Solar panels a long-term bet

Solar panels a long-term bet You may think that solar panels are a big expense and so not for you, but if you're planning to stay in your home for many years, installing them will make sense financially, as well as being beneficial to the environment. Solar PV panels can also earn you money, thanks to the Government's Feed-In Tariffs scheme, which pays you for the electricity you generate and use and also for any surplus you supply to the National Grid. As with all solar panels, how well they'll work will depend on how much sun they get - the sunnier the position, the better, although they are able to still work on cloudy days. If putting the panels on a pitched roof isn't an option, you might be able to mount them on a frame on the ground, a wall or a flat roof instead. With both, you'll cut your electricity and gas bills and CO2 emissions, but the benefits don't end there. Solar thermal panels cost much less, at around pounds 3,000 to pounds 5,000 for a typical system. An average 3kWp (kilowatts peak) PV system, which will produce enough electricity for around 75% of a typical household's needs, costs in the region of pounds 10,000. If your home's leasehold, you might need permission from the freeholder to install solar panels. They'll provide around 33% of the hot water you need at home (depending on the size of your household), but won't save you much money - between pounds 55 and pounds 80 a year, according to an Energy Saving Trust field trial. Solar panels are heavy, so ground or wall-mounted ones could be a good option if the roof can't take the weight. Where planning restrictions apply, solar roof tiles or slates may be acceptable to the planners. You may also have to change your boiler and hot-water cylinder to a compatible one. Restrictions could also apply if you live on 'designated land', such as a conservation area, and if the building's listed, so ask your local council about what you can and can't do. As well as the thermal panels, you'll need a boiler or immersion heater to give you additional hot water and sometimes to make the water heated by the panels hotter, particularly in winter. You may be able to get a grant to assist our customers with the cost of the installation, or other financial assistance - check the Energy Saving Trust website for the latest schemes. These are more expensive than panels, though. Solar panels a long-term bet Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 06/05/2012