Anyone got free solar panels?

[DeanDowney]

Originally Posted by Madmills

I've heard from an aquaintance that the solar panel companies are the new double glazing sharks - e.g. astronomical prices being quoted and then reducing them by thousands at the end, 4 hour 'presentations' given, and you need to sign up on the day and give a cheque too.
I'm in no hurry for that kind of thing


I'll keep watching this thread

I'm using the same company as Solus, no hard sell and very helpful and pleasant bunch. Mine are being fitted on 6/9. I'll update on the outcome. :-)

[anniekat]

some friends of ours went down this route with solar panels and they are very satisfied with the results. unfortunately our roof isn't big enough, or we would've had them fitted. as it is we had solar thermal panels fitted 4 years ago and only get our water heated. but we have a 6kw wind turbine which supplies our electricity.

[meinchewster]

so the nuts and bolts of it, is there a grant still available to assist with the cost of these panels?

Solus et al that have had it done, how much did it set you back approximately and did you have to pay in full upfront?

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, at the minute, 10-12k is not money we have lying around and unless it was significantly cheaper, or the cost spread over that would rule us out completely.

[nightshade]

The panels I am getting are at no cost to me, They lease my roof area for 25 years, I get free electricity, which will cut my bills, they get the rest which is metered into the Grid. They also maintain the installation for free.

[anniekat]

my friend went down the same route as nightshade - and he has nothing but praise about the workmanship and the success of these 'rent a roof' panels. nothing to pay at all.

[meinchewster]

Originally Posted by nightshade

The panels I am getting are at no cost to me, They lease my roof area for 25 years, I get free electricity, which will cut my bills, they get the rest which is metered into the Grid. They also maintain the installation for free.

Hi Nightshade,

How much have you reduced your bills by? If I went the other way of owning the solar panels, Id hope I wouldnt be paying anything for electricity and maybe even make enough money to cover the cost of the panels over a period of time?

Interesting option though

[nightshade]

I am still waiting for fitting, they claim 50% reduction, I will be happy if it keeps up with the price hikes (current one 18-20%)
Cost-wise, as the installation must be done by qualified people, is anything from £10,000 to £20,000 for a similar installation. Then you get the whole of the government subsidy, it would take at a _guess_ 10-20 years to repay the outlay. Someone will probably work this out to the nearest farthing for you later. I will pm you.

[nightshade]

I have a date for Installation 21st September, and the necessary scaffolding a couple of days earlier.

[solus]

Originally Posted by meinchewster

Solus et al that have had it done, how much did it set you back approximately and did you have to pay in full upfront?

It cost us about two dozen mugs of tea and coffee for the scaffolders, rooftop fitters and trainees and the 'sparks'!

I thought I had been fairly clear from the outset: for us the whole thing was FREE because we have a suitable south-facing roof and have, as Nightshade explained, effectively "leased" our roof to the company in return for free use of the electricity generated during daylight hours. There is no way we could have afforded to pay for such an installation ourselves but this way we will reap some benefits as well as being "greener" (although I have to admit that the main incentive was the purely selfish one of reducing of our electricity bills!)

As the system was only installed on 11th August we have not received any bills as yet but we have (on average) been using a fraction under 2 units per day (daylight hours) (paid-for metered) since installation. Meaning most of what we have used has been what we have generated ourselves from our rooftop panels - washing, ironing, cooking etc.

There was no "hard sell" as it was us who approached them and the contract is mutually beneficial.

I see today's the day for Dean - I hope it's not as wet and windy where you are as it is here!

[nightshade]

I have been leafleted twice this week by companys offering free solar panels.
It is the same deal as I have already taken up.