Conergy solar panels

Martyn1981

k66 wrote: »

We signed up yesterday and have now given notice of cancellation by email and will send the letter by recorded delivery too. We like the idea of solar energy so will do even more reading on the subject. Cheers for your help.

I think a large sigh of relief just went round this site! :T

But Oscar's statement is wrong, his opinion is far from unqualified.

Mart.

k66

I have just downloaded the FIT scheme application form from LOCO2, our electricity provider, and see that there is a set up charge of £75 and an annual charge of £75. Looks like I will be looking at using another company, I will try to find a company which I can export to without buying from. I moved to LOCO2 just 5 days ago

Ectophile

k66 wrote: »

I have just downloaded the FIT scheme application form from LOCO2, our electricity provider, and see that there is a set up charge of £75 and an annual charge of £75. Looks like I will be looking at using another company, I will try to find a company which I can export to without buying from. I moved to LOCO2 just 5 days ago

LOCO2 actually want to charge you a fee for them to buy your electricity?

I think you need to shop around. I never paid my supplier anything to set up the FIT scheme, and there are no other charges either.

Oscargrouch

k66 wrote: »

I have just downloaded the FIT scheme application form from LOCO2, our electricity provider, and see that there is a set up charge of £75 and an annual charge of £75.

Phone one of the Big 6; they are geared up for FIT's. If you are not going to be charged for moving, move to the one that will take a system on from you.

k66

I am looking right now, it was a bit of a shock as the company are into encouring the use of renewable energy, I am making a complaint about the charges.

Oscargrouch

k66 wrote: »

I am looking right now, it was a bit of a shock as the company are into encouring the use of renewable energy, I am making a complaint about the charges.

True to MSE, if you can 'ditch & switch'. Think you may have a couple more PM,s

Oscargrouch

k66 wrote: »

I am looking right now, it was a bit of a shock as the company are into encouring the use of renewable energy, I am making a complaint about the charges.

Should be in your own e-mail box..:)

k66

Does a 4kw - 16 x Panasonic HIT 250 25 yr warranty and Fronius 3.6 with 20 year warranty at £8,000 seem reasonable?

Martyn1981

k66 wrote: »

Does a 4kw - 16 x Panasonic HIT 250 25 yr warranty and Fronius 3.6 with 20 year warranty at £8,000 seem reasonable?

Yes, but no, but no, but yes!

Don't know much about Panasonic (formerly Sanyo) quotes as few people tend to go for them because of the price ..... unless they have too!

Don't be taken in by the higher efficiency. A 250W panel whether 14%, 16%, 18%, 20% or even 22% (Sunpowers I think) still only produces 250W. The magic of the higher efficiency panels is that they can generate 250W from a smaller panel size. This means that if your roof is only large enough to fit 3kWp of 'normal' panels on it, then you might be able to squeeze 4kWp of 'hybrids' instead.

I think the Panasonic panels are about £100 to £150 more each, so if you have plenty of room (which you've mentioned) then fitting 16 regular panels (approx 1.7m2 each) would still give you 4kWp, as would 16 hybrids (approx 1.4m2 each). The difference however being about £2k.

There is also an argument that hybrids perform better in low light conditions. No idea if that is true, but remember, generation at those levels is very small, so even a sizeable percentage increase, would still be a small actual amount. A bit like losing 10% of your generation to shading from a tree in December, is very little compared to 10% in June when your daily average may be 10 times more.

Check the warranties. Inverter warranty may be that the installer is including in the price the 1/2 price upgrade to 20 years. That's great, but you are of course paying for it.

Panel warranty, please update me if wrong, but I suspect the 25 year warranty is a performance warranty. Most panels offer this, guaranteeing a percentage of their headline figure (ie 250W). Usually around 90% for first 10 years, and 80% for 25 years. I'd suspect the actual product warranty to be 10 years.

So, confusingly, I'd say that's a pretty good price for the package, but if roof space is large, why bother? Maybe ask for a quote with 'normal' panels (assuming there is room) and see if it comes in closer to £6k.

Hope I'm not confusing you, that deal is 1,000% better than the first.

Mart.

k66

Thanks Mart, I was asked to consider JaSolar by the same company, they would work out about £2000 cheaper and he said that they are very good.