Advice on gravel needed

[biffvernon]

For sure there's money to be made; I'm just saying it had better be you making the money rather than some city institution that has invested in one of those firms and wants a free ride on your roof.

 

[Flyfisher]

That was my feeling as well 'marm. A 9% return (I made it nearer 12% but I agree with Biff's stance on being conservative with money, I'm like that too!) is a pretty good interest rate these days. Although English Heritage might have something to say about 'defacing' our GII* roof, even though such things would be non destructive.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Lol, my english is so bad tonight.


What I was getting at was.............if firms are prepared to do it using our roof space then it most probably is;
a. a worthwhile investment and
b. going to either get better or remain good.

 

[skier-hughes]

but isn't it good to get free electricity from a renewable source while somebody else makes the 9% if you haven't got the £15k to invest in solar pv?

 

[biffvernon]

Some things are good, other things are better.

One might borrow money from a bank and invest it in pv. So long as you can borrow at a lower rate than your investment earns...
I wouldn't actually rush to recommend investments with such a marginal profit though.

 

[Schoolmarm]

but isn't it good to get free electricity from a renewable source while somebody else makes the 9% if you haven't got the £15k to invest in solar pv?

That is what I was wondering too. Plus it means more clean energy being produced.

 

[Moo]

And then, of course, there's the question of pay-back time which, for those of us who have senior railcards, could be a significant factor.

Any advice, Biff?

 

[Schoolmarm]

So basically the rent a roof scheme is better than no scheme but not as good as the Biff scheme.

 

[Moo]

On the assumption that I'd get permission to have panels installed (in our roof valley and visible only from the air, with a choice of north or south-facing), it would probably make sense for us to use a rent-a-roof scheme that would at least give us free electric for life.
Or have I missed something?

 

[Lime]

I apologise if it has been posted already.

The Feed-In Tariffs' details together with simple guide (pfd file) in link to download:

http://www.fitariffs.co.uk/FITs/quick/

 

[biffvernon]

That's right Moo, but if you happened to have several grand sitting in the bank earning a stupendous 2% then you'd be better buying the system yourself and pocketing the 9% return.

 

[Schoolmarm]

And only free electric some of the time? I keep wondering if they would do one on a frame at the back of one our barns.

 

[TomW]

Talk on the radio today about the government reducing FITs. That'll soon put the kibosh on a lot of these schemes. Might be worth holding back for a while. A few farmers in the west country getting a little worried as they get more for renting out their fields for PV arrays than they do for keeping cows :shock: . Less work too.
The world's a funny old place :?

 

[biffvernon]

And only free electric some of the time? I keep wondering if they would do one on a frame at the back of one our barns.

For sure you can have then ground mounted. The mounting can be more expensive as you need something strong and stable - probably concrete bases for the supports. The extra length of cable to connect to the house, probably laid in a a trench, also adds cost.

 

[biffvernon]

Talk on the radio today about the government reducing FITs. That'll soon put the kibosh on a lot of these schemes. Might be worth holding back for a while.

Au contraire, it's an argument for making haste and getting the contract before the rate changes for later entrants.

 

[TomW]

Au contraire, it's an argument for making haste and getting the contract before the rate changes for later entrants.

There was talk of retrospective legislation Biff. I wouldn't put it past this government :evil: .

 

[robgil]

how much area do you need for an average 2 bed house? i would love to get solar power but my roof couldnt support it so i would need to put it somewhere else ,also if you were totally off grid can the power be stored for a rainy day (or night) ?

 

[biffvernon]

Au contraire, it's an argument for making haste and getting the contract before the rate changes for later entrants.

There was talk of retrospective legislation Biff. I wouldn't put it past this government :evil: .

I wouldn't put anything past this government, but breaking a contract is not the sort of thing that happens - even the aircraft carriers have to be built!

 

[biffvernon]

how much area do you need for an average 2 bed house? i would love to get solar power but my roof couldnt support it so i would need to put it somewhere else ,also if you were totally off grid can the power be stored for a rainy day (or night) ?

Unlikely that the roof can't support it, unless it's thatched. Heaviest loads are the bloke doing the fixing.
How big? Bigger the better. For maximum rate FIT don't exceed 4kWp or around 28 square metres.

Totally off grid is a different kind of animal. A wind turbine becomes much more attractive. Batteries are expensive to buy and maintain. You have to think through the whole household energy management.

Do you live in an off-grid thatched average 2 bed house?

 

[philpjuk100]

Totally off grid is a different kind of animal. A wind turbine becomes much more attractive. Batteries are expensive to buy and maintain.

My uncle lived in a farm above abergele in north wales which was off the mains,his old stone barn was stuffed with ex army surplus glass cased batteries which were charged at milking time by a generator on an old ex marine diesel.DC was fine for the lights/cooker etc but electronics all had a relay type inverter fitted,inventive these farmers! his hen house was lit by an old "dynohub"bike wheel with plywood paddles in the stream! The cegb then took the mick by erecting a great big 400 kv pylon in one of his fields when he was still off grid! phil.