Solar Together and solar panel experiences Post Reply

[chorister]

Has anyone else received a personal 'Solar Together' recommendation?  I have to say that it seems designed to make it hard:

• There is a £150 deposit payable which in many circumstances is non refundable just to get a survey done!  If for example you don't like the way they want to run the cables into your house for aesthetic reasons then you will probably lose your deposit.
  
• However efficient the solar installation, you still need to have an electricity account and to pay the full standing charge just to have access to power when the solar can't meet demand.
  
• There's 5% VAT payable - why no concession versus standard electricity (which should be 20% VAT anyway of they were serious).
  
• They seem very unclear about maintenance, which if needed would require scaffolding.
  

Does anyone have practical experience of solar that they could share?  We may get it done anyway to 'do the right thing' but it's really hard to believe that the government is really encouraging it.


 

[Nyumba]

We used Treadlighter to instal our panels. I would recommend talking to them. They are local.

[chorister]

We also used Treadlighter in the end.  Could not recommend them highly enough, they were absolutely excellent.

[readysteadycook]

We also used Treadlighter in the end.  Could not recommend them highly enough, they were absolutely excellent.

How much did the installation cost and how much does it generate ?

How long is the payback time, I guess quicker with todays high electric prices!

[chorister]

It cost just under £5,000 and is rated at 3.7kW with an estimated annual generation of 2400 kWh, though that may be exceeded if we go on getting less cloud cover.  To be honest we did it to save carbon (otherwise known as virtue signalling ....) rather than as an investment, but I have no doubt that at today's electricity prices it would look much more sensible.  If you do do it then it's also worth a few changes of habit eg run the dishwasher / washing machine during the day rather than overnight etc.

[readysteadycook]

Thanks - so a payback in 6-10 years I guess depending on Electricity prices

How many panels do you have (what total dimension) ?

[chorister]

We've got 10 panels on a more or less south facing roof.  I'm not sure of the dimensions, but I think they are a standard size.