We had been working in Solar for a couple of years when the feed in tariff was introduced back in April 2010. It was designed to reward homeowners for the take up of low carbon technologies such as Solar and Wind powered systems.
Such was the demand, prices tumbled and today, you can buy for £6,000 what used to cost £24,00 back then. In fact, for £24,000 we could take you off the grid totally today with regards to heating, hot water, electricity and all the fuel for an EV FOR LIFE! (Probably) (Actually, for most people we couldn’t, but for the very best energy users, no problem)
The feed in tariffs have worked and worked well. They’ve made what was once the preserve of the wealthy, an everyday must have for us common folk. For the cost of a decent second hand car, you can get rid of your electricity bills for many many months of the year. And in some case, for 10 months of the yr (just)
For those of you who have been following us for a few years, you will have seen first hand how the feed in tariffs have allowed us to drive innovation and reduce costs, but in life, all good things come to an end. The replacement scheme will be awesome, eventually. Energy companies will offer varying rates for your energy, just as they do when they sell it. But that’s years or even decades away
So, at the end of next month, the feed in tariff scheme as we know it, closes for new entrants. If you are already on it, then you are ring-fenced and secure for 25 or 20 yrs from the start date of your feed in tariff contract, depending on which technology was used and when it was installed.
As of 10th March, we will no longer be taking orders for solar systems that attract a feed in tariff. This really is your last chance to get yourself some free money on top of the monstrous savings you will be making when you generate your own energy.
The feed in tariff, for those with a decent unshaded roof, using the best products, will come to about £260 a yr, for 20 yrs. If like me, your energy company has put their prices up from 16p/kwh to 18p/kwh recently, then the 4400kwh you generate from your solar will save you as much as £790 a yr, for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever. In fact, if you were paying 20p a kwh from your energy company (which is just around the corner) and used all of it, your savings will grow to £880 and increase EVERY time the energy company puts their prices up….. Tens of thousands of pounds, you currently give to foreign owned energy companies, money you are committed to unless you generate your own.
It’s ridiculous the amount of energy we make on our 4kw. Even now in winter we have already gone three whole days where we have taken less than 10p worth of electricity from the grid due to the 9.6kw battery store we had fitted last June. It’s going to be increased to 14kw very soon by the way, as we’re still sending electricity back to the grid and that’s after running the house, filling the battery and charging the Nissan Leaf all electric family car.
As we are not claiming a feed in tariff for the new solar system, we want to use as much as we can, i really do not want to give the energy companies anything until they decide on a fair price. So have not registered ours. What that does though, is drive us even more towards an off grid lifestyle, then they will have nothing. Nothing at all. Imagine if we all stopped taking energy from the grid. Not just on #EarthHour or other one off’s. But forever. Now if we all did that tomorrow, the world as we know it would collapse.
Imagine a World where Nations stopped going to war over whats left of the dirty fossil fuel buried under the sand or ice, or deep beneath the oceans. We would stop polluting our precious, oh so precious planet that we all have to share as our home.
By stopping taking energy from the grid will also mean a few hardships for those in the industries that are effected, like the war machine and dirty energy and greedy banking and shit like that that, but hey, they’ve been fucking us for decades, now it’s our turn to fuck them. Lets fuck them with Solar.
We’re creating a #SolarNation ladies and Gentlemen, there’s one million of us already. That’s just in the UK. Those one million home owners have seen the light, they live in the light and turn it into energy. Clean, green and free energy.
Energy for life.
The Solar Nation will provide County by County coverage, from the leading and longest standing solar engineers and installers. Other companies and individuals who share our passion for our planet and the people who inhabit it. The solar cutters, drivers and engineers who have painted Britain green. We’ve been inspired by the leaders in our industry, and you know who you are, and share that vision. A vision of a Planet free of conflict, no more dirty oil wars or the greed based, integrity testing Political crap we have endured for generations. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no tax man between you and the Sun….
Lets create that Solar Nation together…. and let’s do it with #SolarLove