High street solar panels on sale

[Mike]

I have been interested in going for this but the figures in this report doesn't make viable ????

Example given Cost up to £18000 with a saving of £125 pa = 144 years to make a saving !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5234402.stm

Can't be right !!!

Mike

[Rob]

It probably is right. Solar panels work well in sunny climates - they're on every house for hot water heating in greece for example, but in our climate your still going to need a backup for those long cold winter nights. So yes some savings, but not a lot.

Most people will do far better to get decent insulation in their lofts, double wrap their hot water tanks and similar such stuff.

[andygrif]

The previous exaxmple quoted £9,000 for an average house, plus I believe that a good deal of that cost is offered from the government in the form of a grant...and who knows how much your gas/electric will be costing you next year?!?!?!

Plus I think that you can sell any extra capactity you generate back to the electricity company.

[Halcyon]

I've been interested for some time in solar panels but the cost is really high.
I would definately try to ask your local council if you can get any money towards them.

[Jules]

Is it really worth it at that cost for such a small return

[David F]

I would say it is a waste of time.AFAIK the whole "energy crisis" will be solved in the future by electric cars and more nuclear power no more fossil fuel burning just good old safe nuclear power http://www.anl.gov/Community_and_Env...rspeakers.html

[altis]

There is much talk of the cost of solar power falling heavily in the next five years. Putting product onto the general retail market can only hasten this process. Roll on!

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...8&postcount=42

[etccarmageddon]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

...good old safe nuclear power

until a fanatic flys a plane or drives a truck into a nuclear power plant!

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

I would say it is a waste of time.AFAIK the whole "energy crisis" will be solved in the future by electric cars and more nuclear power no more fossil fuel burning just good old safe nuclear power http://www.anl.gov/Community_and_Env...rspeakers.html

But if everyone starts buying electric cars then we'll need even more power stations, or have to burn more coal and oil

Originally Posted by altis

There is much talk of the cost of solar power falling heavily in the next five years. Putting product onto the general retail market can only hasten this process. Roll on!

That's a good thing, I guess as they become more mainstream not only will the cost fall but the development of their efficiency will improve more too.

The only problem left now if the government, who seem to be starting to cut back on the amount of grants available for people to install them. Also, if we're all starting to generate our own electricity, how will the government replace the revenue from our 5% fuel VAT, the Corporation Tax paid by the energy companies and the National Insurance and IT paid by employees made redundant. I wouldn't be surprised if the government not only removed the grants available but placed a monthly tax on having a panel fitted!