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Are Solar Panels Worth the Hassle?
One of the main concerns about having solar panels in the UK is that there's not enough sunshine to make them worthwhile but there are actually lots of advantages:
-Use a renewable energy source
-Can save you money
-Quiet
-Does not endanger the environment, animals, humans or natural resources
-Size of panels can be increased, for example if owner’s energy needs increase or their financial resources grow
-Take advantage of unused space on roof tops of existing buildings
-Having one will reduce your carbon footprint as they do not produce Carbon Dioxide
-No waste associated with solar energy
-Style can be adjusted to match location
-Can be connected or stand alone
-Little maintenance
-Works even in remote locations
-Consumed where it is produced so there is no wasted energy during transport
The disadvantages are:
-South/South East/South West facing roof is desired
-Should not be shadowed by trees or other obstructions e.g. street lights
-Variable depending on the weather (cannot rely on them 100%)
-Variable depending on the time of day
-Planning permission is required
-Expensive to install (not always, see below)
-Long pay-back period (see below)
-May cause visual pollution
-Requires at least 5 square metres of free space on your roof
One pro, which may outweigh all of the cons is that companies such as British Gas and E.ON are now offering a Feed- In Tariff (FIT) where they give you money per how much energy (per kWh) you generate and extra for what you generate but don’t use. Half of what you generate can be used in your home and the other half goes back to the National Grid and you earn from this. This usually continues for 25 years.
Alternatively, companies will install it for free, however, they will take the money earned from the electricity gained from the photo voltaic cells and you get the advantage of cheaper electricity bills. Sounds like a good idea but let’s do some Maths: (figures based on British Gas http://www.britishgas.co.uk/)
Option 1: With the Feed-In Tariffs (50% of what is generated goes to the home and 50% goes back to the grid):
*Average amount of energy used per year (kWh): 3300
*Amount you would usually pay for energy (per kWh): 14.2p
*Amount you would usually pay per year for energy (kWh): £468.60
*Cost to install solar photovoltaic panels on your roof: £9999 (2.3 kilowatt, kWp, solar photovoltaic systems)
*Amount of electricity you will generate, on average, per year (kWh): 1955
*Amount the government will pay you per kWh of energy you generate and use: 43.3p
*Amount the government will pay you extra per kWh of energy you generate but don’t use: 3.1p
*Amount you will get, on average, from the government per year (if you use 50% of what you generate and sell rest back): £876.82
*Amount you will save on electricity bills (if you use 50% of what you generate): £138.81
*Total earnings and savings per year: £1015.63
*How long it will take you become even: (£9999-£1015.63=9.84) 10 years (you get FITs for 25 years meaning for 15 years you will be saving/earning £1015.63 and after that you will be saving £138.81 per year)
*Savings after 25 years: £15,234.45
-OR, option 2- You could let an energy company pay for the installation but let them take the FITs and you get the benefit of lower electricity bills.
*If you choose the second option you would save £138.81 per year and that would start straight away (due to free installation) and go on forever.
*Savings after 25 years: £3479.25
The savings after 25 years are clearly much larger in option one, however, this is only applicable if you have the financial resources to pay for the initial installation. If you do not then £131.81 is a reasonable saving per year for not doing anything!
The choice is yours!
Written by Lucy Dyer
Labels: Category:General,
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