Good news for homeowners, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has set out its plans for subsidising the installation of solar hot water (solar thermal) systems in people’s homes in a consultation paper issued this week.

DECC states that the domestic RHI is aimed at any householder looking to replace their current heating with solar thermal (solar hot water) technology as well as supporting any householders who have installed a system since July 15 2009.

The key features of the proposal are:

• A subsidy will be available from summer 2013 to support the installation of solar hot water
• The subsidy will work in a similar manner to the existing RHI for commercial properties and the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme for solar electricity
• Householders will receive tariff based payments for every unit of renewable heat generated
• Tariff period: 7 years
• Proposed tariff rate for Solar Thermal – 17.3p
• Final tariff is likely to be different and will be based on more up to date information
• Installations will need to be (have been) installed by an MCS registered installer, like Solar Homes Work, in order to be eligible for the subsidy
• The tariff is to be based on deemed heat production assessed by an MCS installer
• Properties will need to achieve a reasonable energy efficiency rating to be eligible
• This proposal only applies to retrofit properties. Options for newbuild are under review.
• Second homes will not be eligible
• Social landlords are likely to have a different tariff structure.

For more information on the proposals click here

The team at Solar Homes Work are pleased to see the launch of these long awaited proposals. After a number of postponements and delays by DECC over the past couple of years we are finally getting close to a date when our existing and new domestic customers can receive a reward for replacing their fossil fuel-based heating systems with a renewable solar energy system that is better for the environment.

The tariff for a small domestic solar installation fitted after 1st August 2012 will be 16p per kilowatt hour, down from 21p, and the rate for new installations will be set to decrease on 1st October and on a 3 month basis thereafter, with pauses if the total number of installations completed slows down.

It is important to recognise that this change and the future reductions do not effect the rate that an installation will receive after it is completed. The relevant tariff level is set at the date of installation and will continue to be index-linked in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI).

This reduction will be partially offset by the decision to raise the export tariff at the same time from 3.2p to 4.5p.

Ian Percival, the Managing Director of Solar Homes Work Ltd said: “I expect to see an increase in business in the period leading up to the change as customers in and around Surrey who are considering a solar system rush to obtain the very attractive investment returns that are currently available”

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO SOLAR FEED-IN TARIFFS

Tariffs for solar pv installations to be reduced from 1 August:

• 16p/kWh for household scale solar pv installations to reflect fall in cost of the technology.
• Tariffs for larger installations also to be reduced to reflect cost reductions.
• Reductions to apply to new installations from 1 August.

Multi installation tariff increased to 90% of standard tariff

• Organisations with more than 25 solar pv installations will get 90% of the standard applicable tariff.

Reduction in tariffs over time in line with uptake of FITs scheme

• Ensuring solar PV is not over subsidised.
• Average tariff reductions of 3.5% every 3 months, reductions will be bigger (up to 28%) if there is rapid uptake.
• Tariff cuts will be skipped (for up to 2 quarters) if uptake is low.
• Uptake in 3 different bands (domestic (size 0-10kW), small commercial (10-50kW) and large commercial (above 50kW and standalone installations) will determine the quarterly reductions within those bands.

Increase export tariff from 3.2p to 4.5p/kWh

• To better reflect the real value of electricity exported to the grid.

RPI index-linking of generation tariffs to be retained

• Reflecting the high value investors place on this element of the FITs scheme.

Scheme lifetime reduced from 25 to 20 years for new solar installations

• Bringing solar in line with most other technologies supported under FITs.

Tariffs for installations which do not meet the energy efficiency requirements will mirror the tariffs for standalone installations

• Ensuring energy efficiency is still encouraged as tariffs are reduced.

A 3.84kWp Solar Panel System

“Excellent!!” 

Mr & Mrs B sent us this note: “Following completion of the installation I just wanted to thank you for the excellent service. We were delighted with the very professional yet friendly initial appraisals and the operatives who carried out the work. Ray is clearly a great asset to your organisation and the hard work put in by both Ray and Scott on a very warm day was most impressive. The “Sparks” too [Tommy & Rob] were also great. Our sincere thanks to you and the whole team.”

Mr & Mrs B also filled out a post installation customer feedback report and awarded Solar Homes Work a 10 out of 10 for every aspect of the job. We ask all our customers to provide us with feedback to help maintain our high standards and Mr & Mrs B became yet another couple to award us a perfect score for every element of the installation from the standard of workmanship to the level of tidiness achieved.

Mr & Mrs B were keen to get solar panels installed before the recent change in the feed in tariffs that now require a property to have an energy efficiency rating of D or higher according to an Energy Performance Certificate (often referred to as an EPC), if it is to be eligible for the highest tariff rate. We were able to respond to this and complete the job in less than two weeks from initial consultation to registration of the completed system before the change came into effect.

Solar Homes Work were recommended to Mr & Mrs B who live in Fetcham (near Leatherhead) in Surrey, by their neighbour who is an Energy Assessor. We discussed their options with them and they chose to install a 3.84kWp Solar Electricity system using sixteen aesthetically pleasing black 240w panels from the well known manufacturer, Hyundai. As a registered Fronius Service Partner, we were able to advise them to pair this with the right inverter to optimise the performance of the system and comply with the requirements of the grid operators.

The Solar Panels will generate an estimated yield according to the Government standard assessment procedure of 3,296 kilowatt hours per year which will provide a benefit of approximately £1,000 per year from a combination of the tariffs received (that are index linked for 25 years) and the saving from lower electricity bills.

System Details

Annual Output: 3,296 kilowatt hours

Annual CO2 saving: 1,744 kg

Annual Benefit: £1,000

Have you thought about Solar Panels?

Stop and Think!

It only takes a minute and it could be very beneficial to your purse or wallet, as well as the future of the planet!

Pick up the phone to your financial adviser and they could help keep your money from the taxman. They may recommend that you invest up to £11,280 in a tax-free ISA scheme.

But, have you considered the green option?

If you are thinking about what to do with your money, you could choose to purchase a clean, green solar power system for less than £10,000. A large well-sited Solar Electricity System in an energy-efficient home could generate a 10% tax-free return on investment, without the risk often attached to such potential returns. Follow this link to see some further examples of the investment returns available.

You can discuss with your adviser how this compares to the typical 2 to 3% rate of interest from a Cash ISA at the moment.

The Feed in Tariff scheme “is a great way to reward homes, communities and small businesses that produce their own renewable power”
 says Greg Barker (Climate Change Minister). It is a win-win situation – you get paid to go green!

The Feed in Tariff scheme requires electricity providers to pay homeowners a generous fixed rate for all the solar electricity they generate and also to pay extra for any that is not used by them. This is on top of your saving in electricity bills. What’s more, the amount of the payment will rise in line with inflation for the next 25 years.

We can provide you with a free no obligation quote and evaluation to help you assess your options. We offer a quick response in the Surrey area and, with our local knowledge and low overhead structure, can offer a more personal service than a larger national operation.

“We want our customers to recommend us, so we make sure we give them the best price and service possible”, said Ian Percival, our Managing Director.

Solar Panel Electricity System for Mr & Mrs S in Hindhead, Surrey

“Excellent!! A perfect 10 out of 10″, was the feedback given to Solar Homes Work when we asked Mr & Mrs S from Hindhead in Surrey for their comment on the service provided to them.

We ask customers to provide us with feedback to help maintain our high standards and Mr & Mrs S became yet another couple to award us a perfect score for every element of the installation from the standard of workmanship to the level of tidiness achieved. They complemented us on our “Excellent, friendly and informative” processes and staff.

Their desire to fit a green Solar Electricity system is perhaps fitting, given that the relatively well-known scientist John Tyndall lived and died in Hindhead, the highest village in Surrey, located to the south-west of Guildford. Tyndall is most famous for his work in the nineteenth century proving the existence of the Greenhouse Effect.

Mr & Mrs S considered their options and decided to install a 3.92kWp Solar Electricity system using sixteen aesthetically pleasing black 245w panels from the well known manufacturer, Hyundai. As a registered Fronius Service Partner, we were able to advise them to pair this with the right inverter to optimise the performance of the system and comply with the requirements of the grid operators.

The Solar Panels will generate an estimated yield according to the Government standard assessment procedure of 3,365 kilowatt hours per year which will provide a benefit of approximately £1,750 per year from a combination of the tariffs received (that are index linked for 25 years) and the saving from lower electricity bills.

System Details

Annual Output: 3,365 kilowatt hours

Annual CO2 saving: 1,780 kg

Annual Benefit: £1,750

Solar Panel Electricity System for Mr M in Surbiton, Surrey

“Excellent, prompt and efficient service!!”, was the feedback given to Solar Homes Work when we asked Mr M from Surbiton, near Kingston upon Thames, in Surrey for his comment on the service provided to him.

We ask customers to provide us with feedback to help maintain our high standards and Mr M joined a long list of delighted customers in awarding us a virtually perfect score for every element of the installation from the standard of workmanship to the level of tidiness achieved.

We installed a 3.76kWp Solar Electricity system at his property in Surbiton in Surrey, using sixteen of the high performance Sanyo 235w hybrid technology panels. We placed nine of these on his south facing roof and another seven on a different roof facing east.

In order to optimise the overall performance of the system the panels were paired with a Power-One inverter. This inverter is one of the few on the market able to optimise the performance of two arrays facing in different directions at the same time due to its dual MPPT tracking technology.

Readers of a certain age will associate Surbiton with a ‘Green’ lifestyle courtesy of the popular sitcom called the Good Life that was broadcast in the 1970′s. The main characters Tom and Barbara adopt a simple, sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle while staying in their suburban home in The Avenue, Surbiton. Just like Mr M they generated their own electricity from renewable sources, although in their case this was achieved using the methane from animal waste rather than via solar panels.

The Solar Panels installed by Solar Homes Work for Mr M will generate an estimated yield according to the Government standard assessment procedure of 2,907 kilowatt hours per year which will provide a benefit of approximately £1,500 per year from a combination of the tariffs received (that are index linked for 25 years) and the saving from lower electricity bills.

System Details

Annual Output: 2,907 kilowatt hours

Annual CO2 saving: 1,538 kg

Annual Benefit: £1,493

3.995 kWp Solar Panel System for Mr A in Cheam, Sutton, Surrey

Mr A lives in Cheam in Surrey, a wealthy village in the London Borough of Sutton. His property in South Cheam is located near to the towns of Banstead and Epsom as well as the boundary between Greater London and Surrey.

Following extensive research concerning his options including visiting previous customers, Mr A chose Solar Homes Work, an independent local installer, who are one of Sanyo’s Solar Premium Installers to help him to go green.

The option chosen by Mr A was a 17 panel 3.995 kWp Solar Electricity system, fitted to his west facing rear roof, using the top quality Sanyo HiT technology panels paired with a Sunny Boy inverter.

The Solar Panels will generate an estimated yield according to the Government standard assessment procedure of 2,729kWh per year which will provide a benefit of over £1,400 per year from a combination of the tariffs received (that are index linked for 25 years) and the saving from lower electricity bills.

Commenting on the service received, Mr A felt that his initial research had paid off and that Solar Homes Work were ”As good as their word.” In an independent customer feedback scheme, he gave a maximum possible rating of 10 out of 10 for the standard of workmanship and courtesy of our Solar Specialists.

Annual Output: 2,729 kilowatt hours

Annual CO2 Saving: 1,444 kg

Annual Benefit: £1,419

DECC loses Solar Panel Tariff Appeal

Feed in Tariff Appeal

A long running saga has finally come to an end with the decision today by the Supreme Court to  reject the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) appeal over cuts to the Feed-in Tariff scheme for solar PV.

This leaves the Government with no further legal options, and they will have to accept that they did not have the right to bring in an eligibility date for cutting the tariff rate that fell within the period of a formal consultation on the change.

Many customers will be delighted to discover that this means their Solar Electricity Panel Systems installed between December 12, 2011 and March 3, 2012 will now qualify for the original 43.3p kw/h subsidy rate.

An extract from the Supreme Court ruling says: “Permission to appeal be refused because the application does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the Supreme Court at this time, bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal”.

Ian Percival, the MD of Solar Homes Works said: “I am delighted for our many customers who installed during this period and will now receive the higher tariff rate. I am also pleased that this unfortunate dispute has now been brought to a close, and the industry can look forward with greater certainty. I have sympathy for the motivation behind the Government decision – they had to act to get maximum benefit from the available funds. They just went about it in the wrong way!”

They have recently received funding from the Department for Energy and Climate Change to be able to offer Sutton residents a great deal that not only saves you money but enables you to do your bit for the planet.

This special offer not only includes a FREE visit from an energy doctor, who will be able to give you practical advice, but if eligible you could get FREE cavity wall and/or loft insulation, and confirmation as to whether your house is suitable for a solar panel installation.

This is only available for a short period of time, so act now to request an appointment. Visit this site to sign up.

2.82kWp Solar Panel Electricity System for Mr G in Tadworth Surrey

Mr G from Tadworth in Surrey joined a long list of delighted customers when he gave Solar Homes Work a 95% performance rating when asked to provide feedback on the service provided to him.

The comments from Mr G and other customers like him help us to maintain our high standards. He awarded us an excellent score for every element of the installation from the standard of workmanship to the level of tidiness achieved.

Mr G selected us to install a 2.82kWp Solar Electricity system at his house in Tadworth in Surrey, using twelve of the high performance Sanyo 235w Solar Panels paired with a Power One inverter.

The Solar Panel system comprises two arrays of six panels and some shading is present for part of the day, so the choice of inverter was important in order to optimise the performance of the whole system. The Power One inverter has a dual tracking feature that allows it to treat the two arrays separately, so that any adverse effect of shading on one of the arrays does not impact on the generating capability of the other array.

The Solar Panels will generate an estimated yield according to the Government standard assessment procedure of 1,902 kilowatt hours per year which will provide a benefit of over £1,000 per year from a combination of the tariffs received (that are index linked for 25 years) and the saving from lower electricity bills.

Tadworth is a village located on the edge of Epsom Downs in the north of Surrey to the south of London. Apart from its proximity to the Epsom Downs racecourse, home of ‘The Derby’, Tadworth is also the location of ‘The Children’s Trust’ a well known national charity providing special care for severely disabled children.

System Details

Annual Output: 1,902 kilowatt hours

Annual CO2 saving: 1,006 kg

Annual Benefit: £1,039