Solar panels are to be installed in 800,000 low-income homes

[JockoT]

The UK government have announced that they are to fund the installation of 800,000 solar panels to social funded homes across England and Wales, over the next 5 years. These will be installed at no cost to the tenants.
The firm providing the panels, Solarplicity, will target military veterans when it recruits staff to install the panels.

Solar power deal will lower social tenants' energy bills - BBC News

[oil pan 4]

I'm just glad they aren't doing it here.

[Stubby79]

Hmm...any drawbacks? cost, for example?

[JockoT]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I'm just glad they aren't doing it here.

Why? Are you against solar energy or just the fact of the installation work?
Council houses here are continually having building work done. It causes very little disruption to anyone other than the tenants. These are typical of council housing hereabouts.

[JockoT]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

Hmm...any drawbacks? cost, for example?

The government reckons it will cost £160M, so say £240M by the time it is done! Provides work, cheap energy, a boost to the economy. Better than spending it on Trident or foreign aid to some tinpot African dictator.

[oil pan 4]

I'm not against solar power at all.
I have an associate degree in applied science on wind and solar power generation. I'm going to install at least 5kw of grid tied solar at my next house. I like solar power.
What I don't like is the endless tax payer handouts.
If you want solar panels, buy them your self.
If they want it that bad why not have the government pay for say half or 2/3. Make people work for it a little.

With 800,000 solar panels what's the deal, does everyone get 2 or 3 solar panels?
What about scotland and Ireland? Does the sun never shine there?

Sounds like a rotten deal to me.

[JockoT]

Scotland has its own government responsible for energy, as does Northern Ireland. If they want the same they will have to fund it themselves.
It is 800,000 homes that will get the panels. Homes owned by the government or local councils (funded by government). The houses they are talking about starting with are sheltered housing for the old and infirm. People who have no income and couldn't pay for solar if they wanted to.
The decommissioning of Sellafield Nuclear site is currently £90bn and rising. That cost could supply the entire energy needs for the UK (many times over) if it was invested in solar.
I'd rather the government gave money to help the poor of the UK than all the other things they waste it on. The project will provide jobs (which brings in income tax), boost the UK economy, reduce other social costs and cut our energy requirements from Russian gas and Arab oil. Forgive me if I come across as racist but in some respects I am!

[oil pan 4]

I completely understand keeping the money at home.
Every euro spent can generate up to 20 euro of economic activity, as long as everything is produced in your home country.

But if the panels are made in germany or the US, the inverter is made by ABB in Netherlands and the racks made some where else every euro spent turns into maybe 2 to 5 euro of economic activity at home.
It may turn out to be more of an economic boost for these other countries.
But at least it's not going to buy suicide bomber oil and take over the world brand natural gas.

[freebeard]

But if the panels are made in germany or the US, the inverter is made by ABB in Netherlands and the racks made some where else every euro spent turns into maybe 2 to 5 euro of economic activity at home.
It may turn out to be more of an economic boost for these other countries.

Is this the case or not? Do the two sentences not contradict each other?

At least they're hiring veterans.

[JockoT]

Yes, buying foreign does benefit the countries that manufacture the parts but they buy our services and such. It is a decision that the UK made sometime in the past. To be an importer not a manufacturer.