Current PV panel prices

matttaylor

Thanks Mart.

Oopsadaisy

The ASA has ruled that the bollox about 11% ROI is just that...rubbish.

LittleVermin

Oopsadaisy wrote: »

The ASA has ruled that the bollox about 11% ROI is just that...rubbish.

Here's the link to see exactly how the ASA adjudication went: http://asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2012/2/Ice-Energy-Heat-Pumps-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_163951.aspx

Oopsadaisy! - it's not exactly "bollox", Oopsadaisy!

Mr_FITs

matttaylor wrote: »

I've recently had a visit from a Solatricity / Ideal Energy Ltd. surveyor.
Contrary to the previous post they do have a

I first bumped into them at the Ideal Home show late in 2011. They were guaranteeing installation before the tariff drop so gave them my details.
I had a few calls from them but got fed up with them first telling me they couldn't install on my type of property then on other occasions failing to get me an appointment and each me time having to give them the same details.

This Sunday I received a call from someone (not sure who they represented) trying to find out if I was interested in the free option where it would all be installed for nothing and they would take the feed in tariff money.
I explained I would be more interested buying the whole system and they arranged for a surveyor to visit the next day.

The chap that came was actually very nice and went through the details quite methodologically although the entire visit was and hour and a half, longer than I had anticipated and it did end with 'would you like to sign up and give a deposit' which I was told it would not over the phone.

For my SE facing 45 degree roof I've been offered a 16 panel 3.68 KW system comprising of:

• Trina Solar TSM-PC05 panels (15% efficency)
• Fronius Inverter
• Sunny Boy Isolator

which will apparently give me a FIT SAP of 2935 (0.8 x 3.68 x 997 x 1) The roof isn't shaded.
The total cost of this £10,195 after a promotional discount of £2000 has been applied for being the first in the area to install. ;-)

See

I don't know much about the parts but initial research shows they are fairly reputable.

Additionally they offer a fair warranty on the equipment, guarantee the SAP is achieved, remote monitoring for 1 year and a loyalty scheme that will pay you if you introduce others which all seems good to me so I've preliminarily signed up to it whilst doing a bit more research...

...I've seen some people have mentioned Solatricity in a negative way and my initial dealings with them were not great.
One person has mentioned they are not members of MCS or REAL which they are not, but Ideal Energy Ltd is.
I'm not sure why they are using a subsidiary company? All the paperwork is for the Ideal Home Group PLC.
I know Ideal Energy got some bad press about some hot water systems but that's not these PV systems, could it be that?

I've had dealings with 3 other companies so far but it seems they've all lost interest since the FIT dropped so now I'm just wanting to get it installed and out of the way.
Seems a company that's been around a while is a safer bet than one that has just sprung up to make money off the FIT and now risks disappearing as it drops.

Just putting this all down for a sanity check really before I hand over some cash!

All comments welcome.

Thanks, Matt

Solartricity are now oncemore trading under the 'Ideal Home Group' name. 'FreeSolar4U', who are owned by the same people have merged operations with Solartricity as the free solar market has all but dried up due to the changes in the FITs payments.

IHG do both the PV and hot water systems.

Solartricity had a marketing criteria of who they were allowed to book appointments for. If you were under 45 and not in some sort of 'respectable' (e.g. well earning) job then you would not have an appointment booked but instead be told that 'There is not a surveyor in your area currently, but you will be contacted as soon as one becomes available'. Your details would in theory then be passed onto FreeSolar4U.

Solartricity's prices were not previously competitive hence why they could not previously be found on any price comparison websites. Since the changes in the FITs payments they have changed the supplier of their panels which has drastically reduced the costs they offer the customer. As far as I am aware they are now signed up to the REAL scheme and are MCS accredited and are a training center for MCS (apparently).

As far as I am aware under the REAL scheme any surveyor is only allowed to spend a certain amount of time in your property, if you show an interest or start completing any paperwork it is presumed you are giving the company permission to stay in your home longer than the period specified in REAL guidelines.

The marketing criteria for a full price system I believe has now dropped to 35 and over. If you narrowly miss out on this criteria a different sales representative is often sent out to you and will pitch you a cheaper system.

A surveyor is never sent out unless all decision makers in the house are present, if you can't confirm that you both will be present then you will struggle getting an appointment.

The surveyors do work 100% commission as previously stated by another poster and only receive this commission if you invest on the day.

I hope none of this comes across as offensive to anyone, it's just an insight into the starting process of how many of the larger companies work! Ultimately, if the company have all the accreditation there should be enough safe guards in check to protect any investment you decide to make.

Oopsadaisy

so in summary...avoid solar scamsters

jamesingram

everything you need for a 30kWp system < $1000 euro/kW
how your german ?
http://www.photon-solar.eu/images/photon/30kw-pv-paket_photon_27012012.pdf

thenudeone

In my spam box today:
4Kw Solar PV system installed nationwide for £7,450
https://www.FocusSolar.co.uk

Just a note - not a recomendation

John_Pierpoint

£7650 in Cambridge "News & Crier" on 2nd February with a before 03March clause [bit late now] from www.anvilenergy.co.uk

Ditto

Full page advert suggests 13%

Discodave

Not having ready the whole thread, but would like to say a system that cost £12,000 back in the Autumn (Sept say), will now cost you a max of £8000 due to the Govt's plan to knock the higher rate returns on the end from this week.

You can still get (and recieve the higher rate), if you have this installed pre March 3 (this sat)

Its tight, but do-able, just in case anyone is thinking about it

pwllbwdr

Discodave wrote: »

You can still get (and recieve the higher rate), if you have this installed pre March 3 (this sat)

This may turn out to be the case but it is not clear at present.