Domestic Solar PV Quotes 2020

I’ve asked for a number of quotes from different companies (It’s amazing the spread of prices for relatively similar systems)

In general the following seem to be the most popular brands offered for PV panels, inverters and batteries. The huawei battery and inverter seemed to make systems dearer - is it worth it?

Is there any brand here you’d advise staying away from / investing in?

Solar Panels

Q Cell

Jinko

Longi

Sun tech Ultra V

Batteries

Pure Drive

Triple Power

Huawai

Sonnen

Inverters

Solis Inverter

Huawai

Solax

Had this written before I refreshed the page. +1 on MAULBOOK says.

Can't speak about the batteries or inverters as I didn't research them in too much detail nor do I have 1st hand experience, but as far as I know panels are much to a muchness really. Longi and Q Cell probably have a slightly better life and reputation, but really I think you can't go wrong with most of them. Manufacturers offer guarantees of 80-85% production after 20 years or so. Different brands may have slight different performance (single digit percent...if even), but then you can offset that and get the same production by installing an additional cheaper panel, than fewer more expensive one, so I probably wouldn't worry about it too much. In 15-20 years anyway I expect performance to be in the 25%-30% range over the 20-22% efficency they have today anyway - but that's too far down the road to worry about now.

I think panel wise the only advice that I (and probably everyone on this forum) can give, is get as many as your can. If you think you need 3kwp, I'd chuck on a least an extra 2-3 panels if you have the space on your roof and future proof yourself a little. It's cheaper to install a few extra now than it is to get another install in a year as the fixed cost of arranging fitter to come out and go onto your roof a second time. Electric vehicles are the future. I think Ireland has a desire to stop all internal combustion new vehicle sales by 2030 and your power requirements in 5-10 years will probably be a lot different from today - so yeah, a few extra panels won't go astray.

They can do , if you have shading on the panels. Remember that the panels will behave in some respects as a single unit. So if you half cover a panel (say a chimney casts a shadow), then the production of the whole array is reduced even though only 1 panel might be shaded. It's to do with the internal resistance changing on that panel, but someone more knowledgable than I can clarify if needed.

Optimizers allow each panel (or sometimes people pair two panels onto one optimizer) to work in isolation. So yeah, if you have shading issues, trees, chimney stack you might want to investigate further, but if you've an unobstructed view of the sun don't think you need them.

Going with option A version 2. (The Enniskillen provider highly recommended here.)

Added 2 panels and dropped the Eddi.

TBH if other providers are watching - the reason i picked him was no-nonsense - highly regarded and he explained i would not get the "payback" on the extra panels (i was thinking that from reading this thread but confirmed). We also agreed the Eddi was a waste since i burn oil only - no "immersion" at the moment. I could always add that later in a future retrofit... but my oil burner is only 10 years old and in great nick - very well maintained.

Regarding optimizers

I don't think so really when the sun hits them, but put as much as a tennis ball in front of one panel in a string, and the whole output right across the string is kyboshed.

So if you have any shading on any panel, either get a micro-inverter or an optimizer for it

I've been a bold boy. I requested a quote from the active solar company. 😂.

What can I say? I was bored 😁

Will do. Probably go no higher than what I have 3.24kw

I know a family locally who were very happy with the install from that company, but don't know how much they paid!! I also asked about a quote but when the compnay said my wife must be there for the sales pitch I told them to forget it!!

Only 1 we know of

It can take more than two weeks to get the grant. Also if you get selected for an SEAI inspection and something needs to be rectified its not your headache anymore. I would much prefer paying the net amount than the full amount and get the grant. Would be worth a few hundred bucks to me.