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Iran war - so uptake of solar panels rise.

(27 Posts)
Wyllow3 Thu 30-Apr-26 18:45:00

I watch "Look North" and the enquiries for solar panels has gone up across the area - I imagine the whole of the UK.

One bloke, "I cant control what happens in the world, but I can for our family life"

👏👏

Sad it took these terrible events - but I'm glad for this particular outcome.

Jane43 Thu 30-Apr-26 19:10:10

I found out the other day that there are grants for free solar panels for people on certain benefits, including pension credit, or a household income of around £31,000 or less. I didn’t look into it any further as we wouldn’t qualify but other gransnet members might want to look into it.

imaround Mon 04-May-26 20:00:05

I saw headlines that you all used more renewable energy sources than gas/oil for the whole country. Great job!

We were just approved for plug in solar in our state, regulations and greed held us back. Solar panels are going up as soon as we are able this summer.

Maremia Mon 04-May-26 20:12:45

Such a shame it took a war. But, good to hear.

MT62 Mon 04-May-26 20:17:03

Is it not harder to sell a property with solar panels?

Cossy Mon 04-May-26 20:40:12

MT62

Is it not harder to sell a property with solar panels?

Why? Is it due to “ownership” issues?

petra Mon 04-May-26 21:03:43

The increase in the sales of solar panels is always a good sign.
But we still have a long way to go to be on a par with Germany.
Take note and listen to the providers, Ed Milliband. Talks cheap, it costs nothing.

Wyllow3 Mon 04-May-26 21:06:48

Each city has lots of free advice for people on renewable energy provision, well ours does, free and in town on all the bus routes. What is Ed M not listening to?

MT62 Mon 04-May-26 22:00:00

My aunt had solar panels years ago on a bungalow. It was a trial thing with South Yorkshire. I am sure she had hassle with her sale as to actually owned those solar panels. Must ask next time we speak.

petra Mon 04-May-26 22:20:52

MT62

My aunt had solar panels years ago on a bungalow. It was a trial thing with South Yorkshire. I am sure she had hassle with her sale as to actually owned those solar panels. Must ask next time we speak.

Information on the above.
www.timms-law.com/selling-a-house-with-solar-panels-what-you-need-to-know/

MT62 Tue 05-May-26 00:08:59

Could be that they were leased. I won’t know what problem she had until I speak with her & report back.
I don’t think solar panels would put me off buying a property providing they were well maintained, & had that battery storage back up.

MT62 Tue 05-May-26 00:10:11

MT62

Could be that they were leased. I won’t know what problem she had until I speak with her & report back.
I don’t think solar panels would put me off buying a property providing they were well maintained, & had that battery storage back up.

Petra. Thanks I will read that sometime today đŸ‘đŸ»

Basgetti Tue 05-May-26 07:08:26

Indeed. This awful situation forces the UK to look at its dependency on dubious sources and plan accordingly. Solar panels on every new build is a good start. We’ll be looking into them ourselves.

petra Tue 05-May-26 07:20:05

Ed Milliband doesn’t have panels on his roof.
Despite the fact that he lives in a conservation area other properties in the conservation have panels.

Esmay Tue 05-May-26 07:48:43

Thank you Jane43 for the advice.
There are very few houses with solar panels where I live .
They don't seem to be recommended for various reasons -
the expense , inefficiency and because they can look ugly .
But I'd certainly consider them now .

Whitewavemark2 Tue 05-May-26 08:00:59

There are more and more going up in my area.

My AC have had them installed for quite a few years now. Both run their electric cars for free.

My DS also has battery storage and has practically everything he reasonably can fitted with solar. Sheds, garage roof etc😊He fits them himself although he had his roof done by experts.

I would think a property much more attractive to buy if it has solar panels fitted.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 05-May-26 08:02:28

I think the idea of installing solar panels in car parks and alongside motorways has merit.

dragonfly46 Tue 05-May-26 08:06:27

Unfortunately we arranged to have them but found the tiles on our roof were too big. Apparently at the moment there is only one size of bracket.

Mollygo Tue 05-May-26 08:22:04

dragonfly46

Unfortunately we arranged to have them but found the tiles on our roof were too big. Apparently at the moment there is only one size of bracket.

While we were working and could afford them, we were told that our roof was unsuitable, though they didn’t specify why.
On top of a hill, south facing, we thought it would be ideal, but no.

NotSpaghetti Tue 05-May-26 09:36:46

Milliband's house has a classic Victorian "butterfly" roof. This means the roof slopes inward toward a central gutter. One side of the "M" usually casts a shadow on the other for half the day.

So the slopes face each other, and this, combined with being behind a "parapet" wall - creating shade when the sun isn't high in the sky, means there is very little usable space for solar panels and they wouldn't actually be in a reasonable position to catch the sun.

As it is, Dartmouth Park Road runs roughly North-South. Because his house is semi-detached and oriented East-West, the south side is actually a wall.

Furthermore, in this type of construction the critical thing is to maintain the guttering down the middle as that is what keeps the property watertight. You need room to do this so any solar arrangements cannot come low enough to cause any blockages by catching leaves etc and making them hard to clear.
And then there's the actual weight of the panels and the problems with wind lift and turbulence which can damage the roof of a building just designed for slates.

I am not an expert but did look into this a couple of years ago when retrofitting our victorian house was considered.

Personally I don't think the conservation status of the road is as much an issue (but it would definitely need extra planning) as it would only be visible I think from other rooftops or at least high up.

I think the big issue with Milliband's house is the problem with lots of retrofitting - sadly, many many buildings just aren't suitable.
😕

MT62 Tue 05-May-26 09:37:28

petra

Ed Milliband doesn’t have panels on his roof.
Despite the fact that he lives in a conservation area other properties in the conservation have panels.

As he probably can easily afford his bills
the fact he lives in a conservation area ( solar panels are quite ugly to look at) he won’t need them will he?

Maremia Tue 05-May-26 09:46:47

Lots of new build flats here now have solar panels on the roof.

Casdon Tue 05-May-26 09:59:39

MT62

petra

Ed Milliband doesn’t have panels on his roof.
Despite the fact that he lives in a conservation area other properties in the conservation have panels.

As he probably can easily afford his bills
the fact he lives in a conservation area ( solar panels are quite ugly to look at) he won’t need them will he?

He may have a solar fence, just as effective and less ugly?

MT62 Tue 05-May-26 13:11:48

I doubt it somehow Casdon.
He’s probably a ‘do as I say & not as I do’ person.
Then again he has the money to implement all that stuff, so who knows đŸ€·â€â™€ïž

Jane43 Tue 05-May-26 13:17:58

MT62

Is it not harder to sell a property with solar panels?

My daughter in law is an estate agent, she says that solar panels which are rented rather than belonging to the property make things difficult during a sale but I would have though a property with solar panels which have been maintained properly could only be an advantage when selling a house.