Eco2Solar feature in the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald.
One of our recent solar PV installations has caught the eye of the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, and was featured in their newspaper on 27th May 2010 (page 9). The article read:
“Doone’s turned her home into a mini-power station”
An Ettington woman is hoping for a bright summer this year after spending ₤12,000 on solar panels to sell the energy back to the National Grid.
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Doone Edwards had 12 solar panels installed on the south facing side of her roof about three weeks ago. She is guaranteed to be paid for each kWh of energy the panels generate for 25 years. The panels took two days to fit and are so far generating an income of between ₤4-5 a day at a price of 41.3p per kWh. Mrs. Edwards said: “I’m pleased with it at the moment. I think it’s a good idea. I think they should do it when they build new houses.” |
The idea to install solar panels came from her daughter, Paula, who is very energy-conscious and has cut her own fuel bill down by about 40 per cent just by switching lights off, taking things of stand-by and turning the heating down. After deciding to install the panels Mrs. Edwards did her homework researching companies who install them, finally going with Eco2Solar, a Kidderminster-based firm.
She said some people were put off installing solar panels because of the amount of space it would take up, but the equipment only amounted to two small boxes in the attic and two meters in the utility room.
Mrs. Edwards, who has lived in Ettington for 25 years, believes she is the first person in the village to have undertaken such a scheme and described herself as a pioneer.
Managing director at Eco2Solar, Paul Hutchens, said demand for solar panels had grown significantly since people became able to sell surplus energy back to the Grid from 1st April this year.
He said the company had installed solar panels on several properties recently, including in Warwick and Stratford: “If you install a solar electric system you get paid a premium rate for every unit of electricity you generate whether you use it or not. If you don’t use it you can feed it back to the Grid and get even more. That has completely changed the way that people view the system and demand has really grown.
“Customers are buying it because it’s financially attractive. You get a return investment of between eight and twelve per cent. What you’re making is a combination of free electricity, and possibility if you don’t use it of selling it back to the Grid. It’s a very attractive investment.”
As well as being guaranteed for 25 years the income is also linked to inflation and is tax free.
When the electricity generated by the solar cells is not being used it is sold back to the National Grid at a premium rate then purchased back from the National Grid at the customer’s normal rate – approximately half the price of the premium rate – when there is no daylight and the customer has a demand for electricity.