Solar PV system install

aurion22

Okay, I think it's a two-horse race and would welcome some feedback on the two proposed systems. Both are 4kW systems on an E/W roof with approx. 40 degree pitch.

Company 1
Panel split E 6 W 10; Inverter Enphase Microinverters; Panels Conergy; Payment £500 deposit, balance on completion; Cost £6895; Incentive £200


Company 2
Panel split E 8 W 8; Inverter Aurora Power One; Panels Gallium; Payment Total on completion; Cost £6295; Incentive £50

Sorry, can't seem to insert a picture or a table here.
Thanks for any comments.
Loretta

Martyn1981

aurion22 wrote: »

Okay, I think it's a two-horse race and would welcome some feedback on the two proposed systems. Both are 4kW systems on an E/W roof with approx. 40 degree pitch.

Company 1
Panel split E 6 W 10; Inverter Enphase Microinverters; Panels Conergy; Payment £500 deposit, balance on completion; Cost £6895; Incentive £200


Company 2
Panel split E 8 W 8; Inverter Aurora Power One; Panels Gallium; Payment Total on completion; Cost £6295; Incentive £50

Sorry, can't seem to insert a picture or a table here.
Thanks for any comments.
Loretta

Hiya. Can you give any more info on the roof orientations? It's interesting that the installers have suggested different 'splits'. Did they give reasons, for instance was the E6 W10 because the west roof is slightly south and the east roof slightly north. Or because you'll make more use of the afternoon generation. Or because it's bigger. Or because it has less shading etc etc.

If you are considering micro-inverters, have you read up on power optimisers (PO's) such as a SolarEdge system? My WNW extension is heavily shaded so I had to go for a SE system. Although I'm in Cardiff, I found an installer in Rochdale who did the work. Only used them once (obviously) but they seemed pretty good. PM if you want the details.

Lastly, I appreciate that price isn't everything, but with an E/W system costing you about 20% in generation, compared to a south facing install, I assume that the price is pretty important.

Best of luck.

Mart.

aurion22

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya. Can you give any more info on the roof orientations? It's interesting that the installers have suggested different 'splits'. Did they give reasons, for instance was the E6 W10 because the west roof is slightly south and the east roof slightly north. Or because you'll make more use of the afternoon generation. Or because it's bigger. Or because it has less shading etc etc.

If you are considering micro-inverters, have you read up on power optimisers (PO's) such as a SolarEdge system? My WNW extension is heavily shaded so I had to go for a SE system. Although I'm in Cardiff, I found an installer in Rochdale who did the work. Only used them once (obviously) but they seemed pretty good. PM if you want the details.

Lastly, I appreciate that price isn't everything, but with an E/W system costing you about 20% in generation, compared to a south facing install, I assume that the price is pretty important.

Best of luck.

Mart.

My roof runs roughly N/S. The outline of the house (viewed from above) is an 'L' shape with the longest side facing west. The east side is slightly shaded by the apex of the short leg of the 'L', which is an extension. Both sides also have a Velux window.
Company 1 (proposing the micro-inverters) seemed to think that shading would be a problem so it would be better to have more panels on the west; Company 2 (proposing the gallium-doped panels) said that their calculations took into account partial shading.
I'm going to sleep on it but, at the moment, I'm favouring the gallium panels at £6295 over the micro-inverters at £6895.
Thanks for the feedback .. it all helps to clarify my ideas.
Loretta

rustyg

We had solar panels fitted by Medoria Solar of Wakefield last year. Friendly company, no hard sell and a decent price. Seemed to know their stuff and our system is performing slightly better than forecast in spite of the poor weather.

Might be worth a look?

RustyG

aurion22

Told them I'd decide today so have said no to all of them! One company has phoned to ask why and tried to "encourage" me to think again and get in quickly as their order book is filling up fast (surprised he had time to phone me) and I might miss out on the current FIT.

I've contacted a more local firm, Yorkshire Renewable Energy, for another quote. At least they won't have so far to come and I got their name by knocking on the door of a house with solar panels. The owner said that he and two neighbours had all used that company and were very happy with the panels.

aurion22

Solar panels will be fitted on Monday. I will be interested to see how the system performs.
Watch this space!

Yut_Man

Good Luck on monday. There is nothing like watching the panels going up after all your hard homework.:T

silverwhistle

Who did you go with; the firm where you'd asked owners about their suppliers? Hadn't thought of doing that.

aurion22

I'm using Yorkshire Renewable Energy. No hard sell, no misinformation, no pressure, no "sign up today for a lower price" .. just straightforward answers to all my questions. They are a local family firm and were the only company to do everything: measured the roof, checked where the inverter could go and checked the meter cupboard. They've also been really accommodating in researching current prices and finding better-performing panels at a lower price.

If the product is half as good as the firm seems to be I'll be happily watching the meter spinning backwards for the foreseeable future.

Loretta

:j

PS If anyone is moved to get their solar panels from this company, please tell them you heard about them from me and I'll get a little bonus of £20!

tunnel

aurion22 wrote: »

I'm using Yorkshire Renewable Energy. No hard sell, no misinformation, no pressure, no "sign up today for a lower price" .. just straightforward answers to all my questions. They are a local family firm and were the only company to do everything: measured the roof, checked where the inverter could go and checked the meter cupboard. They've also been really accommodating in researching current prices and finding better-performing panels at a lower price.

If the product is half as good as the firm seems to be I'll be happily watching the meter spinning backwards for the foreseeable future.

Loretta

:j

I hope that your installer also explained that if your meter does run backwards that you do have to inform your energy supplier so they can change your meter!