Just installed solar panels

[hazel]

I wouldn't normally consider myself an "early adopter". In fact for a lot of modern technology, I'm a determined non-adopter. I don't have an ipod or a smartphone or even a laptop. But I have today had solar photovoltaic panels installed on my roof.

Here in the UK, that's worth doing because the government pays you for the electricity you generate at the rate of 43 pence per kWh, even if you use it yourself. It's their way of fulfilling their promise to reduce the nation's carbon emissions by 80%.

Since they switched it on, my normal grid meter has been at a standstill. It looks as if I am running completely on solar (that will change when it gets dark of course). It's a big capital outlay but what use is capital nowadays? You don't get any interest on it. And this will at least reduce my living expenses.

[oz]

Good for you... solar energy is a great idea and I plan to join you in adopting it hopefully in the very near future!

[elija]

I've just had a 23/44 year old back boiler replaced with a shiny new combi boiler for eco and safety reasons, next purely for safety I need to get my house re-wired. It's not dangerous yet but the wiring is old and to use the words of the sparky who wired in the new boiler "haphazard". That blows most of my capital

Still I'm considering joining the solar revolution by contacting one of the companies who offer a free installation and maintenance for 25 years but who take the feed in tariff in payment. After 25 years, the panels are yours. The downsides are that overall it costs about 2 - 3 times as much as buying them and you lose the feed in payments. There have also been reports of banks refusing to give people mortgages to buy such properties.

My main problem is that my roof faces almost directly East / West.

How long did the installation take Hazel and do they have to install a big battery to store the power?

[cousinlucky]

In a few years, when the full extent of the radiation damage from Japan's nuclear
accident can not be hidden anymore, a solar panel investment is going to worth
it's weight in solid gold!!

[hazel]

My main problem is that my roof faces almost directly East / West.

How long did the installation take Hazel and do they have to install a big battery to store the power?

Not very long. Two men fixed the eight panels onto the roof (which faces south-east - pretty near ideal) and then put the alternator into the loft. They arrived at 8.30 and were gone by 1:00. Meanwhile two subcontracted electricians put in the cabling and the new meter, just above the old one. That took even less time.

I don't think there's a battery. What you don't use goes into the grid and they pay you an export fee for that, separate from the feed-in tarrif.

[MASONTX]

How durable is the unit? Will it stand up to hail? I'm replacing my roof for the third time in 21 years due to hail damage.

[MikeTbob]

Well done Hazel, well done. I saw a house today that had about half of it's entire roof covered in solar panels and I thought of you.
Mason, you might look into those wind turbines that you may have seen around the landscape here in Texas. I hear those things are darn near indestructible. I'm not sure if the price is right or even feasible but here's a link just in case.
Small Wind Systems

If you live on at least one acre of land with an ample wind resource, you can use a small wind turbine to power your own house and to pump water.

Not trying to hijack your thread hazel, these things are becoming popular here in Texas.

[zenwalker]

Not having to use batteries is a convenience, no doubt. However, a small bank of them may come in handy during an outage in the midst of a dreary winter.

I lived off the grid for some time. The cost of inverter(s), other hardware, and battery maintenance should be weighed against the loss in case of outage and the probability of such.

Good to hear of your stewardship and the incentive given.

Best wishes!

[MASONTX]

.
Mason, you might look into those wind turbines that you may have seen around the landscape here in Texas. I hear those things are darn near indestructible. I'm not sure if the price is right or even feasible but here's a link just in case.
Small Wind Systems

Need at least 1 acre of land, which is more than I have, since I sold the ranch and moved to town 21 years ago.

[arespi]

Thats very cool, I would like to do the same but her in Mexico PV panels are not so easy to find. It is a shame since we get a lot of sunny days.
Would you mind sharing the specs on the panels?, How much area do they take? , how many KwH are you getting aprox.?