Andeh

That's a really interesting link! Going from an optimum angle of 39 degrees to 10 degrees drops annual output from 3000 down to 2700. Not as much as I expected? Does that make sense? Edit... Makes sense....as they perform better in the summer, but worse in the winter I imagine. Not ideal as looking at ASHP, we want max generation in the winter vs summer!

Hi All, As per title, we are going for a 10 degree mono pitch roof, where the solar panels will be installed. Are there any aesthetically pleasing/reasonable ways to enhance the angle of solar panels being installed? Ideally like to try and get them up another 25 degrees, but without it looking ridiculous on the roof! We have no other location where they could go unfortunately. Many thanks,

Just keen to hear how you got on? We are being recommend joules ASHP package as well!

Very interested to see what this offers, worried we will miss the existing RHI deadline with our build...hoping the replacement softens the loss of it!!

Thanks all builder starts in 3 weeks for a 8 month build, contract signed & prices fixed. Probably will have back up, but with contract in place delaying ashp for some savings complicates things. Also very young children in the family! I'll have to have a chat with him how he intends to support us with the RHI side of things! Could be close getting it commissioned by March 31st! we will see.

Even more interested in this thread now, as going for ASHP & MVHR as well....!!

Hi All, We are looking to install ASHP, but are aware of the deadline in March 2022 for the current round of RHI payments. We are not looking to complete the build until mid June though. Does anyone know what the threshold is to pass, in order to register for the RHI payments? is it paperwork only, or does the system need to be installed, or does it need to be installed & commissioned etc? Welcome any advice. Thank you,

Just a bump from me, very keen to know more about this as well! Thanks

Thanks all, good to keep seeing perspectives on this! Still settling on 500L and then PV diverter off the 4kw Solar system into the tank.

Good question! it's been really tricky. We got 4 quotes, three of which were within 10% of each other...4th was within 15%...so all remarkably similar. We have narrowed it down to the middle two and are now working with them both on next steps. One say it is cheaper to knock down & start again (NO VAT) other says cheaper to refurb (but pay VAT). All showed our £300k budget was needing to be closer to £500k though....which we are working through now (reductions, cost saves, cut backs, borrowing etc etc). Its been emotional to say the least. ? This all for an existing 140sqm bungalow, looking to extend/rebuild to around 275sqm. Rebuild buider is due back tomorrow (!!) with his proposal on how it could be better to rebuild instead of just refurb, and at that point hopefully big decisions will start to be made on how we progress.

Just to update, speaking 'hypothetically' with British Gas (my FiT provider) & OFGEM...there seems to be a relatively 'common sense' approach to this, though always take this with a pinch of salt. If you are removing the system for building work, just let us know....when you reinstall it let us know..if system isn't being changed no issues at all. If you change any aspect of the system let us know & provide justification for it/invoices for replacement parts. Replacing 95% of the system with new components (as I was wondering above) would 'probably' class as a new installation & loss of Fit...but if you are replacing some panels due to breakage, that should be fine. There is a slight vagueness overall, ie not cut & dry...just a contact us with a good reason & you will probably be OK.

Blimey, that looks much better! Thanks for coming back to update.

Thanks very much guys, that makes sense! I remember seeing the serial numbers on the paperwork now that you mention it. I'll just have to accept a lift & refit, annoying as the new roof orientation will put them slightly off pitch. Edit to add: For others in a similar situation, the below will 'help', but I may need too still reach out to them. Removal & refit for roof change, but maintaining existing equipment I hope to maintains our eligibility. It isn't definitively clear in my mind though? https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/consultation-fit-replacement-generating-equipment

Thanks Temp, parking is fine...Bat's were ruled out when we looked at the extension. My main irrational bug bear is the water meter! Fitting one now...to then remove it later....? Playing the system a little bit, but I am offered a 2 year cooling off period? I will look into CiL - thank you. I presume architects will be able to advise on this as well! They are fully managing this end to end.

...its works if you don't get caught! I might just have to wait to hear back from British Gas, but it depends on what they use to authorise the system surely? Do they limit you on Sheer size of system or maximum power output allowed? Could you elaborate please SteamTea?

Thanks nod. Our water company offer a 2 year cooling off period, I wonder if this could help us get around it? Install one now before we do anything, sort out rebuild & then change back if it proves more expensive? With 4 girls in the household, I prefer non metered!

The challenge we have is the capacity is 3.99kwh limit (I think) but the panels are from 2011. Our plans involve a mono pitch roof, which would have the solar panels angled away from the south facing they currently enjoy. Desire is to replace the panels with new ones, and do so such that we can 'over compensate' with quantity/quality, to cancel out the loss from the negative angle.

Thanks will do, MCS wasn't fussed, but wasn't sure who might be. For £2k a year, we want to be sure. I have emailed British Gas to ask them (our FiT provider), and will report back when I know more

We are exploring the prospect of a full knockdown & rebuild instead of a large extension! Touch & go which way it will swing...but just as we factor everything in, are there any more draconian conditions we should factor in? The extension came with several lighter touch ones, but nothing problematic...I imagine a new build is likely to be come with several more? Ie...must have a water meter? Could we get one fitted & change it back out in the 2 year cooling off period? Any others? Many thanks

Thanks Temp - How much of an issue is this? I imagine for those highpoints there would be a reduction in thermal transfer? I would like to have both our UFH manifolds in the same location (bungalow), but one UFH will feed a series of loops a few ft higher then lowest point of the loop...bit like a U with manifold slightly higher then the loops...but a low point between! Many thanks, Andrew

What's stops air bubbles forming in the "high" point of the loop, where the water then dips down... To go back up to the manifold? Does the natural flow of water just force the air back down & around until bled at the manifold?

We are refurbing & extending a bungalow, the previous owners install 21 x PV panels back in 2012 ish when the feed in tariff was at its highest. Everything still works fine, and on the best bet day we can hit approx 3kWh. Mixture of low roof angle, some shade & I'm guessing 10 year old panels mean we will never hit the full 4kWh which I believe ours are paper spec's as. As part of the reroofing, I am debating replacing them all with a lower quantity of newer panels in the hope of achieving some extra output! Has anyone ever gone down this route before? Is it fairly straightforward to replace old with new? Is there a risk this could impact our very good FIT? Thanks

Thanks very much all! More settled over things, but still feeling very very very very sorry for myself! ? To add a bit or perspective, this is a 140sqm of extension AND full 140sqm of 1970s bungalow refurb. 80% re-arranged inside, new roof, rendered & brick cladding, new plumbing & electrics. Full knock down & rebuild is around £550-600k estimated by architect & builders. The extension is coming in around £1900/sqm, and we have thrown everything at it. No shortage of toys (CAT6a everywhere, A/C in 4 rooms, dual sided wood burner, external heaters/lighting, UFH retrofit to bathrooms & throughout extension, 'wow factor' floating corner in kitchen with 10m of over sized sliding doors, aluminium windows....5 external hot taps ? ) - even the garage is fully insulated & heated. This is our forever house - perfect garden, perfect location, perfect surroundings etc so we are factoring every desire & lesson learnt from previous properties. So much of the pricing just seems to be sheer amounts of work & wants....spooky that!! The above combined with 4 children and jobs mean it is fully architect led & the ability to divide & conqueror/DIY much of the project is heavily reduced - hence everything.

Anyone else recently received quotes back or can relate? In the nightmare situation where tender returns have come back at 25% over original 'hope'- something we can make work by cleaning ourselves out & cutting back multiple areas, but still utter nightmare territory! Had 4 builders return on tender, all similar enough in their pricing - fixed price contract. I just can't understand how I was so far off in hoping for around £375k all in. It is a 140sqm Bungalow extension (40sqm garage built with heating & fully insulated), very thorough renovation of existing Bungalow inc remodel interior & exterior, render, new tiles, new brick cladding etc. Quite a few luxuries in A/C, UFH throughout, aluminium windows & big sliding doors Lot of these prices went up 5-10% when the Architects (full managed service) went through with a fine tooth comb & aligned them all like for like - currently working off a £450k (+ VAT) cost.....Value engineering is next on the list! Asking builders to quote for full knock down & rebuild of existing 1970s bungalow to see if that makes sense vs the £100k tax bill...but for the 140sqm I am doubtful it will be value for money when it would be rebuilt very similar (but in block not timber framed) This post is a little more then a rant/scream at the wind....but anyone else go through this horror realisation!? Any sage words it'll be worth it in the end..... ? ?

We are soon (within days)going out to tender for our build project. It is 150sqm of single story extension (40sqm garage) and full renovation of a 140sqm bungalow. Existing structure rendered, new structure brick cladding. One concern I have is tendering now when the price of timber, plaster, concrete etc is all over the place, but generally significantly more then it 'should' be. It will be an architect led project, budget of approx £300k with a start date hoped for ASAP 2022. I am unsure on the best way of managing the risk of a 20% rise in material prices or indeed a 20% fall in material prices over the next 12 months, without getting a quantity surveyor involved. Is anyone else in a similar boat? How are other managing it?