Domestic Solar PV Quotes 2022 - No PM requests - See Mod note post #1

Are they trying to tell you only need one optimizer on each string? If so, that's not correct. You need an optimizer on ALL panels that may get shaded.

Without optimizers, even a small shaded area on one panel of a string will severely impact performance of the entire string. Shading 50% of a panel will not take the performance down by 50%, more like 80-90%. And the rest of the string will be similarly impacted.

Optimizers will not fully correct loses from shading but will substantially help.

As the optimizers can be a pain to fit after the panels are bolted down - especially on a 2 storey roof or slate roof, I wouldn't be inclined to skimp on them if you have a good idea of the panels that would be shaded.

Can't speak to micro inverters as I've not worked with them, but I haven't seen anyone quote a system using them instead of a hybrid etc.

€15k for a 7kwp system with 5kWh battery and diverter is a lot more than €2k overpriced!

More like €5k high.

Personally I think installers are just taking the 3k grant as a guaranteed bonus, not a discount to the customer - its actually none of their business if people qualify for SEAI grant or not. Most quotes I've received so far are given as net after grant. More detailed investigation almost always shows their true figure to be 3k higher. I've also been getting the hurry now dribble from some installers - claiming the grant is likely to be reduced in next week or so. Absolute nonsense.

I'm also getting peed off with the other false selling point installers are playing - you can sell surplus back to the grid so you are as well as putting as many panels up as possible. Thats rubbish. ESB has the amount capped so you can never make off them, and they only pay 8c a unit which is 1/4 of what the likes of flo-gas charge customers. Why cant we sell to energy companies directly???? The real stinger is the amount is capped at something in the region of 50-80 euros max they will pay, so after you have generated your quota, the ESB gets your surplus for free. You will take a lot longer than the usual 7-8 year paid for itself if relying on that 50-80 quid. My advice, put on the xmas tree lights the first sign of summer and earth any surplus into the ground.

That said, like you Ballyv24, I too would like to get in touch with a reputable installer at an acceptably reasonable price. I'm based in Galway with a handy bungalow install, and looking for a 7-10kw system.

Hey folks, newbie to Solar Power but about time I did something about it... finding it hard to decipher how you walk through the process without going crazy, and get as much as you need whilst reasonably future-proofing... without purchasing hardware that won't ever pay itself back...

Short version: mid-terrace 2-storey house Dublin 8, so have two roof aspects, effectively North/South. (For completeness, one is South with a touch of East, other one, predictably, is a touch West of North. Call it 20 degrees off - 160/340).

Consumption pattern is 2-kid family, both parents working from home right now - that will change, but it's highly likely someone is going to be in the house most days generally.

Don't have an EV right now, but considering a PHEV. From a solar perspective, thinking it makes little sense to invest in panels/invertor and not get a battery - because any excess in the summer months simply goes back to the grid for free, then I pay again in the evening for TV, washing machine etc. Correct me if I'm wrong, but feels like a PV system without a battery is slighly bonkers unless you have moderate stable consumption for 8 hours a day, then don't need much after 6pm!

That's the theoreticals. Got our first quote this week, with/without battery:

10 x 390w N-type Jinko panels (3.9kW)

Inverter: SAJ 3kW w/DC & Wifi

Eddi

Fire Safety Switch

BER

Price: €9,194 inc tax. Factoring €1,800 panel-only grant, net cost €7,394

// with the battery, everything the same except adding/swapping:

Inverter: 3kW SoFar Hybrid Inverter

2.4kWh Dyness Battery

Price: €11,327 inc. tax. Factoring €2,970 panels & battery grant, net cost €8,357

So I guess my questions are:

Is my thinking broadly reasonable (case for a battery is strong, case for an Eddi is weak.. I guess an Eddi would be a last sink for excess power in the summer if we got an EV and the EV hadn't moved for a day or two?). Any contrary views on Inverters/Batteries?

And finally, quote/s - in the ballpark, or not so much?

So they are quoting you €8357, for 10 panels and a 2.4kwh battery.

My system has the same battery, 14 panels (4.2kwp) plus an Eddi water diverter and was 2k cheaper. (BER was Included too)

Now it was installed 2 years ago, but prices haven't gone up that much... or have they??

This quote goes in the" must do better" category.

Just paid the deposit for this from the Enniskillen company. They initially quoted €10,900 last month and I got them down to this. Quote was in December so I didn't post it until I had deposit paid.

12 PANELS 345 WATT 4 KW. JA SOLAR TIER 1 25 YEARS GUARANTEE.

5 KW. PURE DRIVE BATTERY.

5 KW SOLIS HYBRID INVERTER.

EDDIE WATER DIVERTER.WI FI DONGLE.

PRICE €10,000. EUROS INC.VAT.

APPLY TO SEAI REF. GRANT €3000 EUROS.

Total cost €7000.

Out of interest, and 6 power cuts last year! Would an extra battery be worth getting now or would it be easy enough to add one myself?

System's not fitted yet so can go through all that when it is. Just want to ensure I have enough battery back up due to the regular yearly outages.

hello folks... a hell of a thread you've got going here. i spent the past 3 or 4 days going through the 2020/21 and 2022 threads and have to say its a fantastic resource, fair play to ye.

now onto me. i'm located in west waterford on the south side of the knockmealdown mountains.

the house (yet to be built) will be east/west facing on an acre site with no shading issues. i'm planning on putting the array in the garden (up at the back corner) facing due south. the house will be a self-build 4 bedroom single storey passive house with ASHP.

i'm thinking of future proofing by installing an 8.4kw array (allowing for two EV's in the driveway), 6kw invertor and 10KwHr battery (might start off with 5KwHr and then add on). my plan is to buy the kit, install it and then have a sparky commission. with it being a passive house and yet to be built i'm a little unsure as to the energy demand the house will require, certainly the ASHP will draw a fair whack of power but i fear i may initially be massively over-sizing the array - i plan to speak to a passive house consultant shortly who will be able to advise on the likely demand.

anyhow my queries are as follows:

1) is it really the case that the system is as simple as plug & play and can any run-of-the-mill sparky commission the system?

2) i reckon the nearest part of the array will be approx. 10m from the garage where the battery and invertor will be located. i presume cabling that distance is not an issue?

3) is there a simple way around configuring the system so that it works in a blackout? the site is in a rural location, blackouts will happen. ***IGNORE I SEE IT HAS JUST BEEN ANSWERED AS I TYPED THIS POST***.

4) what's the VAT rate on this kit? i presume it'll be 23%.

i've priced the kit up as follows;

22 x Amerisolar 380w all black = €2,860 ex VAT

1 x Solis 6kW Hybrid Battery Inverter = €1,344 ex VAT

4 x Pylontech Battery 2.4KwHr = €3,422 ex VAT

Total = €7,626 ex VAT

a 6kW array, invertor and 5KwHr battery using the same kit comes to €5,135 ex VAT but as someone on here says go big or go home!!! lol

the above excludes the ancillary items e.g. cabling, isolators, delivery etc. which will be another few hundred quid. the frame and concrete base the array sits on will be made by the family engineering company.

what i can't get my head around is the cost of installation the suppliers are including in their quotes (2 days it appears). it's absolutely scandalous. am i missing something obvious with the above proposal or is highway robbery simply happening on a large scale?

You sound handy. Consider a DIY battery. 10kW for under €2k. There's a Solar Battery Options thread where you'll get all the details.

Consider making a frame from Unistrut. There are 45° angle brackets which would make the perfect slope, assembling like mechanic.

You can charge them cheaply on night rate during the winter, and use it to offset expensive day units. That's one big advantage.

Great price. When I bought mine it was much more. They were impossible to get at the time.

i'm a little worried i'll burn the garage down with a DIY battery 😅...seriously though thanks for the info, will definitely look into it.

regarding the frame i'm thinking of making it adjustable so i can set it to a more severe angle in winter when the sun is low in the sky (e.g. 80 degree angle to the ground). i used sunearthtools.com the other day to assess the positioning of the sun, a very handy tool.

i'll come back to this thread once i have all the costs nailed down.

Got mine through a friend vat free

I was taking that a given. Yes, you are absolutely right.