My PV in a week

[Markc]

A week ago today I completed my own 3 panel PV system, 540wt total. I know it’s no where near being a support to my electrical needs but was only fitted to my roof by me to be inspected by the MCS to become accredited to install for customers. Given this week we have had mostly sunny days I am very happy and a bit surprised with its performance. In total I have generated 20.3Kwh. Think when money allows I will be expanding it may be to 2.5Kw.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

sent you a pm

 

[Phil]

where did you get the panels from mate thinking of getting some myself

 

[Sintra]

I was also wondering about costs involved to set up.

 

[Phil]

it`s a shame the neighbours have not got one i could nip up and tap into the supply

 

[Spudnik]

There is a scheme in place where you purchase a system and you can sell any "spare" back to the grid.

I dont think its funded as such, but you can get an interest free loan.

Oh, and your roof much be a certain pitch and direction (fully south) to gain the full benefits.

 

[Phil]

fully south is god as our semi is on the south side. will have a lok into the interest free loan this week thanks jason

 

[Spudnik]

No probs.

Just one word of warning though, is that they dont dish them out as a matter of course.

Its actually the company that supplies and installs them that organises the funding.

Just make sure you fully investigate it before you sign up!

Good luck.

 

[Phil]

will do mate thanks.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

a couple of things to read

http://www.solar-technology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/INFO-SHEET-low-res.pdfhttp://

Solar Technology: Solar Electricity by Photovoltaic Solar Panels (PV Panels) Installation

 

[Noddy67]

Very interesting - i'd be interested in seeing how much energy you actually get out of this over a year (good weather and bad) and the Return on Investment costs. I don't expect the idea will be financilally fantastic, but it's an important technology and will improve - like all technology does - from hereon in.

Keep us (me?) posted and good luck with the assessent.

R

 

[Markc]

Hi Guys

The fact sheet (as linked in a earlier post) is out of date and not strictly reflective of return rates and costs. The FITS only came into operation this month and replaced the grant system operating prior to it. The £2500 maximum grant is no longer available so cannot be taken into account on return. The FITS are 41.3p per Kwh generated and the export tariff to the DNO is 3p per kwh. The web is full of old and misleading information on PV currently as some haven’t updated their web sites.

A 2.5Kw system is expected to generate around £800 per year in FITs, £130 per year in energy sold back to the DNO. Add approximately 10% to the value of the property and achieve a higher energy rating on the HIPs and reduce running costs. Evidence is suggesting £1000 per year average on 2.5Kw. There is data from NASA taken over the last 25 years on our average sun yield per hour per day per year and working with this average the expected return can be calculated.

The 0% green loans are in the pipeline and will be offered from an accredited installer rather than say the bank or government (as far as we have been told). As a soon to be MCS installer the information on green loans is vague to say the least and possibly be shelved depending on election results. We (UK) are committed to reduction in CO2 by 2020 so government will have to adopt some other scheme I believe however they have introduced an unprecedented high FITS to kick start it.

Excess power generated can be sold back to the grid regardless of how the system has been paid for if excess is generated. In some circumstances the excess will come while the occupants are at work during the day and the properties running level is lower. An import / export meter records this. If (and when!) the green loans are introduced the loan is paid back by the FITs tariff. So the FITs will not be paid to the homeowner but go direct to pay off the loan. The loan is proposed to also be on the property rather than the occupant so if they move the loan remains on the property until paid off (and as long as the system remains on that property) I haven’t read anything regarding what pitch the roof is or only south facing if applying for the green loan and would say that may be it isn’t right. FITs (and possible loans) are only available from a system being designed and installed by a MCS accredited installer using a MCS accredited product and as the assessment criteria is extremely strict then I would say it is down to good design rather than legislating against west or east facing systems or pitches. The illusive 30degree south facing roof is very hard to find!

Hope you find I this interesting

Mark

 

[mogga]

Im all confuddled WHO pays for the equipment how much will it save per year , How long till it pays for its self ?? theres something in the paper today that certain "Larger" home improvement companys are enhancing claims

 

[chris gray]

hi
if youve bought and installed the pv would you be willing to break the price of materials down, and man hours it took?
just im kinda curious on wether this is an option for my home.

 

[Markc]

The house holder pays for the cost of materials and installation. There is now no government money in forms of grants etc. The green loans (if started) are arranged and organised by the installer under licence by the MCS Scheme. As all jobs the project will have to be priced using MCS accredited materials and installer, it will then be put forward to a governing body for agreement and land registry checks etc. As I stated previously the loan is on the property not the house holder. Once the completed job has been notified the payment of the loan will go to said installer. Its not open for guess a figure and double it scenario as the MCS have guide lines as to expected install prices per Kw.

There is no option to buy the product yourself, install it and then claim FITs. It has to be installed by a MCS accredited installer using MCS accredited materials, even down to the type of bolts used to fix it down. You can try and purchase a system and install it yourself but it will never qualify for FITs and it is here where the reasonable pay back comes into play. We’ve fitted two small scale systems only to achieve MCS accreditation. The likely final cost of this will be around £5K for both systems. Add into our training, travel, plant and machinery costs, advertising and man hours in research and purchase of required documentation as a company the investment into the industry will be around £15-£20K.

As a rule of thumb and dependant on system and location the expected cost is £5K to £7K per Kw fitted. So a 4Kw system will be around the £20-24K area. A 2.5Kw system is expected to pay back in 10 years.