Free Solar Panels

A question about : Free Solar Panels

A word to the wise about 'free' installations. We have applied to both A Shade Greener and Solvis for their free installation but have been turned down by both despite having a large south facing unshaded roof at the rear of the house. The main objections were that the scaffolding would by tricky and therefore more expensive, and we have what they referred to as a loft conversion which is in fact simply a storage area with loft flooring and plasterboard walls. I knew the criteria was strict but had no idea it was so inflexible. So if anyone is thinking of applying, and you have anything more than a few boxes in your loft, or an extension at the rear, you may be wasting your time.

Best answers:

• Hiya cally and welcome.
  If you can't afford it, then well done for being sensible, and don't be pushed into PV by anyone. But if it's at all an option, could you finance it yourself?
  Your cost for a large 4kWp system should be less than Ј6k, but hopefully earn more than Ј700pa.
  Anything other than very, very cheap finance probably won't work, so I'm not suggesting personal loans, but if you are keen on PV (having tried twice) then may be worth a quick ponder, and maybe a chat on here to find installer recommendations, so you can at least rule it out, if nothing else.
  Interesting what you said about the 'non loft conversion'. My loft has a full conversion with staircase. Neither the original installers (on the ESE side) nor the extension installers (on the WNW side) seemed to care whatsoever. I was on hand to advise (as I did most of the work) but it really wasn't an issue! They'll only need to 'come through' the roof with the cables to the inverter, so apart from a quick logic check for any potential pipework or domestic cabling in that location is about it ........ unless I'm missing something?
  In fact, having a floor (and staircase) made things easier for them to work.
  For some basic background info (if you need it) try the PV FAQs.
  Best of luck.
  Mart.
• I'm not really surprised as they have always been pretty fussy as they've been able to cherry pick the best, easiest roofs to install on. Probably even more fussy now that the FIT rate is more in line with installation costs (there was a relatively short time when solar costs had already come down dramatically but the FIT had not yet been adjusted).
  Ed
• Hi
  A couple of things ... firstly does the 'loft conversion' have dormer windows which could cause shade or would the scaffold need to bridge a single storey extension or conservatory ? ... the RaR scheme operators would look to use standard kit, so anything which would reduce margins such as more expensive installation or anything which reduces generation simply results in refusal as long as they have better/cheaper options which maximise returns ...
  If dormer windows aren't the issue, then the possibility of wanting them could be. If the loft is currently only used for storage but is already boarded and has plasterboard partitions there's a very strong chance that either yourselves or someone in the future could go one step further and want southerly aspect windows installed thus causing panel relocation cost issues to the scheme operator, especially so if there are non-standard scaffold access issues too ...
  HTH
  Z
• Strange reply from a shade greener???
  We're thinking of getting solar PV since the F & MIL's just got their solar PV from A shade greener.
  They have a conservatory on the south side and have the loft partially converted - only for storage though, and they got accepted...
• Hi everyone
  Thanks for the welcome and comments on my post. From reading them it seems I'm not likely to find a company up here in the north west who would be willing to install a system for us.
  Zeupater, yes I think the scaffold was the main reason for refusal as it would have to bridge the single story extension that houses our disabled daughters ground floor facilities. We have a small velux window on the roof that we would have been happy to have removed, but even that offer didn't help. So we'll put this one down to experience, and carry on.
  Thanks again to everyone for the replies.
• Green energy electrical is coming to quote us today, I have done some research about certification etc.
  Anyone have experience with this company? Only on the last telephone call, they asked about our bank relations. If the panels are 'free', why is the bank necessary?
  Thank you for any comments.
  we are not committing to anything today