Generate your own electricity and receive the feed-in tariff payments
Reduce your fossil fuel use and carbon emissions
NEW LOWER PRICES FROM 3 MARCH 2012!!
Do you live or own a business in Stafford Borough? Are you a member of a community group?
Sustainability Matters, with support from Stafford Borough Council, brings you
Stafford Area Community Solar (SACS), a scheme to help residents install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at a greatly discounted price. This means that you can:
- reduce your carbon footprint
- save money on your energy bills
- get a guaranteed return on your capital.
The scheme is aimed at households, businesses, community groups and schools in the area.
After careful investigation we have identified a local installation company, MEB Total Ltd, which has agreed to offer solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at a highly advantageous rate.
MEB Total Ltd
Our installer for this scheme is MEB Total Ltd, chosen after a rigorous selection process. Based in Fenton, Stoke on Trent, MEB Total is a construction company offering mechanical, electrical and building services. Hence it can provide advice and expertise not only on the solar panels themselves, but on any other aspect of the building's structure or electrical systems that may need attention to ensure a safe and reliable installation. For more information see the company's website.
Stafford Area Community Solar
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How to take part in the SACS scheme:
This offer is open to residents, businesses, or community organizations of Stafford Borough.
Am I in Stafford Borough?
See a map of the Borough on the Council's website: http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/DemServWards
Is my building suitable?
For maximum electricity generation an ideal location consists of an unobstructed roof that faces roughly south. However, other sites can also be usefully considered. Planning permission is not required for domestic solar panel installations unless the building is located in a Conservation Area or is a Listed Building.
What's the deal?
Some typical discounted prices for the SACS scheme are shown in the table below. These represent an approximate 20% discount on MEB Total's standard prices for JA Solar 250 panels. Other sized systems and makes of panel are available on request.
Prices and other figures in the table may vary depending on individual circumstances.
Note: this table has been compiled using the new lower rates of feed-in tariff that will apply from 1 April 2012 to systems registered after 12 December 2011.
STOP PRESS: Appeal court ruling may alter timetable for cuts in tariffs; see Legal tussle leaves FITs in a tangle
System size (kilowatts peak, kWp) |
1.5 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3 |
3.5 |
4 |
No. of panels (250 W) |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
Installed cost (inc. 5% VAT) |
£4726 |
£5156 |
£6031 |
£6961 |
£7569 |
£8185 |
Referral fee to Sustainability Matters |
£150 |
£150 |
£180 |
£180 |
£180 |
£200 |
Overall cost |
£4876 |
£5306 |
£6211 |
£7141 |
£7749 |
£8385 |
Projected annual income and savings (assuming 800 kilowatt hours generated for every kWp capacity installed) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
kWh per year |
1200 |
1600 |
2000 |
2400 |
2800 |
3200 |
Generation tariff (<4 kWp = 21p; 4–10 kWp = 16.6p) |
252.00 |
336.00 |
420.00 |
504.00 |
588.00 |
672.00 |
Estimated savings on electricity bill (50% @ 13p/kWh)* |
78.00 |
104.00 |
130.00 |
156.00 |
182.00 |
208.00 |
Export tariff (deemed 50% of generation @ 3.1p/kWh) |
18.60 |
24.80 |
31.00 |
37.20 |
43.40 |
49.60 |
Projected annual revenue |
348.60 |
464.80 |
581.00 |
627.20 |
813.40 |
929.60 |
Projected lifetime revenue (over 25 years; not adjusted for inflation or electricity price changes) |
8715 |
11,620 |
14,525 |
17,430 |
20,335 |
23,240 |
Payback period (years) |
14 |
11.5 |
10.7 |
10 |
9.5 |
9 |
Annual return on investment |
7% |
9% |
9% |
10% |
10.5% |
11% |
*Savings on electricity will vary depending on how much electricity is used in the building during daylight when solar panels are working, and the cost of electricity. Savings are greatest when daytime usage is maximized.
Note that revenues and returns are all estimated at current prices. Payments under the Feed-In Tariff scheme are guaranteed for 25 years, are tax free, and are adjusted annually in line with inflation. From 1 April 2012 applications for the feed-in tariff will require a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) showing that the building meets level D or above.
What do I do next?
For further information, or to request a free, no-obligation survey either:
Contact Rob Hine of Sustainability Matters via info@saveyourenergy.org.uk or Tel. (01785) 603387 or
contact the Solar Team at MEB Total Ltd on 0845 2263233, quoting the promotional code 'SACS'.
Once your property has been surveyed, MEB Total will send you a bespoke quotation. The quote you receive will be prepared specifically for your house, hence it may vary slightly from the guide prices shown in the table.
If you are happy with the offer, you accept it formally, and you will then be contacted to arrange an installation date. A deposit of 10–20% is normally required, with full payment on completion.
Sustainability Matters will charge a small fee to take account of the costs incurred in developing and publicising this initiative and help towards ongoing administration costs. This also contributes towards other sustainable development projects we are running.
The small print - made bigger!
Disclaimer
Sustainability Matters and Stafford Borough Council or any individual or individuals working to promote this scheme cannot accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any loss or damage suffered by a purchaser or any other person in respect of any goods supplied or installed through this project, including any loss or damage suffered as a result of the quality or lack of fitness for purpose of any good supplied or materials installed, or any failure by the supplier to deliver or install the goods or to install them to the purchaser’s satisfaction. Sustainability Matters and Stafford Borough Council and members/employees of these organisations have provided all information in good faith and you are solely responsible for your own project, any survey or preparatory works and no reliance can be placed on this document, or any other communication from Sustainability Matters or Stafford Borough Council.
The performance of Solar PV systems is impossible to predict with certainty due to the variability in the amount of solar radiation (sunlight) from location to location and from year to year. Estimates given are based the Government’s official calculation methodology ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’ or ‘SAP’. This takes account of roof orientation, slope and shade but it doesn’t take account of latitude – thus Stafford is considered to be on a par with Stirling in sunshine terms, which clearly is not the case, and many systems in the Midlands and South are performing above their SAP based forecasts. However, British weather is full of surprises and estimates should not be considered as a guarantee of performance. Make sure you have checked the credentials of anyone visiting your home and take appropriate security precautions.