Solar Panels

[jesmond]

this could go into property section but will try here first, has anyone got these or are considering getting them, i overall think they are a good idea but cant afford to get them just yet and do you know how much you get per kwh for selling back to grid/supplier

[beso]

I used to work in the industry and remain in contact. I have been told that panels are expected to drop a further thirty percent this year.

However sunshine is an important component and I understand there is not a lot of it in Britain.

[bert_h]

One of the professors of Electrical Engineering at Glasgow University says that it takes 200 years for them to save as much pollution from fossil fuel emissions as the panels generate in manufacture and installation. Since they don't last that long, they're ecologically negative.

However, that hasn't stopped government agencies arranging subsidies for them to be financially positive. Just decide which basis you want them on!

[boxtops]

They seem to have worked for the drug cartels here ...

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10201097.Police_swoop_on_solar_powered_drugs_factory/

[Tilly2]

We have solar panels and they are whizzing away happily today. We had them installed last March. So for we have had over £900 back from our electricity supplier and electricity bill has been reduced by £12.00 per month despite the rise in electricity prices.

[jake-the-peg]

Got a link for that claim bert?

I don't seem to be able to find it on a quick google

[carrust]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question1189834.html

[bert_h]

Unfortunately, Jake-the-Peg, it is unwise for people like that professor in a publicly-funded position to make attributable statements which call into question the sanity of a government body. He admitted privately that once you were south of Manchester, the arithmetic might be different, but any further north he would stand by his conclusions - there just isn't enough sunshine.

I believe him, because he stands to gain nothing for himself from this opinion.

[jake-the-peg]

Sorry that's b*llcks

There are plenty of outspoken people in public positions that express all sorts of opinions for and against Government policy.

Did you speak to this person yourself?

Or is this perhaps just something you read in a circular E-mail or got off of some website like www.globalwarmingsacon.com?

I suggest you believe this rather because it confirms a previously held belief - simply you believe it because it's telling you that you're right!

[buildersmate]

This was debated as recently as November and I suggest you look at Bright Spark's answers in particular to the thread, reference given to you by Carrust (above)

[jake-the-peg]

And here's a referenced attributable article that demonstrates that such a claim is nonesense

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/how-much-co2-does-one-solar-panel-create

Although it's a US based article the work is based on Stockholm which is a bit North of Aberdeen

Here's another one that gives a lifetime of 20 years for solar cells with a 1% drop in efficiency per year

[bert_h]

Jake-the-Peg, I am not going to get into a slanging match over this, and I am not going to descend to using as insulting and derogatory terms about you and your opinions as you have used about mine. This professor at Glasgow is a personal acquaintance, whom I meet up with every couple of months or so. Your web sites, referenced articles, etcetera contradict him, while he privately contradicts them; that no more proves that he's wrong than his views prove that they're wrong. You believe who you want to, and so will I. I'm not going to post on this thread again.

[whiskeryron]

May I bring this type of Solar Panels to your attention
http://www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk/solar-heating/
We had this fitted & plumbed in & save about 50% on heating water. It is in my opinion a much better system than using Solar Panels to generate electricity.

WR.