Free Solar PV or 'Rent A Roof' Schemes

Since the launch of the Feed in Tariff scheme, a number of companies have emerged who claim to offer free photovoltaic panels. Whilst the photovoltaic panels and their installation are free, the long term cost is certainly not.

Although you will receive some of the benefits of Solar Energy, such as free electricity during daylight hours, you will not be entitled to the FITs payments. These would be paid directly to the installer who would also retain ownership of the Solar PV system.

If you have the funds to invest in Solar PV panels, or you can raise them, you will be far better off financially by paying for a system and claiming the full Feed in Tariff.

The table below shows a comparison between buying a 3.1kWp system and having one installed for free. In order to maximise returns, 3kWp is the smallest system available under a free PV scheme.
 

Owning a Solar PV system allows you to make a substantial tax free income from Feed in Tariffs AND save on electricity bills. See our Feed in Tariff Calculator for more examples of paid systems.
 

Free & Purchased PV System Comparison

Clearly, for some people who simply cannot afford the £7,000 to £9,000 generally needed to install solar panels, a free solar PV system may seem their only route into the solar electricity market.

But it is important to carefully consider whether the advantages of solar energy are really worth the hidden cost behind the ‘free’ tag.

Purchased System

	You have full ownership of the system
	Up front cost, typically £7K to £9K
	Receive FIT payments for 25 years
	Save on electricity for system lifetime
	System size starts at 1kWp
	Requires minimum 8m2 roof space
	Panels must face between SW and SE
	Normally a small maintenance fee

 

Free System

	You never actually own the system
	NO up front payment required
	NO FIT payments received
	Save on electricity for system lifetime
	System size starts at 3kWp
	Requires minimum 20m2 roof space
	Panels must face close to South
	NO maintenance fees to pay

 

Households with access to the required investment should avoid ‘free solar panel’ schemes at all costs, given that most solar panel systems tend to pay for themselves within a decade or so.

If you do not have the funds readily available, a common option is to extend an existing mortgage. FITs payments will outweigh loan repayments, so any debt taken on in the process is easily offset.

For every day that passes when you are not in the solar generation market, you are depriving your household of money and savings that those who’ve invested in solar panels, are already enjoying.

EnergyLink installers DO NOT offer FREE Solar PV Systems