PV panels in West Yorks - £8k for 2.5kw

Martyn1981

BrownGirl wrote: »

Unfortunately not - we just have 2 sides to our roof along a central ridgeline, so 2nd side will be NNW.

Hiya. that may not be a killer. This gets a little complicated/confusing, but have a little ponder before assuming I'm insane!

Panels on less than ideal rooves generate less, but adding more panels to a system that is going to happen anyway, doesn't cost as much, since a lot of the costs are fixed - internal works, labour, sales costs, profit, paperwork, scaffolding etc etc.

So the extra panels only have to beat the extra cost ... if that makes sense. eg, Let's say you were installing 2kWp south facing for £3k, but could add 2kWp more north facing for a total bill of £4.5k, then the north panels are half the cost of the south panels. If they can perform at 50%+ of the south panels, then it works out.

This may sound like a maths trick, but it isn't.

There is however an additional problem, and that's roof pitch. A south facing system won't vary too much with pitch. Though a steep system will generate a bit more in the GMT months and a bit less in the BST months, and a shallow system vice versa. However, a north system does suffer from pitch.

Looking at Huddersfield on PVGIS, for 1kWp I got the following results (all in kWhs):

SSE (-22 azimuth)
30d pitch - 849
40d - 857
50d - 836

NNW (+158 azimuth)
30d - 535 (63% of SSE)
40d - 466 (54%)
50d - 399 (47%)

So it may, just may be worth considering using the NNW roof to top up to 4kWp, if that's your only option. But you will need to compare total cost to total generation to see if they are similar.

BTW - expect the installers to think you're crazy, since they may well have in their heads 'south facing or not at all'.

Mart.

1961Nick

As others have said, those prices are nuts & even half that amount is topside (using 250w panels). I have a 4kWp system that cost £4000 back in 2013 & would probably cost no more than £5K today.

The installer is based in Doncaster, so if you need a quote I'd be happy to pm you their details.

groovyf

I'm with Mart on this one, and I'm certain it was his advice and maths I was following last year when looking at getting PV installed as I have a small SW and a larger NE roof with panels on now.

These are the PVGIS estimates for my SW-facing roof with 6 x 250W panels on:

(in kWh)
Jan 36.5
Feb 58.3
Mar 111
Apr 145
May 172
Jun 164
Jul 166
Aug 141
Sep 111
Oct 74.7
Nov 43.4
Dec 33
Total 1260

NE-facing 10 x 250W panels:
Jan 17.2
Feb 34.6
Mar 89.3
Apr 159
May 228
Jun 235
Jul 231
Aug 170
Sep 104
Oct 49.5
Nov 22
Dec 14
Total 1350

So, my NE side may suffer a bit in winter, it holds its own during the spring/summer/autumn, and hence made sense to fill both roofs.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

1961Nick wrote: »

As others have said, those prices are nuts & even half that amount is topside (using 250w panels). I have a 4kWp system that cost £4000 back in 2013 & would probably cost no more than £5K today.

The installer is based in Doncaster, so if you need a quote I'd be happy to pm you their details.

Something wrong there, methinks, unless you're the King of Negotiators.

ChopperST

When we were looking we found both Leeds Solar and the Phoenix works most helpful, fairly priced and no pushy salesmen. Both produced detailed quotes of the work and equipment involved alongside a 20 year estimated rate of return.

groovyf

I got quotes from Leeds Solar at the time, but they were for panels on SW only. They didn't entertain the idea of my NE roof

ed110220

groovyf wrote: »

I got quotes from Leeds Solar at the time, but they were for panels on SW only. They didn't entertain the idea of my NE roof

It seems a lot of installers are not actually doing a very good job at suggesting arrays that will make the most of the customers roof. All the time when roof space is limited we hear of only quotes for 250W panels giving less than 4kW arrays when there are many 270, 285, 300, 330W panels out there. Failing to suggest less optimal roof aspects for additional panels where this could make good sense.

Maybe they just find it more convenient or profitable to offer everyone a bog standard package than to try and come up with something tailored to the roof. I think a lot of people are missing a trick here which is a pity as if you're investing in something that will last 20 plus years you really want to squeeze every practical kWh out of it I think!

Ed

1961Nick

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Something wrong there, methinks, unless you're the King of Negotiators.

I don't understand??

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

1961Nick wrote: »

I don't understand??

1961Nick wrote: »

I have a 4kWp system that cost £4000 back in 2013...

That's a superb price for 2013.

Discodave

This is what we've been quoted, and the lads (based in the North East), will travel throughout the UK

(Based on South Facing Roof),

Design & installation of 3kw solar PV system (12 x 250w CSUN modules in portrait orientation)

Hosolar 2500TL inverter with 5yr guarantee.

Price includes scaffold, EPC and VAT.

First year benefits approximately £500 (this is made up of Feed in tariff and estimated electricity savings. The FIT is guaranteed for 20 years and rises with inflation. Your savings will increase as electricity prices rise).

Installation usually takes 1 day with minimal disruption.

£5,450

(Obviously price and returns are subject to slighty change, and a home survey may be required).

I wont mention company here, but if anyone is intrested i'd def recommend as they have done work for family and friends in the last 6 months