subject: Solar Panel Information - Solar Panel Prices - Top 10 Solar Panel Myths [print this page] Solar Panel Information - Solar Panel Prices - Top 10 Solar Panel Myths
Top 10 Solar Panel Myths
You need at 10,000 to gain any financial benefit from solar panels.
The Government has just declared, as of the 20th of October, that the Renewable Heat Incentive plan willtake place from June 2011. This means that you can earn money with hot water panels rather than just electricity solar panels, and hot water panels are a lot cheaper. Hot water panels, also known as thermal panels, cost about 4,000, and the expected amount to be earned through the RHI would be 400, plus about 50 of bill savings, per year for 20 years. This is a smaller investment, but it is a very high return on offer.
You need a directly South-facing roof.
South is the optimum direction for your roof, but it is not impossible to put the solar panels on any orientation of roof, so don't worry. The investment will offer a greater return the closer to South-facing your roof is, but it is still very profitable with a SW or SE facing roof.
You need an enormous roof to fit all the solar panels on.
Nowadays, solar panels are 4 times the efficiency of the first commercially-available solar panels. Not much space is needed 3 to 4 square metres (ie a 2m by 2m square) of space is needed, in an area that isn't overshadowed by anything. A larger roof would mean that a larger system can be installed such that whilst the installation would cost more, more would be earned through the Feed in Tariff or Renewable Heat Incentive. Even the smallest systems can generate ample electricity with 3 to 4 square metres of space on your roof available.
They have to go on the roof.
Solar panels can be set up in your garden if there is some unshaded room available, with a cable taking the generated electricity to your house. This might be done to maintain the property's original appearance, or if your roof isn't suitable but you really want the great investment of solar panels. Indeed, many people like the appearance of solar panels - they show the property owner cares about the environment and is pro-actively doing something to help future generations.
Not much electricity will be generated.
As already mentioned, modern solar panels are very efficient, and they provide a lot of electricity during the day, from 1.8kW to 4kW. Indeed, the UK gets 60% of the solar energy as the equator - that's a lot of useful UV. PV panels can't actually store electricity so at night you will use your previous electricity supplier, but during the day is when they will produce a lot of electricity, which will either be sold back to the main grid under the Feed in Tariff if you're not using it, or alternatively, it'll provide a big saving on your bills because you'll be using your own-generated solar power!
They're useless if it's cloudy
Cloudy weather will only slightly reduce the amount of electricity that solar panels produce - the UK gets 60% of the UV energy of the Sahara, and the vast majority of this can get through clouds. Therefore, this makes little difference. Thousands of households have installed them - they wouldn't have done so if no electricity would be produced in our troublesome climate!
The maintenance will be very expensive
There are no moving parts in solar panels, hence they're actually known for being very robust and reliable - they are used in road signs, airport landing systems and so on. Nearly all will come with a 25 year guarantee, which is the length of time you're eligible to receive payments through the Feed in Tariff with PV panels.
What if the feed in tariff stops?
If you buy solar panels now, you are guaranteed the payments for the whole of the 25 year period offered through the Feed in Tariff. The government might cut the rate in the future, but if you have already installed the panels, then you will continue to get the rate you were offered when you initially installed them.
What about selling my house if I've got solar panels?
Solar panels ought to increase your house price - the next people moving in will know they are reducing their carbon footprint, and they'll make large savings on their bills. They'll also receive the Feed in Tariff or Renewable Heat Incentive payments if you move out whilst still under the period that these payments are made for, therefore you could use this as a negotiating factor in increase the price you get for your property.
Planning permission will be necessary
Planning permission isn't needed - the government want us to use green sources of electricity, so solar panels certainly qualify. You will only need planning permission for sure if you're in a listed property. If you live in a Conservation Area, you may or may not need permission - contact your local council to find out first; usually it isn't a problem, or there may be some minor stipulations as to where the panels are installed. It'll depend on your local concil, but generally it is unusual to need planning permission.
