Letters: Professionally installed solar panels are not worth it in France
Connexion reader outlines the economic pitfalls when it comes to solar panels, such as the rate of return when it comes to feeding back to the grid
Solar panels have to be orientated for maximum sunlight to be efficient
AlyoshinE / Shutterstock
To the Editor,
Regarding Nick Inman’s piece on DIY solar panels, by my calculations professionally installed panels are uneconomic.
Feedback into the grid is also not a good proposition. To work it needs at least 9kW of panels and the rate of return is uncertain as it is at the whim of politicians.
I opted to DIY install 3kW of panels (not plug and play) last September. I have a sloping hangar roof where they are unobtrusive. The angle is sub-optimal and surrounding trees limit the number of hours of direct sunlight. The roof was not an option on my old mill.
The total cost was €1,600. I estimated I would get an average year-round saving of €30 minimum per month – a significantly better return than my savings account.
So far, they have proved much better than expected. Looking at my Linky meter, my base load in heures pleines is 700 watts, so any solar production above that means I am not consuming power from EDF.
Read more: DIY solar panel installation cost in France set to rise: why and by how much?
As an example of the savings, the February/March bill last year before the panels were installed was €339.39. The same period this year was €162.29. Even after allowing for the 15% tariff reduction, that is a saving of €63 per month.
There are no batteries on my installation – there is no way I would have Li-ion batteries anywhere near the house.
There is nothing wrong with plug and play, I just preferred a fixed installation. Even an 800 watt system well placed will produce savings for most people.
For a long time, I have a low-voltage 50 watt solar panel. It charges a lead acid leisure battery via a charge regulator that has USB charging outputs. This charges our mobile phones and tablets and also provides emergency lighting during power cuts.
The battery is out of our caravan so the total cost was €30.
Keith Howlett, Vienne
Have you saved a significant amount of money after installing solar panels? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com
