My FiT

Is Solar Power going to give the UK the energy it needs for the 21st century?

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biffvernon
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Post by biffvernon »

I used Ethical Solar, because they do what it says on the label. We had quotes from half a dozen companies, had surveys from three and went with Ethical Solar because they were the cheapest and we liked the motivation of the boss, John Whiten - an ex-pilot who realised that flying people round the world was no way to save a planet. And he's totally peak oil aware!

We paid £14300 for a 3.96kWp system with 22x180W Yingli panels and an SMA inverter. So that's £3.61/Wp

The scaffolders did their stuff one morning and then Ethical Solar did their work in two days. They all worked as well as one could possibly ask for.

The sun came out today, briefly, in between the rain and we reached a peak output of 3.816kW Even in gloomy rain showers we're betting a couple of hundred watts and about a kilowatt when its just cloudy but brightish.

If you ask Ethical Solar for a quote tell 'em I recommended them. :)
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emordnilap
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Post by emordnilap »

Yingli panels got a good rating in the recent issue of Ethical Consumer so your man is doing all the right things, biff (as are you, by the sounds of it).
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
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biffvernon
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Post by biffvernon »

Actually his first choice would have been the Norwegian REC panels as their production method gives modules with the lowest embedded energy. Yingli were the second choice as their geometry fitted our roof better. I think Yingli have the world's largest integrated fabrication plant - sand in : panels out.
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

biffvernon wrote:...integrated fabrication plant - sand in : panels out.
I wonder if the Saudis'll consider branching out :) ?
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kenneal - lagger
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Post by kenneal - lagger »

We've got four x 110W Yingli panels supplied by Navitron. They are working well for us.

The new carbon nanotubes ones will be the ones to get hold of when they come out. They should be far cheaper. Someone at Cardiff Uni is working on them, I think, as well as people in the States.

That's what we want, a carbon economy; carbon nanaotubes instead of silicon and carbon fibre instead of steel.
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CountingDown
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Post by CountingDown »

Just had a great chat with John Whiten about our panels - motivation is good, prices are great - good recommendation Biff. We might go for the RECs - have to do the maths on the roof first.

Part of the reason for rushing into this is I heard a very nasty rumour that they're going to mess around with the FIT from the end of October.
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

I wouldn't be surprised. You can't hang about :) ! Good luck.
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katie
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Post by katie »

andrew-l wrote:Part of the reason for rushing into this is I heard a very nasty rumour that they're going to mess around with the FIT from the end of October.
Do you have any idea what the rumours mean by "mess around with" Andrew, and is it just with new installs, rather than ones already in place. I just signed my 25 year contract with Scottish Power so I hope the government can't mess around with that. :shock:

Katie :)
CountingDown
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Post by CountingDown »

katie wrote:
andrew-l wrote:Part of the reason for rushing into this is I heard a very nasty rumour that they're going to mess around with the FIT from the end of October.
Do you have any idea what the rumours mean by "mess around with" Andrew, and is it just with new installs, rather than ones already in place. I just signed my 25 year contract with Scottish Power so I hope the government can't mess around with that. :shock:

Katie :)
The rumour is that they'll bring forward the reduction in FIT payment level for new installs (was due to happen in 3 years)
katie
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Post by katie »

OK - Thank You for that. I guessed that would happen.

Katie :)
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biffvernon
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Post by biffvernon »

Gloom, gloom. The Sun failed to rise today and the dreich, dank darkness sucked the very photons from out of my solar panels. :(
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PockPower
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Good Bloke!

Post by PockPower »

biffvernon wrote:I used Ethical Solar, because they do what it says on the label. We had quotes from half a dozen companies, had surveys from three and went with Ethical Solar because they were the cheapest and we liked the motivation of the boss, John Whiten - an ex-pilot who realised that flying people round the world was no way to save a planet. And he's totally peak oil aware!

We paid £14300 for a 3.96kWp system with 22x180W Yingli panels and an SMA inverter. So that's £3.61/Wp

The scaffolders did their stuff one morning and then Ethical Solar did their work in two days. They all worked as well as one could possibly ask for.

The sun came out today, briefly, in between the rain and we reached a peak output of 3.816kW Even in gloomy rain showers we're betting a couple of hundred watts and about a kilowatt when its just cloudy but brightish.

If you ask Ethical Solar for a quote tell 'em I recommended them. :)
I had my installation completed a month ago, the company I went with were totally disorganised and the installation took 2 weeks on and off! The only good thing that happened was that John from Ethical Solar was contracted to do part of the job, and a cracking job he did. I only wish I had found him myself, before I signed up with the other company. :?
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

Hello PockPower and glad to have you on Board. That wouldn't be Pocklington by any chance would it?
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katie
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Post by katie »

biffvernon wrote:Gloom, gloom. The Sun failed to rise today and the dreich, dank darkness sucked the very photons from out of my solar panels. :(
I agree - I produced an all time low of 1.16kWh here yesterday with a 3.52kWp system.
Things can only get better :) although today is only marginally better - roll on Thursday when the sun is due to shine again.

Katie :)
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RenewableCandy
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Post by RenewableCandy »

Just out of interest, how did you hear you were on the FiT scheme? I wrote to the same firm with a completed form weeks ago and haven't heard a dickiebird.
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