In February 2011 Sunrise Solar installed a 4.0kw solar PV system for Lindale resident David Jackson.
Mr Jackson’s installation comprises of 20 Kioto 200w polycrystalline PV panels and a Power One inverter. We asked Mr Jackson his reasons for having solar panels fitted:
“It is perfectly obvious to any thinking person that our current life styles are completely unsustainable in the long term, but it has been hard to think of any way that I as an individual can make any significant difference. I go to great lengths to think and try and act like a minimalist and conservationist. I have been a Green Party political activist, have participated in environmental and waste reduction groups, been an organic farmer---but always felt frustrated because nothing seemed to make a measurable difference.
Soon after I retired to Lindale, a Sunrise Solar advert made me think about putting solar panels on the south facing roof of my cottage, (once known as Sunny Terrace), and it seemed this might be the most effective contribution I could make.
A quick phone call to Jeff Dodds, a visit to his demonstration units in Ambleside, where he explained everything with great enthusiasm, and I was sold on the idea. Not only did I think it was the right thing to do, the government must have thought so too by requiring my electricity suppliers to buy my power from me, while the planning authorities require no permitting*.
Jeff was so impressive that I didn’t even look for an alternative contractor. The survey, options, output projections, quotes, and an early proposed start date all came in quick succession. Jeff did everything he said he would, on time, if not sooner! That meant a lot to me and I felt I could trust him.
Soon, the scaffolding was up, taking great care to minimize the inconvenience to my neighbours on this narrow lane, and his crew were busy on the roof and in the attic. In spite of some adverse weather, it was all finished in about a week, and commissioned early in February. Every detail was attended to; he even replaced a few defective slates and my old brittle plastic gutter at the same time. His certification documentation was sent to my electricity supplier without any hiccups, and I have just received my second payment.
In spite of such a poor summer, the generation meter has been flashing rapidly, and with the most productive seven months of the year under my belt, is already closing in on the predicted annual generation.
Every aspect of the installation and performance has exceeded my expectations so far, and be warned, watching the meter flashing can be as addictive as the flickering flames of a fire!
Is this for everyone? Well, exposure to the sun is clearly essential. It is not cheap to install, though becoming cheaper, but stack the return on your investment up against what your bank will pay you! Can you think of a less painless way to reduce your carbon footprint? I can’t!”
In the past 7 months Mr Jackson’s installation has generated 2,900 kw/H. We estimated it would generate 3,215 kw/H in 12 months so it is will hit this estimation and more.
The Feed-In Tariff ensures home owners with a renewable technology installed a minimum payment per kw/H generated.
As registered installers all of our installations are entitled to receive this payment. At present the Feed-In Tariff for systems under 4kw stands at 43.3p per kw/H generated, regardless of whether you use it or not.
If you do use it you will be able to make savings on your energy bills and if you don’t it will be exported back to the grid and give you an additional 3.3p per kw/H exported.
Mr Jackson’s installation comprises of 20 Kioto 200w polycrystalline PV panels and a Power One inverter. We asked Mr Jackson his reasons for having solar panels fitted:
“It is perfectly obvious to any thinking person that our current life styles are completely unsustainable in the long term, but it has been hard to think of any way that I as an individual can make any significant difference. I go to great lengths to think and try and act like a minimalist and conservationist. I have been a Green Party political activist, have participated in environmental and waste reduction groups, been an organic farmer---but always felt frustrated because nothing seemed to make a measurable difference.
Soon after I retired to Lindale, a Sunrise Solar advert made me think about putting solar panels on the south facing roof of my cottage, (once known as Sunny Terrace), and it seemed this might be the most effective contribution I could make.
A quick phone call to Jeff Dodds, a visit to his demonstration units in Ambleside, where he explained everything with great enthusiasm, and I was sold on the idea. Not only did I think it was the right thing to do, the government must have thought so too by requiring my electricity suppliers to buy my power from me, while the planning authorities require no permitting*.
Jeff was so impressive that I didn’t even look for an alternative contractor. The survey, options, output projections, quotes, and an early proposed start date all came in quick succession. Jeff did everything he said he would, on time, if not sooner! That meant a lot to me and I felt I could trust him.
Soon, the scaffolding was up, taking great care to minimize the inconvenience to my neighbours on this narrow lane, and his crew were busy on the roof and in the attic. In spite of some adverse weather, it was all finished in about a week, and commissioned early in February. Every detail was attended to; he even replaced a few defective slates and my old brittle plastic gutter at the same time. His certification documentation was sent to my electricity supplier without any hiccups, and I have just received my second payment.
In spite of such a poor summer, the generation meter has been flashing rapidly, and with the most productive seven months of the year under my belt, is already closing in on the predicted annual generation.
Every aspect of the installation and performance has exceeded my expectations so far, and be warned, watching the meter flashing can be as addictive as the flickering flames of a fire!
Is this for everyone? Well, exposure to the sun is clearly essential. It is not cheap to install, though becoming cheaper, but stack the return on your investment up against what your bank will pay you! Can you think of a less painless way to reduce your carbon footprint? I can’t!”
In the past 7 months Mr Jackson’s installation has generated 2,900 kw/H. We estimated it would generate 3,215 kw/H in 12 months so it is will hit this estimation and more.
The Feed-In Tariff ensures home owners with a renewable technology installed a minimum payment per kw/H generated.
As registered installers all of our installations are entitled to receive this payment. At present the Feed-In Tariff for systems under 4kw stands at 43.3p per kw/H generated, regardless of whether you use it or not.
If you do use it you will be able to make savings on your energy bills and if you don’t it will be exported back to the grid and give you an additional 3.3p per kw/H exported.
