 | Home > Off Topic > Wind Turbines & Solar Panels - anyone? |
 
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and a barn roof!
| DAZ110 Member Since: 06 Dec 2007 Location: East Sussex Posts: 2039   
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Try this guy, he might be worth a go:
Ken King: Tel: 07831228112 He did a golf course/hotel/restaurant near me recently, wind turbine and solar panels. Nice bloke, very helpful.  Last edited by DAZ110 on 16th May 2013 9:16am. Edited 1 time in total |
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16th May 2013 8:50am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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Several of the buildings that I look after now have solar pv and we have one with solar water heating. Most of these installations are a direct result of having to meet BREEAM requirements rather than stacking up on their own merits though, unfortunately. In economic terms, most are marginal at best. When the feed-in tariffs were better then it did make sense in some instances, but it's much harder now.
It's also one of those things where economies of scale play a big part. I was discussing a scheme a couple of weeks ago that we were considering for school use. It was essentially a rental scheme that did, on paper at least, yield a small profit over the 25 year life of the equipment. They'd be pretty big installations though, using the large areas of flat roofs that many schools possess. Having said that, it depends to a certain extent why you want to consider it. Solar pv and wind will definitely generate electricity, although the latter is generally less viable in this part of the world. So, if you just like the idea of a degree of self-sufficiency or want to do your bit for climate change, then all's good, but the payback time can be very long so don't expect to retire on the proceeds. Ground source heat pumps, on the other hand, are a much safer bet, with consistent outputs and predictable benefits. The upfront costs are very high, though. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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16th May 2013 8:59am |
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| boode Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: Devon Posts: 430  
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Hi - I have two 11Kw Gaia wind turbines - installed 3 years ago and they produce 65,000 Kw each year (for the pair). Average wind on the site is 6 mps. They will pay for themselves in 5 years with a 20 year guaranteed index linked payment. They provide good usefull power for milking the cows and I use about half of the total production, the rest is exported and sold. Installed by Natural Energy. http://www.naturalenergyuk.co.uk
I have looked at solar, but the energy production profile ( ie in the middle of the day) is not so useful for when the electricity is needed. There is also a company called Forest Builder - who specializes in solar and wind installations - also off grid systems with batteries - who is worth speaking to. He operates all over the UK and has relavent wind and solar maps to plot potential production. http://www.forest-builder.com |
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16th May 2013 9:34am |
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| Mountain_man Member Since: 09 Dec 2011 Location: Right side of Offas Dyke Posts: 756 
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You could do a lot worse than talk to Chris Able
http://www.abelenergy.co.uk/ Chris is well known in the Land Rover Challenge scene and set up his company a few years back. A very nice bloke and I am sure he will help you out. |
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16th May 2013 10:23am |
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| diesel_jim Member Since: 13 Oct 2008 Location: hiding Posts: 6092 
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Luismi on here also does a similar thing I think,
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16th May 2013 11:11am |
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| JeremyJ Member Since: 16 Nov 2011 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 1758
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One of my mates has 25 acres of solar panels in Wiltshire, he did talk me through all the ins and outs but I cant really remember much about it!!
Photo of it from the air - [URL=]  Click image to enlarge[/URL] Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  |
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16th May 2013 11:28am |
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| Norm4n Member Since: 31 Aug 2012 Location: Surrey Posts: 329
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All very helpful so far, thanks for the replies.
I should immagine that 25acres of solar panels has a better annual yield than wheat!! |
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16th May 2013 12:29pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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Now that is impressive! Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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16th May 2013 1:03pm |
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| JeremyJ Member Since: 16 Nov 2011 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 1758
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Its smart from the ground as well!!
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16th May 2013 1:07pm |
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| Andy Jeff Member Since: 11 Nov 2012 Location: Suffolk, UK. Posts: 143 
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Yep definitely worth it, we have both solar hot water and solar PV. Dramatic impact on our energy usage and for the PV, the Govt. pay us for the privilege for 25 yrs. (It'll pay for its self from that alone in about 7yrs regardless of our electricity saving). Solar Hot Water means we only rarely heat our own hot water and whilst the Govt. are still chewing the fat over how to promote/subsidise for this, we will recoup the cost on savings alone in about 5 yrs especially given the price of heating oil/electricity (no gas in our village).
Andy. |
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16th May 2013 1:22pm |
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| Luismi Member Since: 04 Nov 2010 Location: Cotswolds Posts: 178  
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If you need any help or technical advice on equipment, Pv layout, real PR, shading assesment or so let me know.
i do not sell anything just friendly advice. I checked a fairly ammount of ground mount system in uk so far and to be honest i'm not impress. As i said if you need help let me know |
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16th May 2013 1:59pm |
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