Aim for the Moon

NASA yesterday leaked details of a plan to vastly reduce the USA's dependency on fossil fuels, by using solar panels in space.




"Solar in space is nothing new, almost all spacecraft and satellites incorporate solar technology to meet their power requirements" said a NASA spokesperson, "so this is a logical step".

"The Moon measures 37,930,000,000 sq km, research suggests that as little as 500,000 sq km of solar farms could power the entire planet. So powering the US and selling any surplus power shouldn't provide us with too big a challenge" he continued.

The real challenge, it would seem is in transporting the power back to earth from our most famous satellite. "Tesla did it in 1893, so we know it's possible, and NASA has undertaken a lot of research in the area. We're confident we can make it work."

Meanwhile the race is on to be the first to install some moon based solar panels. "This is a very exciting development" said Todd Hammerstein of the Photovoltaics Institute, "we know solar works in space. But how will the contract be let? Will NASA seek to employ the deep knowledge of the accredited builders and electricians of the USA and wider world? Or cut costs by doing a hash-job with their own non-specialist engineers?"

NASA are central to this initiative and are already considering how it will pay 'for itself'. Their spokesperson concluded - "Once we've put the Solar farm on our Moon, the next stage will be to consult with other countries to sell them surplus energy that will quickly pay for the $32,000 bn project."

Whatever happens next, the road to Moon based solar is sure to be a rocky one.


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Location:Circling the Earth

Feed in Tariff Clarity

A number of installers and 'agents' across the land are claiming that Solar PV installations certified before 3rd March 2011 will definitely receive their FiT at a higher rates of 2011. Whilst we and many others think that this will indeed be the case, it is not set in stone.




Below is a very clear excerpt from the Energy Saving Trust website.

"Regardless of what some installers may say there is no guarantee that householders will get the higher (43.3p/kWh) rate for installations with an eligibility date between 12th December 2011 and 3rd March 2012. Customers who install on the assumption of the higher rate do so at their own risk.
The actual tariff applied to installations with an eligibility date between 12th December 2011 and 3rd March 2012 won’t be confirmed until the legal process has been completed. The Government has 28 days from the judgment to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Householders should plan on the basis that at the very least they will get 21p/kWh.

Householders with an eligibility date after 3rd March 2012 will receive 21p/kWh.

Householders with an eligibility date after 1st April 2012 will receive 21p/kWh provided that their home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band D or better (A being the best). Homes which do not have an EPC Band D or better will get will get a reduced generation tariff rate of 9p/kWh.

For householders with an eligibility date after 1st July 2012 it is proposed that the rate should between 16.5p/kWh – 13.6p/kWh. The exact rate will depend upon the amount of solar PV installed between March and April 2012."

So be careful how you treat your quotes, we have already reduced our prices to reflect the 21p tariff, as have many other reputable installers in the UK.

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The Feed in Tariff Fiasco: A Timeline

Confusion, thy name is Feed-in-Tariff.  For anyone who's been blissfully unaware of the feed-in-tariff and the fiasco that currently surrounds it; I envy you.  For those that know of it but need clarity; read on.  For those that are unaware but intrigued; also read on.  For those that are sick to death of it, comment below.

The feed-in-tariff is a scheme designed to encourage people in the UK to generate electricity via their own means, through Solar Photovoltaics, Wind Turbines, Hydro-turbines or even Anaerobic Digestion (look it up).  In short, payments are made to micro-generators of electricity for each unit they produce.  There is a tariff of rates set by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), pricing the units according to the type and size of installation.

In the UK the baseline tariff for Solar PV was set at 43.3p per unit, almost 4 times the market rate for electricity.  This high subsidy, along with falling material and installation costs caused a boom in installations that the UK Government tried to dampen by reducing the baseline tariff rate to 21p/unit after making an announcement at the end of October 2011.

Below is a timeline showing what happened next.

The FiT Fiasco: A Timeline on Prezi

All this means that as we stand Solar PV installers are able to sell and install PV systems before  3rd March 2012  based on the promise of at least 21p per unit for a fixed period of 25 years.  However, should the government lose their supreme court appeal (as is very likely) then this will be increased to 43.3p per unit once more for those systems installed, certified and registered with an FiT provider before 3rd March 2012.

Those commentators with a touch of cynicism in their blood may argue that the government know only too well that they will lose the appeal and are using the confusion caused by it to protect their budget in the short run, or even that the whole thing has been orchestrated from the start to reduce demand in PV until April 2012.

In the meantime the livelihoods of over 20,000 people are under threat as suppliers, installers and potential customers have no idea what level of subsidy will be paid for systems installed between 12/12/11 and 03/03/12.

Are you interested in Solar PV but off-put by the market uncertainty?  Perhaps you agree with the government's tactics, or beleive they have a genuine case. Whatever your thoughts, please feel free to tap them through your keyboard and into the box below.

4 ways we saved 40% on our client's utility bills

Last year we blogged to report the work we had carried out for our clients CCC in Bristol, there have been some significant results since that time showing that their investment has been a real success. The work undertaken can be split into 4 main areas.

1. Reduced heat loss and stresses on the heating system by;

• Insulating the front facing void beneath the ground floor, and,
• Draft proofing the timber doors

    2.   Improved gas efficiency with;

• A replacement, highly efficient, Viessman gas boiler,
• A new external weather compensation unit, and,
• Thermostatic radiator valves installed to each of the building's radiators.

    3.   Reduced solar gain via;

• The installation of window film to the South facing windows and and roof lights.

    4.   Reduced electricity consumption by;

• Replacing a number of the high energy light fittings and lamps with low energy alternatives, and,
• Installing a V-Phase unit to optimise voltage.

The below table shows how in the 4th quarter of 2011, these services had a huge affect on the money spent by CCC on gas and electricity in comparison to the same period in 2010.

So looking back at our predictions for CCC in the original blogpost:

"We estimate that the result of our installations will be an annual saving of 30% on CCC's electricity bills and 40% on their gas bills. With energy bills set to rise significantly in the near future, these savings will be further exaggerated - allowing CCC to benefit from a annually rising return on the investment they have made in their property.  We expect to see a reduction in the company's annual carbon output of over 4 tonnes."

Whilst the electricity savings have not been as pronounced as we would have liked, the quarter represents a period where lighting would be used more extensively than in other parts of the year, similarly the gas savings are somewhat enhanced by the milder weather of December 2011 - but that only accounts for one part of the quarterly saving.  Most staggeringly we have reduced the annual CO2 footprint of the building by nearly 5 tonnes, smashing our yearly estimate.

All in all it is a fantastic result for Norman Envrionmental and CCC who have written to us to tell us what a "a very worthwhile exercise both environmentally and economically" the project has been for them.  We will continue to monitor and report on the results in this blog.

So if you think that your home or business premises could benefit from an energy survey, then get in touch via email, visit our website, or just comment below.

Don't let your boiler freeze over

As we approach December thermometers across the land are going only one way, and it ain't up!  This means that many homes and properties across the country will be relying on their gas condensing boilers to keep their occupants comfortable in the wintry months.  Sadly, this is when they are most likely to fail.


Last year was the year of the frozen condensate pipes, and whilst things don't look so perilous this winter and installers have been careful to try and protect their customers from suffering the same fate, some installations may still do so.


A condensate pipe carries condensation from your boiler to the the outside drain.  More often than not the condensation barely registers as a trickle, but it can freeze layer upon layer over-time in prolonged frozen conditions, eventually backing up into the boiler and preventing it from operating.


So if your boiler cuts out unexpectedly in very cold weather, before you call a plumber or heating engineer make sure you check the condensate pipe.  The video below shows how you can perform a DIY fix.  Don't worry, it's not dangerous and could save you a pretty penny as well as giving you the heat and hot water you deserve this winter.

Paying the price for 'Free Electricity'

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Anyone heard that one before? It's a terrible cliche we know, but it's so applicable to the 'free solar' companies working on domestic premises that it's use can't be avoided.

Let us be clear, we do not question the integrity of the companies offering these installations - far from it. In order to succeed in that market the installations have to be high grade quality, surveys have to be very accurate and installers very speedy.

What we do question is that the installations, and subsequent electricity, are 'free'.  Just because those whose roof's are used do not fork out payment at installation, does not make it 'free'.  Allow us to explain.

The overall cost of supplying and installing the type of 'free' systems being installed is approximately £4,000 - this is due to bulk buying discounts and low labour rates.  This 2kW system on a South Facing roof will generate three potential revenue streams;  two in cash - in terms of generation and export tariffs for the system provider and owner - and one in energy savings for the roof owner.  The values of which are summarised below.

Assuming RPI @ 2.5% and energy inflation @ 4.5%

 
So far so good.  You have rented the roof to your solar supplier, or their financial backer/partner and they have effectively allowed you to gain £3,500 worth of electricity over 25 years.  This represents about 10% of your electricity bills, without any up front costs. You even get the solar energy generated after the 25 year agreement is complete - not bad eh?

As with so many deals however, the true costs are in the small print.

Opportunity Cost
Having your roof filled with somebody else's solar panels mean that you cannot fill your own roof with solar panels, and neither can anyone else.  This would cost a little more to procure, say £5,600 for a decent kit, so immediately you've lost out to the tune of £20,500.

Maintenance and Home Improvements
Should you wish to undertake any maintenance to your property, perhaps the electrical system or the roof, and you have to turn off the solar system, then you must pay the supplier for his lost income and seek his permission.  What if you want a loft extension?  Good luck.  Written permission from the solar system owner will have to be sought and the final choice will always be theirs whilst the 'rent-a-roof' agreement is in place.

Selling Your Home and Redemption Penalties
Picture this; you are about to sell your home, your potential buyer likes the thought of solar panels on his new roof but he wants to own them himself and later he wants to realise the property's best value with a loft extension.  It is 20 years since the solar system was installed.  You refer to the system owner's contract to see what the penalty is for leaving the agreement five years early, it can't be much can it?  Wrong. It's £10,000 please, and that's one of the better contracts - they might not even grant you permission to sell.  Suddenly the potential buyer wants that value straight off the asking price, and who can blame him?

So like any transaction you have to weigh the real benefits against the true costs, and in most circumstances we don't think this stacks up in the home-owner's favour.

This is how we do it

There a plenty of impressive photo's online of completed Solar PV systems, glistening in the sunlight. Some of them are genuine (like those on our site) and some of them are pilfered from various corners of the world wide web, but we're not judging (needs must and all that). We've noticed a real dearth of information about the act of installation itself, and so took the opportunity to take a series of photos of a recent job in Bristol.



The slideshow above is a montage of those photos, hopefully showing our readers the various stages of installation of a 12 panel, 2.7kW Viessman. The system required two days work for 3 men on a detached house in Kingswood, Bristol. The basic stages of installation are;

1. Measuring and affixing the brackets
2. Installing the rail system
3. Laying out, affixing and connecting the panels in a series circuit
4. Siting the inverter
5. Making all necessary connections
6. Commissioning the system

Our happy customers Mr and Mrs O'Brien can expect yearly energy returns of 2,300kW/h, and a first year financial benefit (including energy savings) of £1,177. Over the 25 year FiT period they should receive an overall financial benefit of more than £29,000 - plus any inflationary increases in the generation tariff. That's about 13% per year.

Does that seem like a good return to you? Perhaps you have a comment or question on the logistics of installation or have an idea about improvements that could be made. Don't be shy, let us know your thoughts below.

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