Cyprus-Forum.com

[vipiu]

Hi all,

Noticed that photovoltaics charges from AHK have increased recently.
For example a bi-monthly bill for a 4kW system where there is no consumption is about 47 euros (€47,65).

Anyone else noticed this increase ?

Also there are some charges, like:
Producer's RES & ES Fund {4KW x €2,683}
which appears on the Bill.

When checking the description, it says that this charge is for helping and supporting the Green technologies and producers.
How come the Photovoltaics producers are supposed to pay a tax to help Green technologies producers ?

Does this sound strange only to me ?

[supporttheunderdog]

I was talking to a local business man who has installed PV, principally to service his business. However there are periods each day, in the afternoon, and most of the weekend, when his supply exceeds his demand, but he cannot sell the surplus into the grid. He has actually hadgovernment awards from the government for his green credentials. Crazy.

Seems he needs another licence and must become a commercial procedure.

[vipiu]

Actually for simple home owners like me the scheme is like this:

• whenever you have surplus it gets delivered into the grid and counted
• whenever you consume you consume from the grid and is also counted
• during the year there are bi-monthly checks so you will not go into debt
• in the end of the year(1st of April) both counters reset
  
  • if you consumed more than you produced you pay the difference
  • if you produced more than you consumed you get nothing

Apart of the above are some tax fees that comes as I described in the first post. Which change whenever AHK wants...and of course, they only increase...

[Get Real!]

Actually for simple home owners like me the scheme is like this:

• whenever you have surplus it gets delivered into the grid and counted
• whenever you consume you consume from the grid and is also counted
• during the year there are bi-monthly checks so you will not go into debt
• in the end of the year(1st of April) both counters reset
  
  • if you consumed more than you produced you pay the difference
  • if you produced more than you consumed you get nothing

Apart of the above are some tax fees that comes as I described in the first post. Which change whenever AHK wants...and of course, they only increase...

Sounds like a shit deal and one’s house looks pretty bad with those horrible things up there, and not to mention the hefty initial cash outlay.

[vipiu]

Actually for simple home owners like me the scheme is like this:

• whenever you have surplus it gets delivered into the grid and counted
• whenever you consume you consume from the grid and is also counted
• during the year there are bi-monthly checks so you will not go into debt
• in the end of the year(1st of April) both counters reset
  
  • if you consumed more than you produced you pay the difference
  • if you produced more than you consumed you get nothing

Apart of the above are some tax fees that comes as I described in the first post. Which change whenever AHK wants...and of course, they only increase...

Sounds like a shit deal and one’s house looks pretty bad with those horrible things up there, and not to mention the hefty initial cash outlay.

Good look or bad look is a subjective opinion. I believe most of Cyprus houses already have solar panels for water heating anyway which are often quite visible...Photovoltaics are not that visible from most of the angles and I do not find them bad looking anyway, but as I said, it is a matter of taste.

Good or bad deal is also debatable. I am estimating my capital recovery to about 8 years(a bit less than this but including some small risks).
Of course there are various factors (like unpredictable events, taxes) that may affect this estimated capital recovery time.
This means 12,5% Annual Rate of Return and is not sensitive to inflation. (when there is inflation also the energy prices is increased so you get more as well)
It is difficult to clearly rate it good or bad. Would depend to what you compare it to...
I would call it just another form of investment with a specific return rate.

[kurupetos]

PV technology is definitely a good option...

The problem in Cyprus is that local policies do not really favor mass development, because EAC wants to keep the current status qvo of power production monopoly.

Vote wisely next month, if you want things to change...

[Get Real!]

Good look or bad look is a subjective opinion. I believe most of Cyprus houses already have solar panels for water heating anyway which are often quite visible...Photovoltaics are not that visible from most of the angles and I do not find them bad looking anyway, but as I said, it is a matter of taste.

Good or bad deal is also debatable. I am estimating my capital recovery to about 8 years(a bit less than this but including some small risks).
Of course there are various factors (like unpredictable events, taxes) that may affect this estimated capital recovery time.
This means 12,5% Annual Rate of Return and is not sensitive to inflation. (when there is inflation also the energy prices is increased so you get more as well)
It is difficult to clearly rate it good or bad. Would depend to what you compare it to...
I would call it just another form of investment with a specific return rate.

I had a good look at the photovoltaic deal back in 2006/7 when I started building but I wasn’t impressed with the overall scheme. Back then technology was worse too so the panels were kinda chunky and delivered less energy. I’m glad I didn’t do it because first and foremost they look horrid and my rooftop is a work of art so I'd hate to cover it with junk.

[supporttheunderdog]

GR, things have moved on - the technology has improved so PV is becoming more efficient, and it is now possible to get PV tiles (eg made by Tesla, among others, which look more like roof tiles, so are less obtrusive. They are NOT as efficient and are more costly (by a factor of about two) than conventional PV panels on a KW/KW basis.

[Get Real!]

GR, things have moved on - the technology has improved so PV is becoming more efficient, and it is now possible to get PV tiles (eg made by Tesla, among others, which look more like roof tiles, so are less obtrusive. They are NOT as efficient and are more costly (by a factor of about two) than conventional PV panels on a KW/KW basis.

The new ones probably look OK on modern house designs but I doubt they'd look good on mine.

Another thing, if I remember well is that they weren’t suitable for 3-phase power but I don’t know if that’s changed. I’ve got two huge 50,000BTU aircon compressors that would probably suck up a PV’s juice in one gulp!

[B25]

GR, things have moved on - the technology has improved so PV is becoming more efficient, and it is now possible to get PV tiles (eg made by Tesla, among others, which look more like roof tiles, so are less obtrusive. They are NOT as efficient and are more costly (by a factor of about two) than conventional PV panels on a KW/KW basis.

The new ones probably look OK on modern house designs but I doubt they'd look good on mine.

Another thing, if I remember well is that they weren’t suitable for 3-phase power but I don’t know if that’s changed. I’ve got two huge 50,000BTU aircon compressors that would probably suck up a PV’s juice in one gulp!

For 3 phase power, you just need the correct inverter. The panels generate a dc voltage and converted to ac via the inverter.

It would cost a bit more. A 5kw system with a 3-phase inverter would probably set you back about 6-7k.

Their payback time is 5-6 years, but since the panels are guaranteed for 20 years (some 25) then it is a worthwhile investment if you use a lot of juice during the day.

N.B. Whilst they tout 20 years guarantee, they don't tell you that the inverter is only covered for 10 years, so in any new agreement get the buggers to up the guarantee period on the inverter.

AHK is losing its grip and this has been liberalised and now anyone can have PV panels, they just don't make it easy.

What good are looks when we have fucked up the environment and leave nothing for our children/g.children to enjoy???

Further, as from the year 2020, all new builds must have zero-energy, so all sorts of energy saving ideas, whether you like it or not.