HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Not many asked this question, probably because as each house is different and people’s needs are different they appreciate we can’t state an actual amount. But we can give some indication.
Q How much will it cost and how long to recoup the outlay.
A You need to shop around and compare the cost of systems.
The first thing is to decide if you want to heat water or generate your own supply.
Don’t just go for the cheapest system - it might not be the best in the long-term. Look for systems with a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Also look at how modern the technology is - some systems are already dated.
Costs will depend on the size of your system and the complexity of its installation. If you are having a roof repaired or replaced this could be the ideal time to consider installing a solar system.
Your installation will unique to your home, get more than one quote and ask for a forecast of what the company thinks you will be saving and how long it should take the system to pay for itself.
The Energy Savings Trust (energysavingstrust.org.uk) quotes the following figures:
Water heating:
Costs: or a typical solar water heating system range from £3,000 to £5,000.
Savings: are moderate - a solar water heating system can provide about a third of your hot water needs, reducing your water heating bill by between £50 and £85 per year. It will also save up to 580kg of CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel you will be replacing.
Generating electricity:
Costs: for installing a solar electricity system vary a lot - an average system costs between £8,000 and £14,000, depending on its size and type.
In general:
the more electricity the system can generate, the more it costs but the more it could save
solar tiles cost more than conventional panels
panels built into a roof are more expensive than those that sit on top but,
if you need major roof repairs, PV tiles can offset the cost of roof tiles
Savings: can be considerable - almost 1 tonne of CO2 a year, and around £200 off your electricity bill. A 2 kWp system could provide around 40 per cent of a household’s yearly electricity needs.
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