How are you all finding this energy rising?

[dazp1976]

Perhaps the site needs some maintenance...? I mean, seriously, nothing lasts forever, but I am pretty sure it is worth fixing, unless the installation is totally wrong. Also, at least here in Sweden, the warranty is so long that it would DEFINITELY be worth fixing if it was mine.

Warranty for me is:

Solar panels: 10 years
Inverter: 12 years
Optimizers: 25 years
Effect warranty on panels: Minimum 80% after 25 years
Installation: 5 years

So I suggest you help your parents, read their contracts and maybe you will find out that there is still warranty. Anyway, even if they need to change the inverter, that's just a small cost compared to the whole installation. 27 panels, even if they are old, should produce at least some energy, much more than "next to nothing". Aren't they keep track of when things break? It is after all, a "machine" just like the washing machine, the car, the stove or whatever else. Must be kept under control to see it does what it meant to do. Everything can break, PV systems are not exception.

PV systems are not BS at all, and definitely worth the cost, but I know there are many not so serious installers, not only in UK but everywhere else.

Been looking into it as you suggested.
The company who fitted mum's went bust years ago. It's actually on of those installs where the company rents your roof from you.
Will have do do some deeper digging and find out who inherited the bust companies contract.

As for the father in law he bought his outright at the high rate Feed In Tarrif (FIT). It still makes enough to cover the initial cost and give about £100 per yr in pocket. His quote is.....
'It's never been anywhere near what the salesman quoted but it will do'.

[A_Camera]

Been looking into it as you suggested.
The company who fitted mum's went bust years ago. It's actually on of those installs where the company rents your roof from you.
Will have do do some deeper digging and find out who inherited the bust companies contract.

As for the father in law he bought his outright at the high rate Feed In Tarrif (FIT). It still makes enough to cover the initial cost and give about £100 per yr in pocket. His quote is.....
'It's never been anywhere near what the salesman quoted but it will do'.

I have never heard of "roof renting" contracts, maybe they exist in Sweden as well, but in that case the roof owner gets paid for the use of the roof. Just like if you want to rent a room in my house, you have to pay a rent. The only ones who don't pay rent for using my roof are the birds and the bugs...

As for your father in law, even he should check the contract, because if it is true, and the contracts are similar to what we have, then he should have a production warranty also. On the other hand, the payback can't really be calculated in cash, because that depends on the price per kWh, which as we can see specially now, nobody really can predict. However, the produced power can be anticipated with quite good accuracy. Anyway, what the salesman is promising, or have promised, is pretty irrelevant unless it is printed on the paper he signed.

[dazp1976]

I have never heard of "roof renting" contracts, maybe they exist in Sweden as well, but in that case the roof owner gets paid for the use of the roof. Just like if you want to rent a room in my house, you have to pay a rent. The only ones who don't pay rent for using my roof are the birds and the bugs...
.

The way it worked when it was in existence is:
If you gave a company permission to use your roof then they would give you a free system install. The catch was that the panel company received the feed in tarrif from the government, not the homeowner.
This scheme didn't last long because the FIT decreased pretty quickly and was no longer worth while for the companies.
It can also a nightmare buying a house and getting a mortgage because the banks take the view that you do not own the roof. Cash buyers = no problem.