Domestic Solar Panels - Renewable energy for the home

Generating energy - both electrical and hot water from domestic solar panels has suddenly become a lot more interesting with the recent start of Feed-in Tariffs for renewable electrical power generation.

Hot water and heat generation will have to wait until next April (2011) for the renewable heat incentives to begin.

The introduction of feed-in tariffs means that domestic installations could re-coup their investment faster - the pay back period as it is referred to, is shorter making the investment in domestic solar panels a lot more attractive for the homeowner.

There are also grants and schemes available that may part-cover installation costs so it's always worth checking with your local authority and your local solar panel companies about what's available and what the claim process is.

You can read more on the feed-in tariffs in a previous post by clicking here.

photo credit: jessica higgins

£200 billion modernisation bill could see energy prices soar

As well as the environmental arguments for solar energy which have got homeowners and businesses in the UK reaching for the Internet to find out more about the costs of installing solar hot water and photovoltaic panels on their properties, there's also the issue of rising energy costs to consider.

As this piece from Energy Choices highlights:

"Rising energy prices and the cost of modernising power stations will mean our energy bills could rise 60% by 2016. Consumers and power companies face a bill of £200 billion over the course of the next 15-20 years to modernise energy generation in the UK, and ensure the nation has enough gas and electricity.

Energy regulator Ofgem unveiled the findings following publication of its Project Discovery, which outlines the prospects for secure and sustainable energy supplies over the next 10-15 years.

Ofgem’s four scenarios that could all hike our bills are...". Click here to read the full story at Energy Choices.

photo credit: markhillary