Free Solar Installations and other incentives

Thinking about a free solar installation? These offers usually mean your roof is covered with somebody else's solar panels, they get the feed in tariffs and any income from exported electricity, you get first call on any electricity generated.

This could well be the right choice for you but we recommend considering the following very carefully:

You will sign a contract that leases your roof to the free solar panel company for 25 years.

During this period you will not be able to install your own panels

Should you sell your house, the buyer is equally constrained, thus you might reduce the number of potential purchasers.

While free electricity is very helpful, this might represent only £100 per year, would you normally hand over rights to your roof to somebody else for £100 a year with a 25 year contract?

Also see: Wordpress / Free solar panels

Other offers available are lease purchase schemes. Again be very careful that this provides you with a clear long term financial benefit. Some deals assume a certain level of generation which is supposed to cover payment, in the event of a dull summer this might not cover the annual fee, also take careful note of the initial fee.

Also see: Wordpress / Leased solar panels

A Scam that has been reported is associated with free solar panels. This will involve an initial payment for a survey to see if your property is suitable, the survey can cost a considerable amount. Please note that NO legitimate installer will request payment for a survey! If you are being asked to pay for a survey for a domestic system, you can be sure that you are about to be cheated.

Where a very lareg scale industrial system which might need significant planning is being considered, then an initial payment might well be requested, this will be recognised as part of a normal business practice.

Choosing a Solar energy installer

Make sure you get at least 3 quotes. A good place to start is the Solar Trade Association which lists installers who are members. Each trader will have their own way of approaching the promotion of their equipment and service so it is important to be able to compare like with like.

Can you go to their showroom?

Avoiding the Hard Sell

Solar Sellers Slammed
Which? report

While many solar installers will be patient and wait for you to make up you mind, unfortunately there are marketing companies that use high pressure selling techniques. Take care to recognise and avoid them. They go a bit like this:

When you 1st contact them, ask for a guide price. Describe your house in simple terms eg. 3 bed two storey terrace with south facing sloped roof with easy access from the street. What did the last one that you installed cost?

They should be very willing to tell you, perhaps going in to detail about how they came to that price. Some companies will refuse to discuss a price over the phone, they will come up with all sorts of pseudo legal reasons why they are not allowed to. Be assured, there is no reason at all not to talk prices.

The reason they will not discuss a price is they do not want to restrict the salesman who they want to get in to your home in order to do the hard sell! He's on commission and wants to aim for the highest price possible. These companies are in the minority, lets avoid them.

Paying the right price for a solar system

Look at the quoted price before considering any of the grants available. This way you can more easily compare the various systems. When you know the price they are going to charge, only then consider any grants.

A realistic price for a typical domestic system generating 2kW, will be about £10,000.

Quality

Obviously you have to consider the quality. Any solar energy system should be designed and installed to last 25 years, hopefully much longer. In choosing your system, perhaps do some research in the same way that you would research a car before buying it. Ask friends. Perhaps the best way is to ask people who already have a solar system, if they have one on their roof, knock on the door, say that you are going to install solar and ask where they got it, what they paid for it and would they recommend the installer.

If you have chosen a supplier, do a bit of web research, check the web forums to see if there are any comments either for or against. Try a search: name of company + forum

Other resources

Energy Saving Trust : Lots of information about renewable energy

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme: How solar installers can be certified

Grumbletext: An example of forum feedback on a solar installer

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