Talk to me about solar panels

[KhloeKardashian]

Are there any good deals about if you buy the panels yourself to put on a new extension roof? Are there planning issues?

Are there negative issues if you go to sell?

Tell us more! Do you mean for electric of for hot water?

We should do what they do in Germany; they generate so much electricity from small scale solar panel and wind turbines that the power companies are shutting down fossil fuel generation. By small scale I mean many houses have solar arrays, and most are owned by the individuals concerned not the corporations. For that reason it won't happen here. :o

I both MrsTaraPlumbing if possible.

I think, though I'm not 100% sure, that most grants/loans etc. only work if you use an acredited installer. My fist stop for info would always be the energy saving trust.

If you're doing solar thermal (ie. hot water) then you'll need a central heating system with a hot water tank, not a combi boiler. And the tank needs to be capable of taking two heat inputs.

If you're going for solar pv, the panels themselves are considerably pricier, but I believe it's much simpler to plug it in to your existing system.

Oh, negative issues... Not unless you're signing up to one of those deals where a company pays to install it, and you split the cost-saving, but they continue to own it for 20 years. I've heard warnings about signing up to that unless you're certain to stay in the house for the life of the arrangement.