Why are you installing Solar Panels?

Why have you decided to install solar panels on your home or business?

- To lower your current fuel bill after the latest double figure percentage rises by the big 6 energy companies?

- To reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment?

- To make an investment, given the poor returns currently on offer to savers?

Or a combination of any of the 3 main reasons above?

The fact is that whatever your reason, installing solar panels ticks all there boxes, whether you're doing it for that particular reason or not.

True most recent installations would seem to be motivated by either the opportunity to claw back the initial outlay, through the Governments feed-in tariffs, or to lower those fuel bills.

Solar panels are turning heads and no doubt once you've got your own installation, then you're sure to be quizzed by your neighbours on the merits of and savings you're making.

It's not too dis-similar to when upvc double glazing first entered the mainstream. And like those early days of double glazing, there are one or two tales of cowboy installations amongst the solar panel industry.

To help make sure you don't get caught out, in a market where it's easy to bamboozle with made up facts and fictional earnings and savings, you need to make sure you get a range of quotes from reputable companies, who you can read feedback on, left by previous homeowners - the good and the bad.

To help you find the very companies you seek, at Solar Panel Quoter, we can use our interactive online quoting website and database of over 250 solar installers across the UK, to find you a maximum of three companies operating in your area.

It's a completely free, no obligation service but it could save you pounds. Try Solar Panel Quoter now - click here.

photo credit: tracitodd

Renewables - it's still all about the money

Just when you starting to feel good about yourself and the energy companies striving for excellence in renewable energy, you bump into a story like this.

Renewable Energy Focus revealed how a survey into global mergers and acquisitions showed that 37% of respondents intended to invest in biomass, compared to 36% investing in solar and 35% in wind.

Investors see biomass as a quicker way to get a good return on their investment. Biomass plants (the incineration of waste) can provide electricity whilst also providing heating to surrounding buildings / businesses, providing another source of income for the plant operators.

So, the money may be on biomass but we've a feeling that people would rather have wind turbines in their back gardens than biomass plants.

photo credit: chiara marra

Solar Panels - Big financial incentives mean tax free return of 10% pa

A report in last weeks Telegraph waxed lyrical about the level of return homeowners could see from installing a solar panel system on their home.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change's Clean Energy Cashback Scheme (Feed-in Tariff's) is offering financial incentives to people investing in solar technology.

The scheme, introduced in April 2010 replaced the existing grants system and now homeowners are rewarded for every unit of electricity they generate.

Interestingly, Energy companies are required by law to buy back any excess homeowners generate.

The tariff's only cover photovoltaic panel systems (electricity generating panels) at present but the previous Government had planned to introduce RHI - Renewable Heat Incentives from next April (2011).

The Telegraph's column makes a lot of sense and I'm sure if you're still sceptical about the financial benefits of installing a solar panel system on your home (or business), then it'll certainly give you some food for thought.

Click here to read the full article now.

If you'd like to get your own quote for installing solar panels on your own home, use Solar Panel Quoter - instant online quotes without the need for a salesman to call.

photo credit: stevendepolo