Generating cost effective electricity from the sun had for many years been seen as a pipe dream to most people. Two things have changed this way of thinking in recent years.

1.       The cost per watt for producing the panels has been dropping steadily; this has been achieved by an increase in efficiency. Early panels were only about 2% efficient now mainstream units are 15-20% efficient with the very best around 40% efficient. This has combined with economies of scale, as many more companies compete to satisfy a growing market. The cost per watt of producing a panel is now only 1/50 of the cost of early PV panels and is expected to keep dropping.

2.       The governments have recognised that in order to reach its carbon reduction targets renewable technologies have to be given a boost by the provision of subsidies to make the technology competitive. In the UK this has been achieved by “feed in tarrifs” or FITs as they are known.

For every kilowatt of electricity generated the government will pay 41.3 pence.

For every kilowatt of electricity exported (not used on site ) the government will pay 44.3 pence.

The payments are included in the energy suppliers normal invoices .

As an example a 3kw PV array installed on a south facing roof in Cornwall will be worth in real terms approximately £1496 per year and, over the guaranteed 25 year lifetime of the scheme £35912.00

The payback period is around 9 years, and with the current low interest rates, makes economic sense.

County Heating has recently undergone the required MCS assessments and registration and can now offer competitive quotations on all PV installations.