Predictions of the savings that would be made have proved fairly accurate. A 4 kilowatt bank of photovoltaic panels installed across the front roof earns the highest Feed in Tariff rate of 43.3 pence per kilowatt hour unit (kWh) tax free.

It is calculated that the system will generate 3,442KWh each year which would earn £1,543 FIT (Feed in Tariff) revenue and provide £209 worth of free electricity.

Installed just 49 days before the Solstice and with a mixture of clouds, rain and at best glimpses of the sun, the best day has generated 25KWh equating to a Fee in Tariff revenue of £11.21 and it’s likely that this PV system will earn over £800 in the best 100 days of the year.

(Update: after just 4 months of a dull summer the system had already generated 2000 kWh units!)

To date (14th June), the cumulative earnings are £344.43. In addition, electricity usage has reduced from pre-installation when electricity bills were approximately £500 each year (3516 units).

“I am a novice when it comes to PV but have spent some time over the last 3 months exploring the options available - it’s the return on my investment I am making that I am really interested in” Mr Spruce commented when queried about the reason for installing a solar power system. “Other options have a much longer return on investment and in my opinion, some are not really viable”.