Domestic Solar PV Quotes 2020

KCross

handpref wrote: »

Has anyone gone down the non- grant route?
House was not occupied before 2011 so no grant available.

Looking for a recommendation for a standard solar install-
Just got a quote of €10,100 all in for a non battery 5kwp system which is crazy and makes one wonder what is going on.

Any advice on who does good work outside the grant system would be appreciated-

The choice is really down to two things...
- DIY/direct-labour
or
- Solar PV specialist company who provide a turnkey solution.


If you are not willing to do a DIY install then you are left with alot of the same companies to go the non-grant route as any SolarPV company worth their salt will have put themselves on the SEAI approved list. You can look at the SEAI website for the list of approved installers... its a long list so plenty to choose from.

The trick when getting a quote is to ensure you tell them up front that there is no grant for you and you want a competitive quote on that basis. The quote should be more competitive then.


You should be getting quotes in the €5-6k bracket for a 4-5kWp system.

KCross

KCross wrote: »

The choice is really down to two things...
- DIY/direct-labour
or
- Solar PV specialist company who provide a turnkey solution.


If you are not willing to do a DIY install then you are left with alot of the same companies to go the non-grant route as any SolarPV company worth their salt will have put themselves on the SEAI approved list. You can look at the SEAI website for the list of approved installers... its a long list so plenty to choose from.

The trick when getting a quote is to ensure you tell them up front that there is no grant for you and you want a competitive quote on that basis. The quote should be more competitive then.


You should be getting quotes in the €5-6k bracket for a 4-5kWp system.

All which shows that the grant scheme is pointless and just pushes prices up.

Deagol

blue chuzzle wrote: »

in terms of the 50cm rule, is the apex of the roof an edge? would the test of an edge not be "can I fall off it"?

is there ambiguity there?

The rule is there to stop your solar panels being ripped off in a storm causing potentially extensive damage also to your roof. If you want to ignore them , feel free but please come back and let us know how you got on in a years time

DrPhilG

Sorry if I misunderstood though, the discussion earlier about whether it's 50cm top and bottom, or both.

If I remember correctly I had about 40cm top and bottom if I put in 2 rows on this garage.


But if the the 50cm is only for one and not the other, I could still double up.

Alternatively I suppose I could just put half a dozen landscape on a second row but it would look a bit odd.

slave1

You have the grant now so can do what you want, that's an easy to access roof with a ladder, I'd Landscape them and then put in two more support rows, looks like you can get 18 panels up.
For ascetics it may be an idea to do sooner rather than later so you can have 18 identical panels.

TheCrank

Some recent quotes from 5 different companies.

14*320w panels - €9k (after grant)
14*320w panels and Eddi - €8.5k (after grant)
14*320w panels - €7.5k (before grant)
14*390w panels - €7750 (before grant)
14*390w panels and 2.4kwh battery - €9500 (before grant)


All advocated filling the roof with as many panels as it can take. The first 2 both manage the grant application and claim it for themselves. Both managed to keep a straight face when explaining how this "benefits" me.

Not one of the suppliers was able to give a proper answer when I queried their payback times. They all show the value of the electricity produced without any thought to how I can possibly use it during peak production periods. It was like they all came from the same school of PV brainwashing. "This system will produce 50% of your energy needs, saving you €650 per year." Eh, no it won't. Unless I get some serious batteries the majority of that power is going onto the grid.

Northumberland

It would be interesting if you could add the size and type of inverter that each of those installers proposed.

I went with an installer, 2 years ago now, who I now realised undersized my inverter - it is a solis 3.5kW, but can cope just about with my 14 panels, each not as big as yours, but I would now like to add a few more panels, and can not because inverter would then be seriously overloaded. So your peak generation would be 5.46 kW, I guess the Solis 5kW would just about cope with that - anyway - interesting to learn about the inverters proposed.

TheCrank

TheCrank wrote: »

Some recent quotes from 5 different companies.

14*320w panels - €9k (after grant)
14*320w panels and Eddi - €8.5k (after grant)
14*320w panels - €7.5k (before grant)
14*390w panels - €7750 (before grant)
14*390w panels and 2.4kwh battery - €9500 (before grant)


All advocated filling the roof with as many panels as it can take. The first 2 both manage the grant application and claim it for themselves. Both managed to keep a straight face when explaining how this "benefits" me.

Not one of the suppliers was able to give a proper answer when I queried their payback times. They all show the value of the electricity produced without any thought to how I can possibly use it during peak production periods. It was like they all came from the same school of PV brainwashing. "This system will produce 50% of your energy needs, saving you €650 per year." Eh, no it won't. Unless I get some serious batteries the majority of that power is going onto the grid.

All those quotes are complete rip off. In fact some are scandalous.

TheCrank

TheCrank wrote: »

Some recent quotes from 5 different companies.

14*320w panels - €9k (after grant)
14*320w panels and Eddi - €8.5k (after grant)
14*320w panels - €7.5k (before grant)
14*390w panels - €7750 (before grant)
14*390w panels and 2.4kwh battery - €9500 (before grant)

They all said 5kw inverters apart from the bottom one who said 6kw. I mentioned this to the first lad who nearly had a fit. He said that there is no such thing as a 6kw inverter which is proof that my comparison quote is bogey. He also said that the grants will be abolished from May and if I don't do it before FIT arrives I will be charged €1400 for a new meter. I already have a smart meter. He said that it will have to be replaced for FIT and it will cost because I have already used my free meter upgrade on the smart meter. Seriously, that's what he said. It wasn't April Fools. I hung up on him.

I have given up on the project now. I refuse to be ripped off. All of those quotes, apart from the guy I hung up on, were after haggling. It is blatantly obvious that installers are including the grant in their prices (along with a hefty markup on materials).

championc

There are enough of us on here to advise anyone through a self install, although you must submit an NC6 Form to ESB Networks. Note of course that you do NOT need this to be signed off by an SEAI installer - not indeed an electrician. An electrician must be nominated on the form, and I believe the confirmation to proceed goes back to that electrician.

Northumberland

I have a 4.5kWp installation here in Ireland, which I had 'professionally' installed, and, after a huge amount of run-around and an appeal to SEAI, I eventually got the grant. I watched the installers fairly carefully. I then bought almost identical kit and freighted it to Kenya, I bought decent panels, very similar to those that I have here in Ireland, locally in Kenya, (made in China of course), but everything else, including the DC cable and the inverter and all of the alumunium roof mounts, batteries etc I shipped from Ireland or UK, and then I 'self installed'.

As someone else said on this forum, a different thread maybe, the only 'difficult' thing is getting people who know how to handle fairly heavy panels and to secure them firmly to your roof without damaging the roof or the panels or themselves. And there are of course certain risks involved in walking around the roof, and there is a need for scaffolding or similar, and all that requires insurance, so it is that which puts the price up (and also allows for a fair amount of profit to be made in the process I am sure). But the business of electrically connecting the panels together is dead easy, purpose built snap fits, and then bringing the DC wires down to where the inverter and perhaps batteries are installed, and then connecting all of that up is very easy indeed, at least once you have done it once or twice, or if you have someone experienced to help you.

In Kenya I had two things in my favour which made a self install quick, safe and easy - the first thing of course is that being on the equator, the ideal elevation of the panels themselves is zero degrees from the horizontal, and it does not matter what direction they are facing, so long as there is no shade, no South or North, they just need to lie dead flat. The second thing was that I had a two car garage with a strong flat roof that I could walk on, and no need for scaffolding, just a ladder or two.

One day of busy work with someone to help me, and all installed and running perfectly.

Deagol

TheCrank wrote: »

They all said 5kw inverters apart from the bottom one who said 6kw. I mentioned this to the first lad who nearly had a fit. He said that there is no such thing as a 6kw inverter which is proof that my comparison quote is bogey. He also said that the grants will be abolished from May and if I don't do it before FIT arrives I will be charged €1400 for a new meter. I already have a smart meter. He said that it will have to be replaced for FIT and it will cost because I have already used my free meter upgrade on the smart meter. Seriously, that's what he said. It wasn't April Fools. I hung up on him.

I have given up on the project now. I refuse to be ripped off. All of those quotes, apart from the guy I hung up on, were after haggling. It is blatantly obvious that installers are including the grant in their prices (along with a hefty markup on materials).

TBH, the two that are ~7.5k before grant (I'm taking that means 7.5k gross) are about right I would think. Material will be around 5k. By the time the guy employs a roofer and sparks, insurances, fuel, his own costs in time etc I think ~2.5k after costs isn't extortionate.

After I made a flippant comment about plenty profit from my own install to the installer and he bristled a bit - I had a chat with him about the process and profit margins and that and there's more to it than is apparent at first look.

Not the least, he had to come back down to look at a minor issue - he reckons a reasonable number of installs have some minor teething issues that need sorting so that's a cost he has to factor in.

You can of course do it all yourself but then you have no fall back in the case of damages etc.

MAULBROOK

Northumberland wrote: »

I have a 4.5kWp installation here in Ireland, which I had 'professionally' installed, and, after a huge amount of run-around and an appeal to SEAI, I eventually got the grant. I watched the installers fairly carefully. I then bought almost identical kit and freighted it to Kenya, I bought decent panels, very similar to those that I have here in Ireland, locally in Kenya, (made in China of course), but everything else, including the DC cable and the inverter and all of the alumunium roof mounts, batteries etc I shipped from Ireland or UK, and then I 'self installed'.

As someone else said on this forum, a different thread maybe, the only 'difficult' thing is getting people who know how to handle fairly heavy panels and to secure them firmly to your roof without damaging the roof or the panels or themselves. And there are of course certain risks involved in walking around the roof, and there is a need for scaffolding or similar, and all that requires insurance, so it is that which puts the price up (and also allows for a fair amount of profit to be made in the process I am sure). But the business of electrically connecting the panels together is dead easy, purpose built snap fits, and then bringing the DC wires down to where the inverter and perhaps batteries are installed, and then connecting all of that up is very easy indeed, at least once you have done it once or twice, or if you have someone experienced to help you.

In Kenya I had two things in my favour which made a self install quick, safe and easy - the first thing of course is that being on the equator, the ideal elevation of the panels themselves is zero degrees from the horizontal, and it does not matter what direction they are facing, so long as there is no shade, no South or North, they just need to lie dead flat. The second thing was that I had a two car garage with a strong flat roof that I could walk on, and no need for scaffolding, just a ladder or two.

One day of busy work with someone to help me, and all installed and running perfectly.

Wow sounds fantastic and chance of a few picks, would love to see the setup.

championc

Deagol wrote: »

TBH, the two that are ~7.5k before grant (I'm taking that means 7.5k gross) are about right I would think. Material will be around 5k. By the time the guy employs a roofer and sparks, insurances, fuel, his own costs in time etc I think ~2.5k after costs isn't extortionate.

Are you taking account of the fact the installers get prices at least 20% below the retail costs listed on midsummer.ie or solartricity.ie ? I bet your installer failed to reveal that little nugget of info !!!

mp3guy

championc wrote: »

I bet your installer failed to reveal that little nugget of info !!!

Yeah, who do they think they are trying to run a business for profit.

Deagol

Deagol wrote: »

TBH, the two that are ~7.5k before grant (I'm taking that means 7.5k gross) are about right I would think. Material will be around 5k. By the time the guy employs a roofer and sparks, insurances, fuel, his own costs in time etc I think ~2.5k after costs isn't extortionate.

7.5 k for a 4.5kW system before grant equates to €5700 after grant.

That is a rip off.

caeser

Hi all, I’m a novice in this area but I’m trying to find out as much as I can. So I’m looking for assistance in finding a reputable installer for reasonable price. I’m looking at a 6-7kw system. I have received a few crazy quotes and their markup is huge. If anyone could point me in the right direction can you DM me please. Thanks

caeser

caeser wrote: »

Hi all, I’m a novice in this area but I’m trying to find out as much as I can. So I’m looking for assistance in finding a reputable installer for reasonable price. I’m looking at a 6-7kw system. I have received a few crazy quotes and their markup is huge. If anyone could point me in the right direction can you DM me please. Thanks

Remember to post all quotes up here and you'll get decent feedback.

A lot of cowboys out there that will give crazy quotes hoping to catch a few people that haven't their homework done.

caeser

6 wrote: »

Remember to post all quotes up here and you'll get decent feedback.

A lot of cowboys out there that will give crazy quotes hoping to catch a few people that haven't their homework done.

Ok I got a quote of €9600 for a 6.24kw array inc. solis 5kw inverter and a 2.4 battery. This price was after the seai grant so add on 3k. Another quote was for a 6.48kw system with same details for €12600 excluding the grant..

DrPhilG

Bloody hell...



This sums up the problem. There are people charging a reasonable mark up to make a profit. And there are people taking the absolute piss.

caeser wrote: »

I got a quote of €9600 for a 6.24kw array inc. solis 5kw inverter and a 2.4 battery. This price was after the seai grant

I got essentially the exact same thing, for €3k less.

Wow, that's a crazy quote.

Up there with the worst I've seen on here.

SD_DRACULA

Is 6.8k for 4kw panels and 5kwh battery decent? That's after the 3k grant.

reni10

TheCrank wrote: »

Some recent quotes from 5 different companies.
14*390w panels - €7750 (before grant)
14*390w panels and 2.4kwh battery - €9500 (before grant)

Could you please PM the names of the installers for both these quotes as I am getting quotes of 11k before grant for similar battery systems and I feel this is a real rip off.

Cleggancrabman

Hello all.Currently considering solar pv for a newbuild with a2w ufh.
Have received the following quotes for supply and fit including commissioning etc. I would be interested in any feedback or recommendations.

1- 4.68kp of modules kitted to 1 x 5.7kWh battery storage
12 x Bisol Premium 390w Monocrystalline modules (All black modules)*
Bisol Mounting system on a Natural Slate roof
Alpha 5 kWp Inverter kitted to 5.7kWh storage capacity
Price: €8810 + vat = €10,000

2- 12 no Solar Panels 375Wp totalling 4.5kWp
Inverter, hybrid, with data/wifi card
Price: €6,780 + vat = €7,695

Increased size: 5.5kWp (14no panels)
Price: €7,460 + vat = €8,467

My Energi Eddi €620 + vat including installation

Lithium-Ion Battery Storage Option:
2.4kw €2250 + vat
4.5kw €3310 + vat

3- 14 x 325W Peimar Panels totaling 4.55kwp photovoltaic system
1 x Solis hybrid Inverter
My Eddi Hot Water Diverter
Price: €7,420.00 + VAT = €8421

4- 12 of 375 Watt Mono Trina PV Module
Huawei hybrid Inverter (battery ready)
My Eddi Hot Water Diverter
Price: €7056 + vat = €7,974

I read a lot of posts saying the hot water diverter doesnt make economic sense coupled with heat pumps.
Without battery storage or an EV is solar pv worthwhile at all given the expected low return on FIT?

KCross

When you say “for a new build”, do you mean a relatively new house or an actual new build where the panels get put in at build time?

Regardless of that answer, the quotes are too high. The diverter price is insane and has zero chance of paying for itself, particularly since you have a HP.

You have no access to the grant so you need to drop the batteries and the hybrid inverter also. Get the quotes down to ~€6000 inc vat if the house is already built.

Cyloncity

Hi all,
Looking into a PV install but like many getting a bit lost as to whether it's worth it. More accurately at what price does it become worth it?
I'm in a refurbished to some extent old bungalow. There is a gshp for underfloor and radiators and a separate tank for domestic hot water heated by a clip on heater when not enough energy collected by 3 thermal solar panels.
We use way above average for electrcity as a result. About 15000kw (not a typo)
We have a day night meter and coming to the end of contract.
Had a couple of ballpark figures of 8-9k after grant for a 5.5kw ish system split between SE and SW. With a battery 2.4kwh.

The only official quote I got was 9900 for 18*320w panels on the se side only. And a 5kw inverter plus battery.
Seems crazy high to me and has put me off proceeding.
Got the feeling they wanted an easy install and were not to keen to split it so I might get some more of the later day sun.
Anyone have any Se/SW splits about 6kw that could share their experiences I would love to hear
Thanks

drdidlittle

Have the quotes gone mad over the last two or three months or it me?

Deagol

Cleggancrabman wrote: »

Hello all.Currently considering solar pv for a newbuild with a2w ufh.
Have received the following quotes for supply and fit including commissioning etc. I would be interested in any feedback or recommendations.

1- 4.68kp of modules kitted to 1 x 5.7kWh battery storage
12 x Bisol Premium 390w Monocrystalline modules (All black modules)*
Bisol Mounting system on a Natural Slate roof
Alpha 5 kWp Inverter kitted to 5.7kWh storage capacity
Price: €8810 + vat = €10,000

2- 12 no Solar Panels 375Wp totalling 4.5kWp
Inverter, hybrid, with data/wifi card
Price: €6,780 + vat = €7,695

Increased size: 5.5kWp (14no panels)
Price: €7,460 + vat = €8,467

My Energi Eddi €620 + vat including installation

Lithium-Ion Battery Storage Option:
2.4kw €2250 + vat
4.5kw €3310 + vat

3- 14 x 325W Peimar Panels totaling 4.55kwp photovoltaic system
1 x Solis hybrid Inverter
My Eddi Hot Water Diverter
Price: €7,420.00 + VAT = €8421

4- 12 of 375 Watt Mono Trina PV Module
Huawei hybrid Inverter (battery ready)
My Eddi Hot Water Diverter
Price: €7056 + vat = €7,974

I read a lot of posts saying the hot water diverter doesnt make economic sense coupled with heat pumps.
Without battery storage or an EV is solar pv worthwhile at all given the expected low return on FIT?

Don't have a heat pump system so hard to comment on the diverter in this case but I think they probably never make economic sense but certainly I like the convenience of my one giving me hot water on demand without having to turn on anything etc.

But I would imagine that with the extra year round electricity use that heat pump systems entail with the recovery / ventilation systems solar panels make huge sense.

In the winter they will help only a little for sure but in spring an autumn when you're still using heating I would think you would make good savings. Plus, you have all the other uses - cooking etc. For instance, last three days I've used 1.2kwh (units) of electricity in total. That's all lighting, cooking, toasters, coffee maker, tv, computers, networking run for 'free'.

Plus, come July the FIT will mean you make some money on surplus.

And finally, there's the whole carbon / green argument

DrPhilG

SD_DRACULA wrote: »

Is 6.8k for 4kw panels and 5kwh battery decent? That's after the 3k grant.

It's not the worst, but not the best either.

Youd be better off dropping half of the battery and getting more panels, provided you have the space for them.

Deagol

SD_DRACULA wrote: »

Is 6.8k for 4kw panels and 5kwh battery decent? That's after the 3k grant.

As the Dr says - not terrible but probably a bit more could be haggled... I got 4kw panels plus 5kw solis hybrid plus 5kw battery for 7950 before grant).

SD_DRACULA

Deagol wrote: »

As the Dr says - not terrible but probably a bit more could be haggled... I got 4kw panels plus 5kw solis hybrid plus 5kw battery for 7950 before grant).

That is the same quote I got for 4kw panels, 5kw solis inverter and no battery so it is very good.
Assuming JA panels or equivalent and pylontec battery?

Deagol

SD_DRACULA wrote: »

That is the same quote I got for 4kw panels, 5kw solis inverter and no battery so it is very good.
Assuming JA panels or equivalent and pylontec battery?

Qcell G8 split cell 340w panels. Puredrive battery. The Puredrives have 2x max power output compared to the pylontech so was happy to go with them as recommended by the installer.

BopperSnr

I received the following quote, What do you folks think?

I am more inclined to go for the 16 panels with the bigger inverter. I also have an EV in case that impacts anyone's advice.

16 PANELS 340 WATT 5.44KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE.
5.0 KW SOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC. BATTERY.
I BOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WI FI DONGLE
10500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 7500 Euros

Or

12 PANELS 340 WATT 4.08KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE
3.6 KWSOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC.BATTERY.
IBOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WIFI DONGLE
9500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 6500 Euros

Looks good to me but interested in what the group think?

Cyloncity

BopperSnr wrote: »

I received the following quote, What do you folks think?

I am more inclined to go for the 16 panels with the bigger inverter. I also have an EV in case that impacts anyone's advice.

16 PANELS 340 WATT 5.44KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE.
5.0 KW SOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC. BATTERY.
I BOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WI FI DONGLE
10500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 7500 Euros

Or

12 PANELS 340 WATT 4.08KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE
3.6 KWSOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC.BATTERY.
IBOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WIFI DONGLE
9500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 6500 Euros

Looks good to me but interested in what the group think?

Well that's a lot better than I was doing. I got quoted 3k more for a similar option to your first but with no I boost and half size battery. Slightly more panel in my one but that offer is tempting to me.
Still looking here and maybe the itch makes it look inviting and others will tell you that you can get better but I certainly wouldn't fell I was overpaying. But then I haven't spent anything. Yet!
Ground or roof install?

BopperSnr

Cyloncity wrote: »

Well that's a lot better than I was doing. I got quoted 3k more for a similar option to your first but with no I boost and half size battery. Slightly more panel in my one but that offer is tempting to me.
Still looking here and maybe the itch makes it look inviting and others will tell you that you can get better but I certainly wouldn't fell I was overpaying. But then I haven't spent anything. Yet!
Ground or roof install?

It’s a roof install. I have a side dormer house so the roof has a quite a high slant/pitch. The panels will be split between both sides of the apex. The front of the house is south facing but since it’s a side dormer, the roof runs east to west , if you know what I mean.

Cyloncity

BopperSnr wrote: »

It’s a roof install. I have a dormer house so the roof has a quite a high slant/pitch. The panels will be split between both sides of the apex. The front of the house is south facing but since it’s a dormer, the roof runs east to west , if you know what I mean.

Yes I think so. 8 each side?
I tried that website for pricing up stuff yourself. Solartricity.
Came to about 5k for what I was thinking of. So assuming installer pays approx 20 percent less, that's 4k spend on a 13k quote(before grant). They were taking care of grant! 9k for a day's work for maybe 3 or 4 lads.
The more I write the more I realise how crazy my quote was!

BopperSnr

yes 8 panels on each side. I do think it sounds like i have a good quote that I should proceed with. Your quote sounds way too high now.

Cyloncity

BopperSnr wrote: »

yes 8 panels on each side. I do think it sounds like i have a good quote that I should proceed with. Your quote sounds way too high now.

I'd definitely be tempted but wait til others reply. You definitely don't want to be comparing to my mad quote.
The first option seems better too. 4 extra panels and a bigger inverter for 1k seems good? However if you're directly e/w then maybe you only need the smaller inverter?
Or when/if you need to replace it. The 3k Inverter would do?
Actually does the battery size determine the inverter? So many questions.....

championc

BopperSnr wrote: »

yes 8 panels on each side. I do think it sounds like i have a good quote that I should proceed with. Your quote sounds way too high now.

So are you looking at putting 8 panels facing North (if the ridge is East <-> West) ?

championc

Cyloncity wrote: »

I tried that website for pricing up stuff yourself. Solartricity.
Came to about 5k for what I was thinking of. So assuming installer pays approx 20 percent less, that's 4k spend on a 13k quote(before grant). They were taking care of grant! 9k for a day's work for maybe 3 or 4 lads

Hallalujah - someone is finally listening to me

BopperSnr

I think I need to get my compass out. Just spoke to another installer and from looking at google maps, he doesn't recommend I put any panels on one side since its north east facing. I think he's right. it may be a waste of panels.
Yup just checked on compass. 1 side of apex is north east and the other is south west.
I guess no point putting any panels on the north east side , right?

graememk

BopperSnr wrote: »

I think I need to get my compass out. Just spoke to another installer and from looking at google maps, he doesn't recommend I put any panels on one side since its north east facing. I think he's right. it may be a waste of panels.
Yup just checked on compass. 1 side of apex is north east and the other is south west.
I guess no point putting any panels on the north east side , right?

your gonna love this, It depends on the roof!

I have 4.3 on a low slope NE and 4.3 on SW (its about 12 degrees)

Currently the split is 55% from the SW, 45% from the NE of total output.

BUT if you were on a normal pitch roof, the difference will be more.

Try https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/#PVP (Azimuth [°] for NE is -135)

put your proposed aspects of the solar arrays into that and you;ll see how much it compares to the SW.

championc

BopperSnr wrote: »

Yup just checked on compass. 1 side of apex is north east and the other is south west.
I guess no point putting any panels on the north east side , right?

Your initial post confirmed a high slant / pitch, so that will be a non-runner realistically. You could look now and see if your NE facing roof surface ever even gets any sunshine ?

And is your SW facing flat surface butwern any dormer bits coming out from the flat surface, which can throw shading on any part of where you propose to install panels ? You want a clear, unobstructed, view of the southern sun, for as much of the day as possible

slave1

I have 3.3kWp on a NE facing roof, this was my choice as the inverter could handle it and panels are relatively cheap.
At this time of the year they are more productive until around 10:45am when my 4.1kWp SW facing panels take over, this will improve as the year moves towards center point I'd imagine.
They really help on gloomy days as there is fek all difference on your panel aspect on a gloomy day.

As a real term reference I generated 26kWh today, 31% came from the 8 NE panels and 69% came from the 10 SW panels...

rx8

BopperSnr wrote: »

I received the following quote, What do you folks think?

I am more inclined to go for the 16 panels with the bigger inverter. I also have an EV in case that impacts anyone's advice.

16 PANELS 340 WATT 5.44KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE.
5.0 KW SOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC. BATTERY.
I BOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WI FI DONGLE
10500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 7500 Euros

Or

12 PANELS 340 WATT 4.08KW JA SOLAR 25 YEAR GUARANTEE
3.6 KWSOLIS INVERTER
4.8 PYLON TEC.BATTERY.
IBOAST WATER DIVERTER.
WIFI DONGLE
9500 EUROS INC. VAT. Minus 3000 euro Grant = 6500 Euros

Looks good to me but interested in what the group think?

Get him to price the first one again, without the diverter and with only 1 battery (2.4kwh),that should knock about 1500-2k off it. You don't need 2 batteries and the water diverter is only a gimic most of the time. Add as many panels as you can fit on the "Sunny" side. If you can get that for around 6k nett you'll be getting a good deal.

DrPhilG

rx8 wrote: »

Get him to price the first one again, without the diverter and with only 1 battery (2.4kwh),that should knock about 1500-2k off it.

Not sure it'll drop it by quite that much. The diverter that this installer uses (and I suspect its the same one you and I used) I believe is about €200 fitted. Losing the second battery will likely drop it by around €1k at most since he'll already be fitting 1 and the second is a 5 minute job to add so only really the value of the battery itself to come off.

BopperSnr

championc wrote: »

Your initial post confirmed a high slant / pitch, so that will be a non-runner realistically. You could look now and see if your NE facing roof surface ever even gets any sunshine ?

And is your SW facing flat surface butwern any dormer bits coming out from the flat surface, which can throw shading on any part of where you propose to install panels ? You want a clear, unobstructed, view of the southern sun, for as much of the day as possible

Unfortunately there is a high chimney and a velux window on the SW face which will reduce the number of panels (due to shade and space). I will start looking at the NE roof over the next few days and see if it gets any sun. I also have a brick flat roof shed that I wonder could take panels. But it’s about 20 feet away from the house so would need cables running. I have another installer coming to do a survey next week, so will ask him too what he thinks about the panel situation.

SD_DRACULA

Got a quote of 9k after grant for 6kw, 18*340w qcells, 5kw battery, 6kw solis inverter, still seems quite high to me when you consider the parts are around 6.5k doesn't it?

Cyloncity

SD_DRACULA wrote: »

Got a quote of 9k after grant for 6kw, 18*340w qcells, 5kw battery, 6kw solis inverter, still seems quite high to me when you consider the parts are around 6.5k doesn't it?

Still better than I was doing and if you think installer is most likely getting it better than 6.5k then that's 6k-ish for a day's work.
Maybe things might actually be better value when the grant goes!

Cyloncity

BopperSnr wrote: »

Unfortunately there is a high chimney and a velux window on the SW face which will reduce the number of panels (due to shade and space). I will start looking at the NE roof over the next few days and see if it gets any sun. I also have a brick flat roof shed that I wonder could take panels. But it’s about 20 feet away from the house so would need cables running. I have another installer coming to do a survey next week, so will ask him too what he thinks about the panel situation.

If you are dropping down from 8 panels on the SW side. I might question if it's worth it?
How many would you get on shed roof? If it's flat could you point them at any angle you want?
Definitely something I'd consider....