Investing in Solar Panels

In Belgium buying solar panels appears to be an attractive, risk free investment rather than an energy saving project.

Although the real payback time, without grants, might be longer than the lifetime of your panels, investing in solar energy seems worthwhile because of the fiscal advantages. Thanks to the combination of a 40% tax reduction, an investment support and the guaranteed subventions for the next 20 years, payback time can come down to only 5 years. By investing €500 in this renewable energy, you merely save 75 kWh a year, which explains why, in other countries which don’t have such a government support, the panels aren’t a big success.

(http://www.tijd.be/nieuws/binnenland/Zonnepanelen_risicoloze_belegging.6891004-438.art; http://www.standaard.be/Archief/Zoek/index.aspx?trefwoord=zonnepanelen%20investeren&wanneer=5&wat=0&waar=1&sektie=ALL&intro=1 )

Annelies Deleersnyder