Archive for alternative-energy.co.uk Discuss experiences and share information about installing renewable or alternative energy in your house.
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filbell
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PV panelsHi, I am living in Cyprus and the house is all electric apart from the water solar panels on the roof. Cyprus electric is produced by oil power stations so the cost of electric is going through the roof. Bills have doubled in the last year.
This week there is an exhibition in Cyprus of energy saving products and have come across PV panels. You get a goverment grant of 55% and you sell your spare electric into the grid and for the first 12 yars that is at an enhanced rate then after that the normal cost that you buy it for.
The salesman is saying you should be in credit in 8 years which works out at a rate of 14% return on your investment.
It appears I should be able to get a 5KW system on my roof which is South facing.
Normal 3 bed house wth normal trappings of electric life but do have an unheated pool that uses a pump for about 6 hours a day. There are only two of us living here as long as I can keep the kids and grand kids away!
I can see all the advantages of PV panels, apart from the starting cost what are the downsides to the panels?
What questions should I be asking the firm/firms trying to sell to me?
Thanks in advance.
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catchercradle
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PV wind etc.We currently have a windsave turbine which produces just over 100KWH/year. Way short of what we hoped. We also have a solartwin water heating panel, but as our roof faces east/west while it has made a significant difference, especially during hot days over the summer when we need no gas water heating at all. We plan to put in a wood stove. We are also thinking about PV but the output would be much lower than if we had a South facing roof. The other option is Windsave are looking to bring in a 4-6KW turbine on a free standing pole which could be further from the house and therefore less affected by turbulence. This would be at a similar cost to putting PV on the roof.
Which of these options is best I don't know but what I do know is that unless much more is done then long term we are all in big trouble.[/code]
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