Free PV?

Many of you are no doubt already aware of the Feed-in Tariff system whereby the govt will pay you for electricity you generate by renewable means, regardless of whether you use it or sell it back to an energy suppliers.

This is all very well if you have the wherewithall to install the equipment in the first place, but not much help if you are borassic. However...

...there are companies who are trialling a business model whereby they install PV on your house for free, and allow you to use the electricity from it for free, but they get the FIT from the electricity suppliers - here's the theory behind how it works:

Lets say I currently use 3000kwh per annum at 10p each = £300.00

They fit the PVs and lets say they generate 1000kwh, I get to use these free, (they are not mine technically as they belong to ASG, whose equipment have generated the power, but they give them me), meaning my bill from "Robbing Buggers Gas and Elec Co. Ltd" will be only for 2000kwh at 10p =£200.00, saving me £100.00

Meanwhile, the power company pay "A shade greener" 36.5p for each kwh generated, ie 1000 x 36.5 = £365.00. Meaning that the electric company are losing out on both fronts. Lets say the panels produce 4000 units which means, as well as my 3000 that I use, 1000 get exported back to the grid. The power company have paid 36.5p for these, and selling them retail at 10p each.

The other factor is of course that I am reducing my carbon emissions.

Here is a link to one such company - the trial area is limited at the moment but I know they are intending to roll it out further if it takes off, and there are other companies in other areas with a similar business model.

http://www.ashadegreener.co.uk/

When I first saw this, my scam detector went into overdrive because TANSTAAFL, but as far as I have looked so far I can't see any great catch. My only concern would be can they sustain the business long enough? By my sums it takes about 10 years for them to payback the initial costs, after which they are turning pure profit of course. And if they go bust what happens to those panels on your roof?

Worth consideration though.

Have you been tempted to apply Billy?

I would be very tempted, except it is not currently available in my area.

Damn, not in my area, either....

Thanks Wilhelm, I doubt they consider the Isle of Wight to be part of the U.K. many of these people don't but have asked if it is availabe in our area...

There are other companies beside this one setting up with similar models in different areas, and AFAIK ASG are looking to roll out nationally after the trial run.

The way the application is laid out it'll give them quick feedback on areas that are interested and worth focusing on. When does the FITs scheme end?

25 years I believe, COTW

Just had a nice e-mail back from them saying that they are not doing our area at the mo, but they would like to keep on file to contact when they do so...

Well done Spar. I have done likewise.

As I understand, the FITs for solar power give a minimum payback of 8.5% on your investment... guarranteed they say. (assuming they're properly installed on a suitable site).
Know any banks that will pay anything like that?

The only catch that I can see is that you should* be able to borrow for less than that and make the profit yourself.

(* especially if you happen to live in a country where the banks have f***ed everybody over big stylee, and folk ought to be looking for alternatives to invest their savings in.)

Wilhelm Von Rhomboid wrote:

meaning my bill from "Robbing Buggers Gas and Elec Co. Ltd" will be only for 2000kwh at 10p =£200.00, saving me £100.00

That's a coincidence - we have the same suppliers for our power!