New build solar upgrade

DrumcDub1

Moving into a new build soon which comes with panels (looks to be 3/4) and have a couple of questions:

-is there a standard spec re panels that come with a new build i.e are they of good quality typically?

-is it an issue to upgrade and add additional panels/a battery, presumably (I hope) there'd be some savings in that I'll some of the infrastructure already?

-in the event of upgrading a system would the grant be available if never used before or is it specific to new systems only?

Thanks all, very informative forum

10-10-20

-is there a standard spec re panels that come with a new build i.e are they of good quality typically?

No, it's the typical 'cheapest wins'. But there aren't too many bad panels out there at the moment… so you'd be very unlucky.

-is it an issue to upgrade and add additional panels/a battery, presumably (I hope) there'd be some savings in that I'll some of the infrastructure already?

Yes, I heard mention of pretty poor spec'd inverters being installed; fine functionally, but just low feature-set or management, or missing integration, etc… Swapping out the inverter is possible, but the NC6 form will need to be resubmitted if the export capacity of the new inverter is larger than the old. Pay attention to the cabling on the AC side as it may have been installed to the inverter spec, meaning that the AC cabling won't take any larger systems.

-in the event of upgrading a system would the grant be available if never used before or is it specific to new systems only?

If not used before then possibly… but would an Irish builder have missed out on that opportunity…?

graememk

If it's a brand new build it, it won't qualify for any grants.

The grants are being slowly reduced so I don't think the 2021 date will be changed.