UK TO BATHE WITH SUN

Solar water heaters come to the boil as cash incentive is dangled; Payments of £400 a year offered to far-sighted households, but you'll need a south-facing roof
Miles Brignall, 20 February 2010 (UK Guardian)

"Government incentives are about to make solar water heating panels a financial no-brainer for millions of households across Britain, as long as they have a south-facing roof.

"…[T]he installation cost [of solar panels] – at around £12,500 – will put many people off. Less off-putting are solar water heating systems, which cost some £4,000-£5,500 for a typical 2kW system and are likely to pay an annual return of around £500 for the next 20 years…[T]he Renewable Heat Incentive and will come into force in April next year. It is aimed at encouraging far-sighted households to install technologies such as ground or air source heat pumps, biomass boilers and – the one likely to appeal to the greatest number of homes – solar thermal water heaters…You can install it now…[and] get the incentive payments – expected to be around £400 a year – in 14 months."

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"Solar thermal systems use solar collecting panels to absorb heat from the sun. The hot water is then pumped to a storage cylinder to heat its contents. Ideally you need a south facing roof – south-east or south-west works too…Solar thermal panels should provide most of your hot water from April to September and contribute to raising your water temperature during the remaining months, while saving you up to £100 a year on bills. Solar panels are compatible with most hot water systems, although you may need a cylinder big enough to hold two days' worth of hot water…

"To get the "clean energy payments" as they are being termed, you have to fulfil certain criteria. You will only get the money if your system has been installed by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme approved installer, which is controversial because many small installing firms that have built successful renewables businesses are not MCS approved. In the past it has been expensive to become accredited…"

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"...[T]his also appears to rule out the £400-a-year payments for those who are building their own systems. Many of the 100,000 solar water heaters already being used in UK homes are home-built affairs. Also if you installed your system before July of last year, you will not be entitled to the payments…

"…[I]f you have the money and a suitable roof or other place to site your panels, you can start planning your installation. Given that the DECC has yet to finalise how it is all going to work, and there's the possibility of a change of government in May, it may be worth waiting a few months before you sign on the dotted line. That said, the Conservatives have indicated they support the policy, so you can start getting the brochures and working out if it works for you…"