Solar update...

Waywardmike

Hi

Just thought I'd post an update on my installation after posting quotes several weeks ago...

We were lucky enough to be on holiday for most of August so there was a delay in installation.

In the end we went for 16 250W solar world black panels and an SMA inverter. Solarworld mounting system, the web connect module for the inverter and a Geo Solo 2 monitor. The price all in was about £5600. Installation was slightly hindered by the delivery driver failing to deliver the panels the day before, knocking on a neighbours door, muttering some unintelligent English and driving off. They ended up being delivered while the roofers were fitting the rails so no real loss in time and the system was up and running by 13.30pm so all good.

So what can I say, I'm more than pleased with them... We've had a good mix of days for the couple of weeks they've been up. We produced about 5-6kWh on a very dark overcast day and nearly 25 on a clear sunny day.

At the moment our meter is running backwards (being replaced beginning October )which has highlighted just how much more electricity we make over what we use as we're currently about 30kWh behind the reading I took on day of installation. Makes me wish storage options were financially viable... Using 50% of the electricity we produce while we make it, is wildly optimistic.

Also the shading issue from next doors roof isn't an issue at all as by the time the shadow hits the panels (currently about 6pm). We're not making much at all anyway, <100W.

So overall, really pleased. Am now going to look at home automation options so I can turn on heaters/washing machines/dishwasher on while I at work....

JimLad

Excellent news! Sounds like you are very pleased with your shiney new panels! Welcome to the solar gang!

In terms of automation. We had a solar iBoost installed along with our system in the summer and have pretty much used no gas since! Think i will need to stick it on in the evenings soon to top it all up though now the nights are drawing in.

Timers on our dishwasher and washing machine so they start at mid day.

evomatt

Hi Waywardmike

Who was your instaler as im finding it a mindfield to choose?

tunnel

evomatt,


Why not post your rough location then if there's a member near to you that can recommend their installer it would be easier than chasing around the forums.

Cyberman60

With my annual electricity bill at about 300 quid that would take nearly 20 years to pay for itself.

tunnel

Cyberman60 wrote: »

With my annual electricity bill at about 300 quid that would take nearly 20 years to pay for itself.

I think your forgetting that there is a feed in tariff that would pay for the installation in less than 10 years plus electricity savings.

Cyberman60

tunnel wrote: »

I think your forgetting that there is a feed in tariff that would pay for the installation in less than 10 years plus electricity savings.

... but that has already been reduced by HMG and could well be reduced again. The other thing is though I don't anticipate being in my house long enough anyway to recoup those costs, so not cost-effective.

evomatt

sorry i didnt know if waywardmike had used a national company and they may be able to provide me with the same quote.

tunnel

evomatt wrote: »

sorry i didnt know if waywardmike had used a national company and they may be able to provide me with the same quote.

And nobody knows...hence...where are you roughly. You don't have to post your address, just nearest town. It's helped numerous people on here to get quotes, quotes from companies they didn't know existed and were getting fed up of the minefield you refer to.

ed110220

Cyberman60 wrote: »

... but that has already been reduced by HMG and could well be reduced again. The other thing is though I don't anticipate being in my house long enough anyway to recoup those costs, so not cost-effective.

FITs have gone down but so has the cost of solar PV, so the payback time should still be under 10 years if you get a reasonably priced system. As solar PV prices come down, naturally the FIT rate is reduced, but you should remember it is not cut retrospectively.

The maths is pretty simple. Say you get a 4 kW system for £6000, you're in the south of England and generate 4000 kWh/year. You get paid 14.38p/kWh for everything you generate so 4000 x 0.1438 = £575.20. You also get 4.77p/kWh you export and this is usually deemed to be 50% of generation, so (4000/2) x 0.0477 = £95.4. Total £670.60.

Electricity savings are a little more tricky as they depend on human behaviour rather than the more predictable sun, but lets be fairly conservative and say a quarter of annual generation and you're paying 12p/kWh. So (4000/4) x 0.12 = £120.

Annual payment/saving of £790.6, so 6000/790.6 = 7.6 years payback.

No-one except you though can predict how long you will be in the house so that's beyond the realms of my calculations ;-)

Waywardmike

Hi evomatt,

I am in Bedford. I got 6 quotes in, 3 from big national companies but they were more expensive for, I don't want to say worse, so I'll say less well regarded panels and inverter.

The company I went with were based in Northampton, not sure how far they'll go but you could try them. Just give me a shout and I'll PM you the details.

With regard to the other comments, the payback time I was given by all the calculations was 5-6 years, which I think is a little optimistic as they're assuming we'll use 50% which we most definitely won't. I'd be happy with anywhere between 6-8 years.... which I think is achievable as I've prepped the missus on when to put the larger appliances on.

I like to think we're a fairly energy concious family anyway (family of four), our electricity usage last year came in at 2900kWh, which may or may not be good but there's not a whole lot more we can do to get it down.

We don't plan on moving ever either unless it's out of our control.