Un-FIT for Purpose

Another epic fail spotted today on our travels.

This was taken at 10.25 in the morning today... Where's the Sun in this picture, children?

Yep, that's right... it's at right angles to the solar array that some PV company has talked these folks into installing on an almost west facing (250 degrees) roof with the promise of massive returns on investment in the rush to beat the FIT rate downgrade last week.

This array was installed back in early November, just after the announcement that the rates were being slashed to 21p per kWh.

The one thing that should be applauded from the "rent-a-roof" PV mob is that they never agree to install on a east-west roof because you just don't make the money on such an array...

Other companies are happy to take your cash and install wherever they can.  The fact that it will take 20 years to pay back instead of 10 isn't their problem.

Bad Installs

As PV has been more about a "rush for gold" than producing useful energy, sometimes the allure of adverts and salesmen promising future returns of 10-15% in exchange for £10,000 of your hard earned cash today has lead to some questionable installs.

What's wrong with these installs, anybody?

Can't see the PV for the trees...

This one doesn't look so bad...

 

But what's that on the roof in the middle of the array?

So when the trees aren't shading the array in the afternoon, the sewer vent is shading part of it all day. They've installed the worlds most expensive sun dial...  At least the pipe will cast its shadow in the gap between the panels at 1pm (high solar noon in BST time) for the maximum power.  It will just reduce power output from the panels left and right of it from dawn to 12.55 and from 13.05 to sunset.