solar panels.... any experience or thoughts about them?

[chimchar]

dh is looking into getting solar panels fitted to our roof.

the initial cost will be about 12k, we should get our initial outlay back within 8 years, and our "income" after that should be about £1500 per year.

i'm nervous about it...it seems too good to be true.

anyone done it?

Bump.

Anyone???

should work if you have a south-facing roof.

We had ours done this year and it seems to be generating at least what it should.

Use a specialist company because there are some terrible installations around which do not use the roof space well. It's amazing how many you see on north-facing rooves and we're in the north of England so I doubt they'll be generating much.

Also make sure you get the right sort of panels. Can't say much now cos children's tea in progress but dh happy to answer any qs about ours.

Brilliant. Thanks so much for answering....I was feeling all alone and lonely!

We have the right facing roof so I'm told!

Am interested about the types of panels...if you have a few mins later, a point in the right direction would be great.

Thanks elder.

No idea about the details but neighbours had some installed yesterday and have quoted the same figures, ie paid for itself within 8 years and looking at a return of 12.5%, which you'd be hard pushed to make in any other way in this climate.

If we were sure this was going to be our long-term home we'd install them in a flash!

You need to make sure the electricity company guarantee the price per kW for the lifetime of the panels.

We looked into it but the guarenteed price by EDF (we are in France) has just gone down so the return is not there anymore.

Basically the price offered per kW was much much more than EDF charge for electricity in order to encourage people along the route, but it was costing them too much money.

In the UK it's Gov subsidies (Feed in tarriffs) which make this profitable - without Gov subsidies, payback on solar panels would be closer to 100 years. The Gov have provided guarantees on subsidies (up to 25 years) to those who have installed the panels but I wouldn't count on this offer being open indefinitely - for the rest of us electricty consumers who finance the subsidy, the cost effectiveness of this scheme has been questioned.

Have a look at the Energy saving trust website.

thanks ever so much.

the figure (cant remember what it is!) has been fixed at the rate for 25 years if you get everything done by i think march next year.

it all sounds good on paper, but i worry that in reality, there must be a catch!

[pessamist]

As with any big building project like this make sure you get 3 different quotes from reputable installers - there are a lot of cowboys out there. They should be MCS-registered (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)

You are right, the feed in tariff rates will be reduced in April 2012 so you need to move quite quickly.

But there are no hidden catches - it's a great incentive.

And make sure you use a reliable company to help you register and pay you your feed-in tariff - you do not need to use your own electricity supplier.

thanks george.

dh will be pleased with you...you've said all the right things!!

(you're not my dh are you??!!!)