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Current PV panel prices

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Comments

  • HeyRevolver
    HeyRevolver Posts: 16 Forumite
    Thanks Mart. I'm finally understanding a bit more. I'm told invertors usually don't last much more than 10 years so at least i'll be more informed next time!

    But then with the degradation of the panels by then i'll probably be sticking with the same spec invertor anyway.

    Cheers

    HeyRev
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,483 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks Mart. I'm finally understanding a bit more. I'm told invertors usually don't last much more than 10 years so at least i'll be more informed next time!

    But then with the degradation of the panels by then i'll probably be sticking with the same spec invertor anyway.

    Cheers

    HeyRev

    Hello again HR, we should have a really good idea on inverter life spans in 10 years! Sadly, we kind of need to know NOW.

    I've based everything on 10 year life expectancy, just in case, but there seems to be a lot of talk of inverters lasting longer. The German companies are being very pragmatic about this (no surprises there) so until they see how many years it takes for 50 / 51% of their inverters to fail, they may keep quoting low. But at the same time they seem to be suggesting / hoping that the inverters could last a lot longer. So calculate your costs on 8/12 years, but hope for 15/20.

    I'll get back to you in 2022. ;)

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 28kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • HeyRevolver
    HeyRevolver Posts: 16 Forumite
    Martyn1981 wrote: »

    I'll get back to you in 2022. ;)

    Mart.

    Hopefully by then they shouldn't be so expensive :j

    Thanks for your help in my understanding process :)
  • HeyRevolver
    HeyRevolver Posts: 16 Forumite
    Quick update for anyone interested. We got 200kwh in the first 2 weeks. Hope this weather keeps up!

    Happy with my system. Although I can now see that I could have gone for the full 16 panels rather than 14.

    The company I chose suggested 16 but as the 5 other surveyors quoted for between 12-14 panels I was wary of agreeing to 16. My roof slopes in at the top so it would've meant the top corners on the panels on the end going right to the edge. I've seen many installations like this though since so needn't have worried i guess.

    Anyway all in all happy with the purchase. Still a great return even at the new 21p rate as the cost of installation is much more affordable than last year.
  • Discodave
    Discodave Posts: 617 Forumite
    just to let you know, I've had word that my installers of our SP last year are now offering "self-financing" SP.

    Basically, they will agree a repayment plan on your behalf to their recommended partners/credit agreement firm.

    Pay nothing for the first 3 months, then pay most (not all, 80% iirc) of your quartlerly FIT off your payments.

    If anyone requires anymore information let me know. IIRC, a £7500k system that would pay for cash, will cost around £9700-£1100

    Obviously, you pay more than you would if you bought outright, but its a win win situ surely? I dont think I can post the companies website here, as it may be classes as self-promo (although I don't get anything from it!)
  • Hi
    First time poster, so please be gentle with daft question.

    I got the hard sell from a solar panel company in December last year.
    Basically they stated that the FiT was due to halve in a weeks time and that they were the only company that would be able to get the panes fitted in time.
    They promised that the 6 panels would pay for themselves within 6-8 years ( which at an original outlay of £13500 was a bit of a struggle to believe) as they do not require direct sunlight.

    9 months later, have only generated 915 units, which equates to £400 pounds (closer inspection shows that I purchased 1.35kw system, even though all conversations with salesman was regarding a 4kw system)
    So by my rudimentary maths, this would take 30 years to repay.

    Does it sound like I have been taken for a fool and, if so, who can I complain to?
  • zeupater
    zeupater Posts: 5,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 17 September 2012 at 9:35PM
    maclesb wrote: »
    Hi
    First time poster, so please be gentle with daft question.

    I got the hard sell from a solar panel company in December last year.
    Basically they stated that the FiT was due to halve in a weeks time and that they were the only company that would be able to get the panes fitted in time.
    They promised that the 6 panels would pay for themselves within 6-8 years ( which at an original outlay of £13500 was a bit of a struggle to believe) as they do not require direct sunlight.

    9 months later, have only generated 915 units, which equates to £400 pounds (closer inspection shows that I purchased 1.35kw system, even though all conversations with salesman was regarding a 4kw system)
    So by my rudimentary maths, this would take 30 years to repay.

    Does it sound like I have been taken for a fool and, if so, who can I complain to?
    Hi

    Welcome to the forum ... :)

    Firstly some pretty important questions ....

    Are the installers still in business ?

    What did the quotation describe in terms of number of panels and the capability of the system ?

    What did the order you signed describe in terms of number of panels and capability of the system, also did the order reference the quotation number ?

    What did your FiT application state as being the number of panels and the capability of the system ?

    HTH
    Z
    "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit. " ...... Aristotle
    B)
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,483 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hiya maclesb, welcome and sympathies, doesn't look they've been kind to you.

    Looks like 6 225W panels - What does the paperwork say?

    There was a very real deadline, but it ended up sliding.

    The company paperwork should state what bodies the installers are approved under (as well as MCS). I'd suggest contacting them all, and the Energy Saving Trust for advice asap.

    Price to system size, perhaps 3 times too much.

    Mart.

    Edit: What Zeup says. He was too quick for me.
    Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 28kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • John_Pierpoint
    John_Pierpoint Posts: 8,401 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 18 September 2012 at 4:02AM
    You can name names on here if you are telling the truth.

    For example:

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2959648

    [I too was caught by the 12th December deadline announced with about 6 weeks notice by a Government in a panic.
    This was particularly painful for me as I had just spent some time reinforcing my roof timbers to take the extra weight.
    Fortunately Friends of the Earth etc. took the Government to court and got something like a further 6 weeks notice to run out on 03 March. During this time I managed to find an installer who could meet the new deadline.
    There was a strict sequence of dates that had to be met to comply with the law, with which we sort of complied. In theory at Stage 1, Mr Salesman calls and then you have a "cooling off period" during which time you can cancel the idea. Then Stage 3 is when Mr Engineer calls to check the technology really will work for you. Stage 3 is the scaffolding (if needed).
    Stage 4 is the arrival of the installation crew which must include a qualified.electrician with a MCS qualification for solar PV. He is authorised to sign off your installation as his own work. You should have been left with the certificate for the generation PLUS a load of bumph about the new wiring added to your electrical installation (my folder is about an inch thick). I doubt it will do any good as your system probably works technically, it was just way over priced and possibly instgalled on an unsuitable roof, but if the company has disappeared you should still be able to trace the electrician?
    {My installation paperwork complies with the regulations, but there was a bit of telescoping the dates, and I as the householder was buying, they did not have to sell.
    Stage 2 never happened. Stage 3 was omitted on a bungalow - but the 'elf and safety inspector might have had worries about 3 blokes (1 electrician 1 apprentice & a roofer) climbing a telescopic ladder and then walking about on the roof with a panel on their shoulders. The MCS guy, who signed the paperwork, was on site for at least 15 minutes before haring off to another site. Starting at 11:00 the system managed to prove it was working at 17:00 by generating 0.75 kWh before darkness. The team were happy not to have to come back the next day to "commission" it. The electrician turned out to have made an error of judgement some weeks later when I ended up with a meter cupboard full of smoke, but I don't really blame him for failing to understand my existing electricity supply arrangements, in the time available.}].
  • How many of us are still looking to have SP fitted? We've just had this done and with a 14 panel system, split 2x7, we should get a good return of around £800 per year if the whether isn't too bad plus of course that little bit free elecy too

    Recouped investment by 2019/20 - better investment than sitting in the bank
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