[andysv1k]

I dont install that far away, but can supply and assist if you fancy doing it DIY. or i can probably find you an installer if you are interested.

Andy.

[simonr]

Thanks Andy - I'm at the 'research' stage at the moment - and while I probably could do it DIY it would take me twice as long as a pro and I could have spent the extra time earning the money to pay him with!

If you have anyone up here you recommend I'll poke at their website.

S

[MikeBoxwell]

Solar PV panels are coming down in price, but they aren't wonderfully efficient and they're an expensive way of generating electricity.

Typically, you end up paying around £3-5 per rated watt of electricity for a solar PV system. And of course, you only get a reasonable amount of power generation during the day when you get lots of sunlight.

A lot of people put solar panels up for the publicity rather than for the benefit: it makes your business look green, but there can be some very good reasons for putting in solar PV systems.

For instance, I've been working on a project to put a solar panel onto a parcel locker (i.e. a courier company delivers parcels into an electronic locker bank and customers pick up the parcels from the locker bank when it suits them). The solar panels mean these parcel lockers can be installed anywhere without a mains power supply, thereby speeding up the rollout of electronic locker banks.

In a household environment, solar PV systems are great for installing electricity into garages and sheds where you don't have a mains connection. For lighting and powering basic power tools, there is no cheaper way of getting electricity to a garden shed.

I've recently built a solar powered generator - a waterproof briefcase sized box containing a small solar PV panel, a battery and a power inverter. I can leave the case in the sunshine to keep charged up and then pick it up and carry it to whereever I need power: for running an electric drill or a cordless hedge trimmer at the bottom of the garden it works really well.

All these are useful projects where solar PV works: it's cost effective and provides a solution that isn't necessary easy to achieve in another way. Sticking solar PV panels onto a roof in order to generate all your electricity needs.... sounds a very expensive game to me.

[d-energy]

If you really need an answer talk to a proffesional on the subject of alternatives??

Flat roof space? first consider a green roof space. without insects and bumbble bees all the rest is out the window, so green space is great.
Do not listen to persons who put solar down?? they are closed minded.
There are 2 types of solar systems, hot water or PV (Photo voltic) this makes electric.
Either one will not need bright sunshine?? We can get skin cancer even on a cloudy day?
If you are really sure about being green aske someone who knows about it! _ I might add, the laws all change soon?? we have all got to go green, so good on you for forward thinking!!
Talk to people who know what they are talking about on the subject.
Question, why is it that most northen places in the world use solar as a main source??
Is everyone in denmark, an idiot?? Don't think so!