British Weather: So-lar, So-Good?

Britain is not known for good weather. In fact, to be honest, the weather is lousy, and at certain times of the year only the most foolish Englishman ventures out without an umbrella.

For this reason, solar power has long been discounted in favour of wind on this blustery island where one’s neighbours are likely to raise a few eyebrows should one be so eccentric as to cover the roof in solar panels.

This was certainly on the mind of Ashley Seager when he laid out the princely sum of £8,500 ($16,900) in 2007 for the installation of a 3 kilowatt solar power generation system for his South London home. However, one year later and despite a year of weather that has been poor even by British standards, Ashley’s investment is beginning to pay dividends having generated 92% of the Seager household’s annual electricity requirement.

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Global warming has not yet turned the British Isles into a tropical paradise, but this experience demonstrates that solar energy is still a viable option, even the most dreary climate, resulting in electricity bills low enough to bring a little sunshine on even the rainiest day.

But - there are a few caveats..

The payback time on the Seager’s solar system will be approximately 13 years - not the shortest investment, and for a British family considering the same investment today the payback time will be even longer; Until recently the British government offered a 50% grant on home solar installations -which has now been capped at £2,500 due to demand, forcing many solar installers out of business despite the rapidly falling cost of the technology. (in comparison, Germany - whose government offers generous renewable energy support -  fitted solar installations to 130,000 homes last year compared to 300 in the UK).

Secondly, payback time is greatly influenced by the fluctuating cost of energy. Solar systems generate electricity during the day which goes mostly unused whilst the family are at work or school. The excess electricity is sold back to the power company and then re-purchased in the evening when the sun has set and energy use is at it’s highest. Although rising electricity costs increase savings, most power companies in the UK buy electricity from solar homes for less than the price at which they sell it back again. Again, in comparison, those renewable-crazy Germans buy electricity for twice the price at which they sell it.

The complex regulations, grants and tariffs which surround micro renewable energy are still shifting as the UK government tries to land on a sensible set of long term energy policies. This uncertainty makes solar a more unlikely option for the less well-heeled, but the savings and the eco credibility factor certainly mean that the Jones’s may soon be swapping those raised eyebrows for solar panels..

Learn more about solar energy, and find out how much you can save (California only) at Renewzle.

With thanks to The Guardian. Photo courtesy of Flickr

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