Flat-Living.co.uk Environment
Association, if you have a large, un-shaded, predominantly south
facing roof space, this is ideal for solar panels. If not, they advise that
panels can be mounted on other aspects or proud of the roofline.
Take professional advice. The Green Book Live at www.greenbooklive.
com is a free online database that lists products and installers
approved under the government’s Microgeneration Certification
Scheme. The Renewable Energy Association also operates its own
REAL assurance scheme, listing members who must comply with the
Consumer code and only use products certified under the Low Carbon
Buildings Programme or the Clear Skies programme – both backed by
the government.
Once you have identified a reputable company in your area, your
chosen supplier will estimate your typical energy consumption and
recommend the right installation for your property. The larger the
installation, the more electricity you will be able to sell back to the
grid but the initial outlay could be expensive, so it is important that
equipment is accurately sized to match your needs.
Planning permission is not required for solar installations but as
they fall into the category of Approved Development, under current
regulations you must notify the local planning department. However,
unless you live in a conservation area, an area of outstanding natural
beauty or in a listed building, you shouldn’t fall foul of your local
planning officer.
FinAnCiAL beneFiTs?
f you like this idea but are wondering how complicated it
So how much is a solar installation likely to cost and what financial
I
would be to achieve, the new so-called ‘Feed-in Tariffs’
benefits can RMCs hope to achieve? Terry Sweeney is sales manager
or FiTs to be introduced in April should make it easier for
for PV Systems, established in 1991 and a government-approved
Resident Management Companies (RMCs) to take advantage
solar PV installer for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. He admits
of the benefits of renewable energy. These are government-
there is no such thing as an average system or an average cost. “Most
funded payments whereby anyone who has solar panels installed,
people look at a 1 kWp system, which will provide about 850 kWhp per
will receive a fixed price for every kilowatt hour (Kwh) of electricity
annum and a carbon saving of 830kg of CO2 and then multiply this
produced. There are three strands to the new system:
once they have identified their requirements,” he explains.
• A fixed price for each unit of electricity generated;
This equates to 6-8 panels. Ultimately, size is limited by the size
• A guaranteed price for each unit of electricity exported
of your roof and by the District Network Operator, which owns the
onto the electricity grid throughout the lifetime of a
electrical infrastructure system. According to Sweeney, a typical 1kWp
particular installation’s eligibility for FiT payments; and
system would be around £5,000 installed. He estimates that payback
• Benefit gained from using your own electricity, i.e.
based on proposed April 2010 figures could be calculated as follows:
lower bills and partial protection from future electricity
1. £5,000 outlay
price rises.
2. Income from FiT 850kwh x 36.5p = £310.25 per annum,
3. Savings on imported electricity at estimated 11p per
sTiLL inTeresTed? unit = £93.50 per annum.
4. Total £403.75 per annum
There will be two separate schemes for electricity and heat. Still You can export any unused electricity and earn about 5p per unit,
interested? Your first step is to determine whether or not your premises which would be an additional income. Therefore the payback period
are suitable for a solar installation. According to the Renewable Energy based on this system would be 12 years. The panels should remain in
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