Solar panels still worth it?

[Dabop]

Basically, one person burning a log fire for heating is responsible for putting out more pollution than an entire town of people using electric or heatpump tech for heating...

We couldn't afford the feedstock to have more than a few doing it, and for sure, the earth couldn't survive more than a few doing it pollutionwise...

Sure 'we did it' for centuries- but there were far fewer of us, we also had a far shorter lifespan, and almost all peoples lives were a hell of a lot less 'nice' than we have today...

 

[Vulcan]

Psychologically there’s nothing quite like an open fire. As a young kid, several times a year we had this big camp fire at cubs. We were all given a toasting fork, a pork sausage and a piece of bread to toast. Even wood burning stoves are very attractive. The evidence now though is that it’s not just polluting the general environment but also the very rooms in which they’re operating. A friend has been using a wood stove for many years and every time I visit him I can smell what I assume is something like wood tar. It’s not completely unpleasant but it can’t be healthy. If I lived there I’d have to do something about the smell but I guess he’s so used to it he doesn’t notice it anymore?

 

[Dabop]

They may be nice to watch, but having one in your home is equal if not worse than smoking cigarettes or having a car running in your living room all the time in terms of health risks...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06...wood-heaters-due-to-health-concerns/100202388

 

[artie]

Basically, one person burning a log fire for heating is responsible for putting out more pollution than an entire town of people using electric or heatpump tech for heating...

You need to spend a minute thinking about that.

 

[graduate_owner]

I can't advise on your particuar situation, but I can tell you how our system benefits us. We installed a 4kW system about 13 years ago ( so we get the full FIT of around 70p per unit generated, plus export payments. That bit is irrelevant now of course). We generate on average 3400 units per year, with the panels on a shed roof facing South East. Modern systems might be more efficient, I don't know. We have never cleaned them and never had a problem with the inverter. As has been said, try to maximise the usage and so get the benefit of reduced bills rather than getting the much lower export payment.
If you have a hot water cylinder (as opposed to a combi boiler) then you can buy a device which detects when you are generating surplus energy, and diverts this to the immersion heater. From about April to October we get our hot water free by usig this system, rarely having to switch on the oil boiler.
Looking at actual figures, (apart from the FIT) we get an estimated half of the 3400 units from the solar panels so 1700 units that we don't have to pay for. That is 1700 x about 25p plus 5% VAT so it saves us around £450. In reality we try to use more so we probably save more off our bill. We also get around £50 from the deemed export so £500 minimum there. I have no idea how much we save by not using our oil boiler for water heating in the summer but obviously it is a bonus.
Whether your system would perform in a similar fashion depends on the direction they face, the efficiency of the systen etc but this might give you an idea.

K

 

[Agent_zed]

I suppose, for an overall picture one should also take into account the "carbon footprint" from their manufacture. This supposedly takes 3 to 4 years of use to balance out.

I also wonder what happens when they reach the end of their useful life - whether all the elements can be usefully recycled.

There is not actually that much in solar panels. Generally a perimeter frame of aluminium that can be recycled. Glass that is inert and then the actual solar cell material (which for most panels are Silicon compounds) which if you stacked up would create quite a small volume. They should typically last 20 years and still be making 80% capacity. The inverter will contain a lot of metal and will be recycled, they apparently don't last as long although mine is around 15yrs old.