Solar Panel Guide Discussion

oxters

digitaltoast wrote: »

Hmm, I did wonder if you were on the wrong plan, that's quite a high "first units" rate, but I can't actually find a better "fixed" plan.
But I can't see how you can possibly save £191 on that electricity spend using solar PV!

Yes I am aware that the rate is high but the way prices are going and a fix till 2015 pushed me to give it a go. Unles Ofgem step in I think I will be quids in long before 2015.
Your advice is much appreciated.

zeupater

oxters wrote: »

I've just had my quote from Solar Energy Savings/PVSolarUK
For a 6 panel 1.47kw output the quote is £19,800 (reduced through a "Be Green" scheme - only 25 schemes available for this area? to £13,800 + 2 free panels)
For a 10 panel system (2.45kw output) quote is £23,582 (Be Green reduction to £16,677)

I think that is expensive compared to MPN226 above. Anyone wish to comment?

The quoted savings (hand written on a sheet of paper) on the 6 panel system are £636 + £191 bill reduction in 1st year

The quoted savings on the 10 panel system are £1060 + £318

Over 25 years the projected quotes are £21,802 + £6565 for the 1.47 and £36437 + £10931 for the two systems. Allegedly the probability is that more energy would be produced but figures must be based on a lower figure?

Hmmmm. More research and another quote or two called for I think.

Sharp Panels and Energy 1 or Power 1 ? Inverter (No moving parts - no fan needed to cool. Should not require replacement?) Using the large (240? I think) panels.

I'd be interested to hear opinions on above figures. Thank you.

Hi

I don't know your particular set-up, but a 1.47kWp system is normally unlikely to achieve much more than £550/year in FiT and deemed 50% export and if you could use all of the electricity you produce, which you will not, your electricity saving would be no more than £125/year (based on 840kWh/kWp & 10p/kWh tier2 import).

Comment/opinion .... give them a call and ask for a quotation which reflects industry guidelines, particularly request SAP calculated generation & savings figures ... ask for their MCS number and query whether they are members of the REA (Renewable Energy Association) .... if they're not - don't use them, if they are - report them, and still don't use them .... :cool:

HTH
Z

Freepost

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

and deemed 50% export and if you could use all of the electricity you produce, which you will not, your electricity saving would be no more than £125/year (based on 840kWh/kWp & 10p/kWh tier2 import).

HTH
Z

Isn't it the view now, that you'll actually be lucky to use 25% of what you generate, everything else going back into the grid?


I'm looking at a 4kWp system but I've now come across some info on another thread that indicates some problems with connecting this size to the grid. Something to do with the amount of current you're putting back, a current of 16Amps being the maximum allowed = 3.68kW (from ohms law W =V x I). Has anybody had problems with this?

I've only obtained one quote so far, from Tesco, approx £12K. All the advice on this thread indicates you should get more quotes but from what I'm reading this seems a fairly low quote for such a system. I'm happy to speak with more companies but don't want the hard sell, if there is anybody willing to recommend companies serving West Yorkshire that have done a good job for them I'd love to hear from you.
F.

Doc_N

Freepost wrote: »

Isn't it the view now, that you'll actually be lucky to use 25% of what you generate, everything else going back into the grid?


I'm looking at a 4kWp system but I've now come across some info on another thread that indicates some problems with connecting this size to the grid. Something to do with the amount of current you're putting back, a current of 16Amps being the maximum allowed = 3.68kW (from ohms law W =V x I). Has anybody had problems with this?

I've only obtained one quote so far, from Tesco, approx £12K. All the advice on this thread indicates you should get more quotes but from what I'm reading this seems a fairly low quote for such a system. I'm happy to speak with more companies but don't want the hard sell, if there is anybody willing to recommend companies serving West Yorkshire that have done a good job for them I'd love to hear from you.
F.

Personally, very happy with the way Tesco (Mark Group) installed my system last year, and their prices/warranties are pretty good.

On the other point, I had no problem with Central Networks/e.on - you may well find that the inverter (Sunny Boy?) has a maximum output of 3.6kW.

Gizmosmum_2

oxters wrote: »

The Company was Solar Energy Savings but the installers are PV Solar UK. Anyone know anything about either? QUOTE]

One or 2 of my neighbours started with this company - the rest of the neighbours went with a local company - draw your own conclusions and compare systems like for like. Watch out for roof fixing kits and structural surveys, they are hidden items that are often good indicators of the approach taken by the installers.

keith_r59

Freepost wrote: »

Isn't it the view now, that you'll actually be lucky to use 25% of what you generate, everything else going back into the grid?.

I think that all depends on 1) the size of your system and 2) your daytime energy usage profile.

For example, the Energy Savings Trust state on their web site that " A 2.7 kWp system can generate around 50% of a household's yearly electricity needs".

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity#Costs,savingsandmaintenance

zeupater

keith_r59 wrote: »

I think that all depends on 1) the size of your system and 2) your daytime energy usage profile.

For example, the Energy Savings Trust state on their web site that " A 2.7 kWp system can generate around 50% of a household's yearly electricity needs".

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity#Costs,savingsandmaintenance

Hi

That's old information, the EST now base their average electricity saving advice on a £70/year saving based on 75% of generation being exported on a 2.7kWp system ..... they just need to update the abovementioned webpage to bring it inline with current advice ... (link £70/75%) http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-scheme#howitworks

If the householder is at home all day I believe that working on a £100/year saving is nearer the mark ...

HTH
Z

zeupater

Freepost wrote: »

Isn't it the view now, that you'll actually be lucky to use 25% of what you generate, everything else going back into the grid?


I'm looking at a 4kWp system but I've now come across some info on another thread that indicates some problems with connecting this size to the grid. Something to do with the amount of current you're putting back, a current of 16Amps being the maximum allowed = 3.68kW (from ohms law W =V x I). Has anybody had problems with this?

I've only obtained one quote so far, from Tesco, approx £12K. All the advice on this thread indicates you should get more quotes but from what I'm reading this seems a fairly low quote for such a system. I'm happy to speak with more companies but don't want the hard sell, if there is anybody willing to recommend companies serving West Yorkshire that have done a good job for them I'd love to hear from you.
F.

Hi

You are correct, the information regarding a 100% saving was simply to illustrate that the quoted bill reduction of £191/year would be extremely unlikely seeing that the system was only capable of producing around £125/year worth of savings.

Regarding the 16A limit, it seems that different DNOs provide differing guidelines to installers, some seem to accept 4kW TIC systems as being the cutoff for pre-notification as opposed to 16A, some don't. A local installer will advise on what is possible in your area and tailor a solution, a national one is likely to provide a standard system which will suit all areas ....

HTH
Z

Elainemary

Having read the last few pages it occurs to me that there must be an awful lot of PV panel suppliers out there , all quoting ( supposedly ) accurate figures of returns and installation costs.
Since figures of savings and installations vary so much isn't it time there was someone like Offcom to complain to when such figures are CLEARLY way out of line? Or is there already someone that I don't know about? There seems to be someone for just about everything else nowadays, why should PV be any different?:D

zeupater

Elainemary wrote: »

Having read the last few pages it occurs to me that there must be an awful lot of PV panel suppliers out there , all quoting ( supposedly ) accurate figures of returns and installation costs.
Since figures of savings and installations vary so much isn't it time there was someone like Offcom to complain to when such figures are CLEARLY way out of line? Or is there already someone that I don't know about? There seems to be someone for just about everything else nowadays, why should PV be any different?:D

Hi

First points of contact on complaints would would be MCS, REA, OFGEM & Trading Standards at the moment, one of them should provide advice .... you could also try the EST for advice if having problems.

There is a loophole in this in that there are a number of solar companies who sub-contract their sales to installers and therefore take your money without having the need to operate within 'the rules' which apply to the installers themselves .....

HTH
Z