Everybody likes the idea of saving money. Furthermore, most people like the idea of being able to do something proactive when it comes to becoming more environmentally responsible. In fact, many people are quickly realizing that sustainability must become something that every person is concerned with if there are to be enough resources for everyone. As a direct result, many individuals are strongly considering turning to free government solar panels as a means of becoming both more sustainable and saving money. Are solar panels worth it? The answer truly depends on where you live and how quickly you want to recoup your initial investment for a home solar system.
Can I really get free subsidised solar panels?
The short answer to this question is yes, but whether or not they will cost you depends on circumstances like where you live and what type of income you have. If you can reasonably afford to pay for the solar panels according to solar panel quotes that are widely accepted, you will probably be required to pay for the initial investment. If you cannot, you might be able to get some assistance with the initial cost when it comes to purchasing solar panels for homes. In some cases, fully funded solar panels are approved as part of a government solar panel scheme. If you qualify, you might want to couple this knowledge with other advantages of solar panels in order to determine if this is something that is right for you. However, you should also know that anyone who has the panels installed for free will not get monthly payments as part of the FIT Tariff. Instead, these payments will go to the company that donated the panels. You will, however, have the opportunity to have your energy costs reduced significantly.
What are the different schemes and what do they entail?
In short, you can get government solar panels through one of the government schemes that is currently accepted. The one associated with the FIT Tariff is often called the PV scheme, short for photovoltaic solar panels. These are the solar panels that are most frequently seen on the rooftops of buildings. In order to qualify for domestic solar panels, you need a roof that faces south and gets plenty of sunshine for the majority of the day, especially in the late morning and early to mid afternoon. Because of how solar panels work, this is imperative. Therefore, if you do not have a south facing roof that is able to clearly receive sunlight, you may not benefit from having these panels installed at all. If you are uncertain of whether or not you could truly benefit from them, you can consult solar panel installation companies that can help you figure it all out. In order to qualify for one of the government schemes, you must get an energy performance certificate from the government with a grade of D or higher if you want to receive the highest possible payments. If you receive a grade below a D, you might still qualify for payments but they will not be as high. Typically, there is no planning permission required unless you live in a conservation area or you have a flat roof. If you want to save money on your energy bills without participating in the FIT Tariff, you can enroll in the scheme associated with solar thermal panels. These are used to heat water, thus reducing your costs for producing energy. However, this scheme is not associated with the FIT Tariff. The rest of the article focuses on the PV solar panels because this is the scheme that pays homeowners for producing energy.
Representative of Earnings Over a 20 year Period
Typically, after the home has been officially fitted by solar panel fitters, a person living in an average home can expect to make approximately 575 pounds per month in payments for generating energy. Of course, this number is not set in stone. It changes depending on the geographic location of the home as well as the overall size of the home itself. In addition to these payments, most homeowners make approximately 80 pounds per year on an export tax and they save money on their own energy costs. However, the initial investment is typically anywhere from 5,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds to have the solar panels installed. Remember, if the panels are installed free of charge, homeowners can save money by reducing energy costs, but they will not make money through the FIT Tariff because the monthly payments for creating energy will be forwarded to the company that owns the panels. When a homeowner is paying approximately 8,000 pounds to have the panels installed, they can expect for it to take about 10 years for them to break even. The amount of money that they are paid every month is locked in for 20 years, so the last half of that timeframe is pure profit. That alone is enough to make most people seriously consider enrolling in the program. They have the opportunity to save money while being paid additional money each month, all while working to become more environmentally responsible.
Changes Coming to FIT Tariff in January 2016
This is essentially how people make money for generating energy. It is a program developed by the government that pays homeowners each month. Right now, a typical homeowner can make approximately 575 pounds a month for generating energy. After January 2016, that amount will drop to approximately 135 pounds per year. However, any homeowner that has their solar panels installed and has applied for and been approved for the FIT Tariff prior to January 2016 will lock in a higher rate for the next 20 years. It is also important to note that this rate does change because it accounts for inflation. Even if someone that has all of their paperwork in place and has been approved on the last day of December 2015 will still get the higher rate, so there is still time to act if you are considering installing these panels in your own home. Therefore, it may be the perfect time to go ahead and install them right now.