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Feb 17
2010
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So you’ve seen Will’s solar home and are inspired?
(Will, we’re really glad you’re chuffed with your new mini power station).
The UK’s newly announced Feed-in tariff brings a new dawn for generating electricity with solar power in the UK. The new scheme means homeowners producing solar electricity will earn income from energy generation, benefit from significant savings on electricity bills and cut carbon emissions. It’s estimated that you can save and earn over £1,000 per year for 25 years, increasing with inflation, with a typical solar electric system. Because of this, the Government hopes one in every ten homes will be solar by 2020.
So what next?
Check out your roof. It will need to be up to it, meaning not caving in with significant structural problems. As long as it’s not north facing or shaded for most of the day, you’re likely to be able to consider going solar.
What are your options?
If you want to own a system it will set you back around £12,500. You can either go for a bolt on ‘Sunstation®’ or C21e solar electric roof tiles, that actually replace the tiles on your roof. The advantage of the latter is that, well, they look nice. And we designed them, so we would say that wouldn’t we.
There is, however, an alternative. Solarcentury will soon be launching a service for homeowners wanting to go solar in an even more affordable way.
Go to www.solarcentury.co.uk and sign up to be kept up to date. We’re excited, and think you will be too when you hear about it. We’ll keep you posted!
Charlotte Webster
Solarcentury
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written by ian russell, March 10, 2010
Your estimates for ''savings and earnings'' are over 20% higher than the example for average households given in the official literature, and the practical example featured here.
In any case, surely the ''savings'' aren't realised until after the capital invested is paid back, which is estimated at 12 years for PV schemes in the article mentioned? This makes me want to ask;
What is the average life expectancy of these panels and equipment in operation and how much maintenance is the owner obliged to make under the tariff agreement? The manufacturers-installers guarantee expires after 10 years, 2 years short of estimated payback. Presumably there's a depreciation factor on the equipment when selling your property close to or after this guarantee expires.
It would be better for the ordinary (and average) person if they - the government and electricity providers - kept their tariff payments and simply paid for the installations.
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written by Charlotte Webster, March 10, 2010
Thank you for your comments. I will endeavor to answer each query one at a time:
1. The cited system is 2.5kWp in this example, larger than Will's and therefore the income and savings are greater. See here for a breakdown of calculations: http://www.solarcentury.co.uk/...incentives
2. Expected lifetime of a PV system is around 40 years. Power warranties are on average 25 years guaranteed to 80% power. This is of course for proven, accredited products such as Solarcentury's C21e solar electric roof tile.
3. Maintenance requirements are minimal. The only part that needs attention is the inverter, the dc/ac board in the inverter will need replacing after five to seven years (£190 for parts and service day rate). Extended warranties are also available at initial purchase.
The most important point here is that you should look for a credible installer with MCS accreditation and a good system guarantee.
4. The Feed-in tariff mechanism is designed to stimulate the market in such a way that solar can become mainstream and reach mature industry levels before grid electricity prices rise even more significantly. A 'grant' system is subject to political fluctuation and has been proven to be unreliable - a stop start situation hinders growth and confidence. The FIT scheme is more concrete as it is written into a long term framework, which provides stability for consumers and producers over 25 years.
Any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Charlotte
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written by Rebecca Verkade-Cave, March 28, 2010
When the new feed-in tariffs( FITs) were announced in Feb 2010 I was very disappointed to learn that I would be penalised because I had my solar system accredited before 15 July 2009. Under the new FIT rates I would only be paid 9p for every unit of electricity generated and 3p for every unit exported to the grid. Although Good Energy has promised to carry on paying 15p per unit generated for at least 12 months. This is still much much lower than the FIT I would receive if I had installed the solar panels after 15 July 2009
I feel I have been kicked in the teeth for being a 'pioneer' in solar power, as I will lose out for having my solar panels installed just a five months too early ( in the Govt's eyes). It does not encourage me to recommend solar power to my neighbours who ask about the system. I have installed. Was this the intention in the new FIT system to create a lot of disappointed and bitter early pioneers?
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written by Charlotte Webster, April 11, 2010
You are one of many pioneers who feel they should receive the Feed-in Tariff. It is important to note that the FIT was set by The Department of Energy and Climate Change, not anyone else. We did our best to help campaign for a fair FIT, but the final call was with the Government.
Our suggestions are:
1. Join the campaign to get a better deal, and sign the petition on the No.10 website:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Microgenerators/
2. Contact your local MP and DECC to express your concerns
3. Research what other parties are considering for you as a pioneer, you may be surprised by what you find! We want to remain impartial here, but I think you get our point...
4. Finally, don't be put off solar power. You may be disappointed that you can't get as good a rate as your neighbour, but they are, afterall, entitled to take advantage from this pontentially very successful scheme.
Hope this helps & good luck with the petition.
Charlotte
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Thanks for all these informations! I was at Ecobuilt yesterday, and found the talks very interesting. Thanks Will!
I also would like to ask something to all the readers of this blog: I'm doing a PHD in sociology, and the topic is: how to spread renewable energies towards the genreal public in case of a refurbishment? It is a comparison between France and UK, and this is financed by EDF Research and Development.
I have to interview households who have put micro-technologies on their houses, to understand their motivations, etc. Nothing technical! Just the expectations, wishes, the decision, costs, etc...
I am desperate to find people who would accept to talk to me in UK, because I'm french, so I have actually no network!
If some of you would agree to talk to me, it would be so great! Do not hesitate to forward my message!
Thanks to all of you, and congratulation for your new homes!
Marjorie