A Shade Greener

[Fartown]

When Milliband and his (at that time) master were in Copenhagen last year, the pair of them were trying to out-green everybody by promising dramatic cuts in CO2 production in the UK (Notwithstanding that Brown's own advisors had told him that cuts on such a large scale could only be achieved by significant increases in the price of electricity and gas; increases which might damage British industry and which would cause severe problems for domestic users.) They went ahead and made the promises anyway.

 

Presumably the last government looked very favourably on anybody who was prepared to install any form of 'green' generating capacity, irrespective of how high the true cost per KwH turned out to be.

 

I wonder whether some of the companies who were offering free installation are having second thoughts about whether their return on investment will be adequate?

 

The scheme seems very strange. They give you free solar panels because the electricity companies pay them for electricity if you use it or not? Obviously all seems legit though...

 

I don't know exactly how the scheme works, but perhaps it's something like this:

 

Assume that at today's rates, electricity costs 10p per KwH.

 

The company installs a solar panel array on your roof which can produce 5KwH. You will be credited with 5p for each KwH of electricity produced.

 

The company which installed the panels doesn't pay you any rent for the use of your roof, but you are paid some money for the electricity generated.

 

The company sells the electricity generated to one of the power providers and it sells it at 20p per KwH.

 

A part of the nation's electricity is now produced by the photovoltaic panels on your roof (and that of others.) The company which installed the panels gets 15p per KwH for the power generated - their return on investment.

 

The power providers pass the additional cost (10p per KwH) on to the consumers, so instead of consumers paying 10p per KwH, they now pay 12p. (Assuming 20% of the electricity produced is produced using 'green' sources and there are no additional costs for spare capacity in the event that the sun doesn't shine.)

 

Then people wonder why their electricity bills have increased by 20%.

Edited December 17, 2010 by Fartown

[Fartown]

Only for half a day.

 

The other half, it uses oxygen and emits CO2

 

But it isn't balanced. If a plant produced as much CO2 as it absorbs, how would it grow?

 

"...during the day the plant produces far more oxygen

from photosynthesis than it produces carbon dioxide from cellular

respiration. It is a waste gas and if not expelled from the plant, can

cause serious harm. Since plants do not utilize large amounts of oxygen

over a twenty-four hour period (ideal conditions, winter is another issue),

oxygen wins.

 

It is a good thing too, for ALL the oxygen in the atmosphere is the result

of plants producing far more oxygen than they need."

[Mrs Overall]

Depending on the height of the conifer it may be sufficient to have it trimmed in order to prevent any shading of your roof? But as you don't even know the people it's a strange thing to ask of someone and you've no idea how they'll react.

 

But as far as the company A Shade Greener are concerned, they'll be the one's who have lost out financially not you, as they've paid for everything that's been done so far .. the survery, isolation switch etc. You've not actually lost out.. you've just not gained anything. I know it must be disappointing though when you've been expecting the panels to be fitted.

 

Yes we're bitterly disappointed Bonny, and we've wasted roughly 3 months of our time, but you're right we've not lost any money thank goodness.....SG have lost out as they informed me that we were one of many that this man got wrong!

[euclid]

The first picture they use is from google satellite to see which way the roof faces and if large enough ,if it passes this, then an engineer is sent out.At this time of year the sun is at it's lowest, next week it will have started to rise again and no shading on your roof at all probably...shortest day 21-22 Dec ??? ....... week or two ago the MD of SG was on radio saying sales had quadrupled, so they may be starting to be too picky,i have seen some fitted on a roof to a semi-detached in next village facing west....SG do not do this either...but the owners probably paid for it themselves?

[fox0114]

Ashadegreener panels fitted Wednesday 5/1/11. Whole job 4.5hrs and presently getting 4kW from 18 panels and using as much as poss - bright sunshine at mo' but still surprised it shows 4kW inverted from the 18x185w panels. You do need to regularly check your el meter to ensure it's not moving as my system required resetting as it had a glitch. BTW rothschild if you check the reviews on the AG site on e of the guys states theat he has fitted 2 displays that show whats coming in and what he's using. Brit gas supplies these.

[Mayfield]

There're several companies that offer free PV installations. The customer gets the electricity that is generated for free and the company that fits the systems get the FIT (Feed In Tariff) Currently 41.3 pence/unit generated.

 

Fox0114 I can't understand how your system can generate 4kw of power when your panels will only generate a max. of 3.33kw. It sounds like your monitor may be faulty:suspect: The system that you have should save you in excess of £567/year and will generate in excess of £1171/year for the installation company.

[Mayfield]

These companies are fitting PV for free, not to save the planet but to maximise profit. If there is a possible shading issue then they may feel that the system will not perform as well as their profit margin allows. The companies recover their costs from the FIT (Feed In Tariff) whist the homeowner gets free electricity that is generated. The FIT currently pay 41.3p/unit generated.

[fox0114]

There're several companies that offer free PV installations. The customer gets the electricity that is generated for free and the company that fits the systems get the FIT (Feed In Tariff) Currently 41.3 pence/unit generated.

 

Fox0114 I can't understand how your system can generate 4kw of power when your panels will only generate a max. of 3.33kw. It sounds like your monitor may be faulty:suspect: The system that you have should save you in excess of £567/year and will generate in excess of £1171/year for the installation company.

 

You're quite right Mayfield, 3.33kw is maximum. I was reading the total kws that the ASG meter displayed. Have now fitted an 'OWL' wireless meter that displays live info on what the panels are collecting.

[mort]

Threads merged. Please use the search facility before starting new threads. Thanks

[mark@RPWD]

I personally don't like the idea of renting my roof out for 25 yrs + read this - http://www.restylesolar.com/feed-in-tariffs/a-shade-greener