I remember correctly, I dont think you need direct sunlight for evacuated solar tubes to be able to generate heat.There is more wind, hence the proposal to fill the Solway with turbines. Not much help on a personal level, though.
TimJMS said:
eldar said:
Would help if the sun shone, as well. Which it doesn't seem to much in Cumbria. I don't think the North gets a lot of sun. Wind, yes.
Well quite, but if I remember correctly, I dont think you need direct sunlight for evacuated solar tubes to be able to generate heat.
) and from april to october / november ish our boiler does no water heating at all which is nice (for my wallet 
)andy43 said:
Solar PV - electricity - is close to pointless, certainly in the UK. I believe it does have a theoretical payback time, but that depends on whether it'll still be working in a couple of decades. In europe, the electric co buys back your generated power at a good price, enough to make it worthwhile. Here, you don't get the incentives.
Solar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
The unit price paid for solar generated electric in thed U.K. is allowing these people www.ashadegreener.co.uk to supply and install for free !!! no charge whatsoever!!! That seems to bring the payback time down a bit.I believe its only now possible due to the goverments latest initiative to boost the amount generated by renewablesSolar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
Edited by Shelsleyf2 on Monday 25th January 22:15
Shelsleyf2 said:
andy43 said:
Solar PV - electricity - is close to pointless, certainly in the UK. I believe it does have a theoretical payback time, but that depends on whether it'll still be working in a couple of decades. In europe, the electric co buys back your generated power at a good price, enough to make it worthwhile. Here, you don't get the incentives.
Solar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
The unit price paid for solar generated electric in thed U.K. is allowing these people www.ashadegreener.co.uk to supply and install for free !!! no charge whatsoever!!! That seems to bring the payback time down a bit.I believe its only now possible due to the goverments latest initiative to boost the amount generated by renewablesSolar thermal - hot water - is potentially worth it, if you DIY. If you pay a greenskies-approved company, who have to pay through the nose to become accredited (and then pass the extra cost onto the user), it's not really economically viable to do it. Also note the dodgy double glazing salesmen have found a feeding ground in solar energy that makes secondhand car dealers look like saints. Google Navitron to find out more about DIY-ing it.
Edited by Shelsleyf2 on Monday 25th January 22:15
A Shade Greener is a Renewable Electricity Generator looking for 2000 suitable houses in the Yorkshire area, and parts of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Humberside
Edited by saleen836 on Monday 25th January 23:19
Duke Thrust said:
I looked into a ground source heat pump for hot water and central heating - was coming in at £30k eeek!
Plus, the second lot thought the system would cost £2k in electricity to run.
I supply a complete inslab heating and hot water heating system for about 6,000 pounds, costs about 400 a year to run - all hot water and whole house heated with an air sourced heat pump. Let me know if want any help with specifications. Few people in the UK really know about heat pumps, few people in NZ know about central heating.Plus, the second lot thought the system would cost £2k in electricity to run.
Edited to add: anyone with an electric heated hot water cylinder will probably find that a hot water heat pump will cost less than a solar system...and because it operates in the dark and rain will save more energy than a solar system. Food for thought.
Edited by jaybkay on Tuesday 26th January 01:32
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff