Solar photovoltaic systems have a great deal to offer the canny investor, says Mark McManus
I would like to challenge certain articles in the media which suggest that solar panels are not a worthwhile investment.

There is no 'myth' - as one report stated - about how much money and energy that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can save. Solar PV is a secure and low-risk investment as well as a robust and proven technology.

There will, of course, be variables to the output such as the type of solar panels installed (there are four different types which differ in price and efficiency), weather, panel size and the direction in which they are facing.

However, it is a fact that they reduce energy bills and, with the Government's Feed in Tariff (FiT) incentive, generate a quarterly income that is guaranteed for 25 years. When you consider that the average payback is eight to 10 years, the system then produces cash back to the property owner for more than a decade. The FiT gives a payment for all the electricity you produce, even if you use it yourself, and additional bonus payments for electricity not used that you export into the National Grid.

We know that many property owners are being incentivised by the FiT to install solar PV. Since it was introduced, we have noticed a tangible increase in demand, particularly from homeowners, but also across the social housing and public sector bodies such as hospitals, schools and councils.

Solar PV is one of the most straightforward renewable power generation technologies; panels can be installed quickly and planning permission is rarely required as it is what is called 'permitted development'.

As I said earlier, the payback time of investing in solar PV stands at around eight to 10 years at the moment. When you consider that the average life expectancy of a solar PV system is at least 25 years, the benefits are obvious. Stiebel Eltron and other leading firms will guarantee performance to ensure that consumers' investments perform as long as the FiT is in operation.

People can even find out the return on investment for themselves at the Energy Saving Trust's Cash Back Calculator (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator).

However, each system does need to be installed correctly and in the right place. Which? Magazine recently reported that seven out of 12 solar salespeople recommended installing panels on a shaded part of a roof.

My company works with installers from the start of the design phase to construct a bespoke system for each property, which will maximise the potential of the panels. A company or individual with expertise and knowledge in this area would never advocate placing solar panels on a roof that would be covered by shade as, by its very nature, the system simply would not generate much energy - this should be commonsense.

Sadly, though, the growth of renewable energy has made some unscrupulous people see it as a way to make easy money. As a result, some rogue tradesmen have been found to be misleading customers over just how much they can save and the cashback they will get from the FiT.

People should therefore always use a reputable company when thinking of installing a solar PV - or indeed any - renewable energy system. If the installation is not correct from the start it can cost thousands of pounds to rectify and lose the customer money in the meantime. It is desperately frustrating to see the public being ripped off by tradesmen who think they can do the job with minimal training or out-and-out cowboys who are just after a fast buck.

My company has been brought into a number of projects which have been messed up by incompetent tradesmen. We then have to correct basic errors which have seriously undermined the project.

Poor installations and dishonest salespeople risk giving the whole industry a bad reputation, which we just cannot afford.

Renewable energy is still a small sector in the UK and, although it is growing rapidly, we should all be careful about how the general public perceives the industry. Great inroads have been made so far in educating people about the benefits of green energy and marketing our products. The naysayers, I'm sure, will continue criticising renewable energy as a fad and will highlight the damning reports mentioned earlier.

However, the statistics stand up and, with the help of Government incentives, reputable manufacturers and installers should be able to reap the benefits over the coming years.

• Mark McManus is managing director of Stiebel Eltron