[Closed] solar panels.....experiences please

Yes.....got mine installed 5 years ago and they have paid for themselves by this month.....best investment I've ever made !

Don't go with the first company that comes round, get at least 3 other quotes

Anyone else in the area have them? Have they had any problems? One thing these companies never look at is how well your installation will work on the distribution network.

Where are you based? Make sure you do your research on the inverter they are installing, a 5 year warranty means nothing if the inverter company no longer exists. A lot of solar companies go bust, so defiantly shop around. Without seeing what the company is offering for that price it seems a little high if you are paying upfront for it, if it is going on finance then I would say it's about the norm.

Buy a house that already has them installed on the best tariff. That's what we did. Had about £2k from them in 2 years.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/tools-and-calculators/solar-energy-check

Enter your postcode and details and check the results - £8800 is high. Just run mine and at today's tariff, that price of system it would take 16 years to payback.

If you have a quote you can email me, I'd be happy to comment - email in profile. I sold and installed PV For three years, and if I say so myself, I know it inside out.

FIT has been decreased several times now, so no where near as generous as it was for the early adopters.

Our original fit cost £7000 about tWo years ago.

Very good investment, South facing roof with very litllemobstucrion.

Paid in the region of £1500 by means of energy reduction and grid pay back.

Would still recommend, but get a few quotes, if you are in S.Wales then I can recommend an installer ..

I have had a SW facing 4KW system for 2 years and generated about £2,000 based on a feed in tariff of 14p per Kw. The total cost was £7,000. I recommend you purchase an immersun at the same time, this is a magic box that diverts excess solar electricity to your immersion heater rather than back to the grid. you will still get your full feed in tariff as this is based on the generating meter but we get a full tank of hot water every bright day from April to October.

Another bit of advice is allow £900 to pigeon proof your panels at the time of installation. I didn't and had a flock of pigeons living under the panels making a racket and filling my gutters with crap. Very difficult to fit protection retrospectively.

Had the rep around tonight, quoted £8800 for 16 panels and all the Gubbins,

That sounds on the high side to me. Get some other quotes.

Thanks all, have/will arrange more quotes