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

We use 13000kwh per annum with an ev and a heat pump.

have a south facing roof which is on the empty old part of our house. It’s a linked extension and the new part is modern and well insulated. The load on heat pump will increase when we finish renovating the old part

Anyway here is one quote. 8100 after grant - it’s on high side according to that website tool but it’s a well established local company and they surveyed the site before providing quote

unsure about the economics of battery at this stage might try to add one later

Solar Panels

Trina Solar Co., Ltd.

6.02 kW Total Solar Power

14 x 430 Watt Panels (TSM-430DE09R.08)

5,741 kWh per year

Inverter

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

5 kW Total Inverter Rating

1 x SUN2000-5KTL-L1

Shunt (Fireman Safety Switch)

Fireman Safety Switch

1 x Shunt 

Slate Mounting

S-Flex Slate Mounting System

1 x S-Flex Slate Mounting

Smart Power Sensor

Smart Power Sensor 

1 x Huawei Power Meter

Huawei Lan Dongle 

Huawei Lan Dongle

1 x Huawei Lan Dongle

Electrical Cabling and Components 

Electrical Cabling and Components 

1 x Electrical Cabling and Components

BER

Post Install BER 

1 x BER

How do people feel about batteries/inverter in the loft. I would be a bit concerned about heat in the summer.

If you don’t have space in a conditioned part of your house it’s better than putting them outside. They are all rated for much harsher climates than the Irish summer (or winter); lots of people do it without issue. Some install a fan to get some airflow over the cooling fins of the inverter; but this is usually on Cheeper units that de rate themselfs when they get too hot.

I would not get the hot water diverter; let the units export and claim the .21 cent feed in while you can.

Your only using an average of 4 kWh per day.

With this system even in December you’re going to generate about 110kwh (average of 3.5kWh per day). So it’s very close to covering your usage (which is tiny) even in winter which is very unusual. Of course remember that some days will be almost 0 generated when you will be using the grid.

Without solar hot water diverter In May you would export about 350 kWh which would be worth 72 euro (42 after standing charge).

your only spending 635 euro on units; the rest is standing charge (which you can’t eliminate) so if you managed to totally eliminate your bill you would have a payback period of 8.8 years. About 7.8 years without the diverter.

But without a battery (which would make it more expensive) I don’t think you’re going to totally eliminate your bill.

Way too expensive for that system. If the company has an 8 in their name run away fast. When "friends" get a discount for sending companies new business it usually means they overpaid and are recouping their losses by sending you to that company. I might be completely wrong but either way keep looking. Use this site as a guideline for prices. http://davidhunt.ie/solar/

The price after grant would be expensive as the pre grant total price for 10 panels. Your fridge freezer and other devices will consume most of your low level solar, the few big sunny days where you might have 2 or 3 kw at midday to spare don't justify the battery. Just get a €29 timer on the immersion for an hour at midday. If there's significant solar, it will mostly cover the immersion. Jusr get a quote for 10 panels and a Solis. Cheapest way to heat your HW will be oil, 12c/kwh. FIT will make up for missed self consumption (the term for solar used as its generated).

Many thanks

Sorry for another question.

Is a battery general not recommended?

I've rang around and some places say they're worth it and others not.

That in winter you're not going to be storing anything in the battery and its not worth it.

We got a Hybrid car so aim to charge that overnight if that helps?

Thanks

M

Personally I wouldn't be without my 2 x 5 kWh batteries, I have anywhere from 6 to 12 power cuts a year and my system works during them as long as there is daylight and I have power in the batteries which in winter I set to always have a reserve of 30% on them.

Also great for load shifting and if the FIT stays high and you can purchase power cheap on night rates you can dump it to the grid when you know the weather will charge the batteries back up to use during the day. Everybody has a different opinion on it though so you need to make sure your not just wasting money with no hope of a return on the outlay.

Back up is one valid reason, that doesn't involve cost benefit, more like a desirable option. Most battery systems don't do backup, Power goes, they shut down. With special relays or a particular type of inverter, only then your panels and batteries can get you out of a power cut hole. Still pricy though.

I've a 3kwh generator that cost me €380, it digs me out of the frequent rural power cuts, as high as 4 per year where I live, and has being doing for over ten years or more years now, I can't remember when I bought it.

It says it's on the upper end of the guidelines though. "Your quote of €10000 is at the upper end of the recommended range. Get a few more quotes."

Look at the "Recommended Guide Price" and "Value Upper Limit"

If you play with the asking price it will go from "Get a few more quotes." to "Go for it." on a change of 1 euro.

Any thoughts on this quote at all? Is it outrageous?

Convinced now just to do panels for now and add battery later.

Hadn’t thought of that thanks but still not convinced battery stacks up for us right now. I’m sure that will change though.

Thank you I was just about to post that question.