Solar panels in Gloucestershire

blizeH

Hi,

I've just been given the following quote from Ikea which is tempting:

Your property is eligible for a 18 panel system with a maximum output of 2.16 kWh, this will give you a 9% return on investment and a total annual return of £388.

The cost of the system is just £54 per month with our SolarLoan 10 year finance option or £4450 if you prefer to buy the system outright.

Is this a good price? 9% seems like a reasonably good return and as far as I know the panels should last around 25 years, so it's a good long term investment.

Thanks

ChopperST

If you can fit 18 panels on your roof you should be looking at the maximum 4kW system which will increase your yield. Shop around and find a local reputable company as opposed to the IKEA scheme. Depending on the difficulty of the job you will be looking at between £5-£6k.

Also panels last much longer than 25 years, that's simply how long the warranty lasts for. There are systems installed in the 70's that are still generating...

I found my installer by going onto http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/photovoltaic-solar-panels-forum/ and asking for a local installer under recommendation. The forum is full of small companies who are passionate about good solar design.

JimLad

2.16kw from 18 panels seems a little small?

Got ours through Roxon electrical who are based in gloucestershire. £5750 for a 4KW system fully installed. THat includes 16 Black LG panels, Inverter, Meters, iboost and a wireless monitor. Make sure to say James Scott sent you if you get a quote!

blizeH

Thanks both, will take a look at Roxon now, just curious James, roughly how much do you save per month by having the panels?

nigelpm

At least give Sunlight Future a call.

Based in Bristol so imagine will cover your area.

No connection just a satisfied customer

tunnel

blizeH wrote: »

roughly how much do you save per month by having the panels?

Everybody's usage is different and would depend on whether your in in the day to make use of the "free" electric and also if you have an immersion whereas you can use a diversory switch to heat your hot water via spare generation

nigelpm

tunnel wrote: »

Everybody's usage is different and would depend on whether your in in the day to make use of the "free" electric and also if you have an immersion whereas you can use a diversory switch to heat your hot water via spare generation

As a very rough guide I think your bills will be very low in the summer months - perhaps 20-30% of your usual amount.

Winter - you'll save much less - perhaps bills will be 70-80% of the usual total.

JimLad

blizeH wrote: »

Thanks both, will take a look at Roxon now, just curious James, roughly how much do you save per month by having the panels?

They are doing the install on my house on wednesday so ask me again in a few months! I recommend them based on the excellent Job they did for my neighbor across the road and the communications ive had with them thus far.

My neighbour worked out he would be saving / making about £700-800 a year from the Fits and savings combined but he and his wife both work from home so i think for me it will be slightly less.

mac2008

blizeH wrote: »

Hi,

I've just been given the following quote from Ikea which is tempting:


Is this a good price? 9% seems like a reasonably good return and as far as I know the panels should last around 25 years, so it's a good long term investment.

Thanks

I hope they don't mean the max. output is 2.16kWh!! Of course they mean 2.16kWp - kW peak.

Have they given you a figure for how many kWh they expect the system to produce per year?

As others have mentioned, you should be absolutely certain you can only get c. 2kWp worth of panels on your roof. This is because the fixed costs (i.e. the electrical work, scaffolding etc.) are quite high, and it should not cost much more to get more panels up if you have got the room.

I'd definitely do as others suggest and get a couple more quotes. The price does not appear too bad, but you may be able to better it, or get something that better suits your needs, like higher rated panels to give you more power from the same area etc.

groovyf

IKEA panels are only 120w if I recall... (and narrower than your average panel too).

18 x 120 would indeed be just over 2.1kWp