Just ordered Solar Panels!

[Onthepigsback]

And I'm so excited. Does anyone else have them? How do you find their efficiency? We are looking at about a 5yr payback on them which I think is reasonable considering they are warrantied for 20yrs and should last longer than that. The numbers were really good so it seemed like a no brainer. But anyone elses experience of them, and especially tips on how to make the most of them, would be greatly appreciated.

5 years sounds optimistic. Do you not have gas for heating, cooking and hot water?

Because energy from electricity costs about three times as much as energy from gas, you will save more by cutting your expensive electricity usage than if you normally use gas. Running the tumble drier on sunny days is a big saving (though a washing line is even cheaper).

My calculation was for 10-11 year payback, but because I am on the South Coast and there is a slight increase in sunlight if you are close to the beach, I might do a bit better.

I understand the subsidy is going down again for installations completed after 31st December.

you can do a calculation of probable generation here

or maybe here

5 yrs does seem optimistic - 7 to 12 yrs seems a more common period.

But yes, getting the most out of them...

Think what usage you can shift to peak daylight hours, particularly anything involving heating or cooling, as these are the big users.

Washing machine
Dishwasher
Ironing
Shower if you have electric shower
Slow cooker

Obviously it really helps if one of you is home during the day.

Yes my DH had them fitted in May, and has bored me to death about the virtues of them.

Unfortunately for him I don't care where the electric comes from as long as it there when I need it .

Slow cooker is low user!

Slow cooker is lower use than full electric cooker, but it still uses heat. So switching to slow cooker using solar during the day is a double-win for someone who was using an electric cooker without solar.

I love mine had them fitted Dec last year plus an optimiser which channels excess solar power to hot water (you need a tank) we have only used boiler for hot water two or three times since March gas and electric bills down to £40 a month. My payback Inc FIT is going to be about 5 years but I don't want payback, massively reduced bills, being greener, and income (at a far far better rate than the pension annuity we bought at the same time) are far more important than payback to us. I am at home a lot during day but you cod put dishwasher/washing machine etc on a timer.

I work from home all day so can get good use out if them. I've gone with the most reputable company here and they have the most efficient panels on the market. They also gave me a really good discount on total cost so that brings down the payoff period. We are looking at a 400% ROI over 20 yrs and of course that is totally dependent on the actual kw that the panels take in yearly which they have estimated. The sales guy said they almost always generate 10% over the estimation but even if they come in 10% lower, the figures are still excellent. We have a fully south facing roof on the top of a hill with no shading so that helps.

You are going to laugh now when I tell you that we have an oil fired aga which heats all the water, does all the cooking and covers a portion of the heating but yes, it's a total oil guzzler. But I love it and see it as a hobby:) So I didn't need the iboost to divert kw into an immersion.

OOI what is the nominal output of the panels you are ordering and about what will the installation cost?

Pigletjohn when did you do the 11 year payback calculation? I am on the South coast the quotes we had all gave us a 6 to 7 year payback (paying upfront no interest on payments) but 10 months in the output has been better than predicted so I make payback around 5.3 years. Three years ago the prices were much higher for panels and on my previous house (minus the optimiser) payback was about 10 years. We also had these fitted in December when they were quiet so maybe that helped keep price down a bit. We have a shading issue as well due to a large chimney.

Damn, just lost my post! Try again.

Total cost 5k. 4kw system. 16 panels. 250kw capacity. 3368kw estimated for the year. Does that give you the figures you need piglet John?

Wow that's a great price we have 13 300w panels 3.9. kw capacity 10 months actual output is 3788kw cost £7,100 with the optimiser (that was about £350)

That sounds like a great deal. I'm not in your area but how did you find out who was a reputable company and who wasn't please?

I knocked on doors and asked neighbours and used checkatrade I had three quotes all much the same layout and quotes.

Sounds great. There are a few big houses nearby which have had massive renovation work including panels. I could ask them for recommendations.

And thanks for the tip.
Where are my manners

We went with a big company as I was concerned that the twenty year guarantee was pointless with a young company but the fitting was slow (turned up for two days cleared off for three etc) our neighbours have had much better service from smaller local company who.were also very slightly cheaper.

I'm in Northern Ireland. I Googled a lot and their name kept coming up as very reliable, best panels available and not most expensive but a premium to pay. They are also one of the biggest and around the longest here. I had a quote from another big company and was going to go with them but at the last moment thought to call the other company and ask if they had anything different in their offer. Salesman jumped in car and was over in an hour. His warranties and info on the exact inverter and panels was far more extensive. Panels not made in China. Output better etc. so I showed him my first quote and he took £950 off to beat it slightly.

Very happy with the price and assurances he gave me. Also the examples of their work span major corporates to housing developments and many private homes.

I'd feel the same re pointless guarantee tbh. I don't mind a longer job (eyes the scaffolding that's still up a week after the job was finished)

I was told fit would be started at 8am and done and dusted by 3pm so electrician could come in and do his thing the same day. Salesman would come back 1 week later with all my docs. But one thing to note is that the (4) fitting teams are full time employed by the solar company, not outsourced like lots of solar companies supposedly use. I think the 20 yr guarantee is a manufacturers guarantee so the fact that my panels are from a well known and reputable maker should give some security om that guarantee.

*Have to wait 6 weeks for the install though!

Pigsback

"3368kw estimated for the year" is quite a typical figure

I haven't got the latest subsidy rates to hand, but if installed "On or after 1 April 2015 and before 1 July 2015" and "Solar photovoltaic with Total Installed Capacity of 4kW or less, where attached to or wired to provide electricity to a building which is already occupied"
then the middle rate is 12.05p

3368 x 12.05p = £405.84

plus an export tariff of 4.85p

3368 x 0.5 x 4.85p = £81.67

making your payments £487.51, (with an effective total rate of 14.475p per kWh)

Is that somewhat similar to the estimated payments on your quote?
The quote usually shows estimated inflation, but not DCF.

I will see if I can find the latest figures, they change quite often.

latest figures should be here

please see what you make it

p.s.

the table shows a high, middle and lower rate. I couldn't remember the rules. With great difficulty I have now found them. Assuming you have an EPC for your house and it is well-insulated, I expect you will get the higher rate.

text is:

"evidence of the property’s EPC rating is required when applying for FITs. The lower rate (see the full Ofgem table) applies to EPC ratings below band D or where no certificate exists
Between the higher tariff rates shown in the table and the lower rates applicable to EPC ratings below band D, there is a corresponding set of middle rates which apply to multi-installation situations where the FIT generator or nominated recipient already owns or receives FIT payments from 25 or more other eligible solar PV installations."