First quote

ely_ellis

Hi all,
Some of you may remember about 3 months ago I had a ridiculous quote for my property from Big Green Energy Company.
Anyway, having move home and started to settle in, I have got my first quote from a local company for the new home.

First thing I will say is that the guy did a proper survey, measured inside the loft, checked where the consumer unit and mains supply are etc. and most importantly NO pressure sales and very helpful.

The downside is that the quote may be slightly on the high side but would appreciate your points of view.

So here goes.
14 x 250W Hyundai Panels (14 is about the limit, explain later)
Schletter Roof Mounting Kit
Solis DC/AC Inverter
Generation Meter
2 x AC Isolators
1 x DC Isolater
All cables and ancillary items
Desktop Display with internet monitoring (geo, Solo II PV)
Supplied and fitted £5,750

House Details:
Orientation 20 degrees East of South
Roof pitch 35 degrees
System size 3.5kw
Irradiance factor 881
shading factor 1
Output - 3.5 x 881 x 1 = 3083kWh per year

My roof is 9m x 5m although this would be a great area at the back, unfortunately the front (South side) has two roof areas that come out from the main roof, this then limits the area that panels can be fitted to and also gives a couple of shading areas which then limits even further.
So to get the most panels on the roof, the suggestion is for the Hyundai panels as these are slightly smaller.

I do have few other options available such as a possible area on the (lower) garage roof, but that would be subject to shading in the mornings.

I am in the village of Laughton, just North of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

I will try to post a diagram / drawing of my house later.

Thanks
Martin

tunnel

A poster not too far away from you got and had an install for 12 x 330W benQ panels with solaredge inverter and PO's for around £6500 using the company that I recommended to you a few months back. I know its another £750 more but its also another 460Wp bigger system than that of which you have been quoted.


For the difference you may be better suited with a system like that, less panels on the roof, less chance of shading and better shade management(when needed) via solaredge(which comes with free lifetime online monitoring) and ultimately a larger kWp system.

tunnel

Just going back over your images, is there any chance of using the space on the large hipped roof. You may potentially be able to get a 4kWp system up there, 12 x 250Wp on the main roof and 4 x 250Wp on the hipped roof(70 deg west of south) giving you a nice late surge of evening sun, something that the main roof won't


Do you know the size of the large hipped roof?

ely_ellis

We did briefly mention about the larger hipped roof but then discounted it as probably not worth the extra money.
I will have a look tomorrow and see if I can measure it up. I'm guessing but I would think the hight would be around 4m or just under, but unsure about how far it juts out from the main roof.

hollie.weimeraner

Hi I am having 15 Canadian Solar 265w black panels fitted on Saturday to give just under 4KW. They are installing a Sunny Boy 3600TL inverter and a Sunny Boy Monitor for £5,600. I had 4 quotes of which they were the cheapest but most importantly instilled me with most confidence.

The company I am using are CTS Renewables based in Mansfield so you may want to give them a call. Reviews are very good and I have also been pm'd by a member of this forum that had some fitted a few weeks ago who was very satisfied.

There are cheaper companies out there but they also use cheaper equipment. I had 4 quotes in all ranging from £5,600 to £8,000

ely_ellis

I have now had several more quotes and a single good estimate so it's pretty much make-your-mind-up time.

1st quote was in the first message on the thread...

2nd quote was quite high, they did a good survey and produced a very nice report with shading effects and all the rest. Unfortunately just too high.
16 x Panasonic 240w panels (3.84kWp)
SMA Sunny Boy 3600TL
Estimated annual output 3912.58kWh
£7421

3rd quote with 2 options, the second option being the best and so far cheapest quote. Good explanation, fairly good measure up, written report and quote but could have done with a more accurate measure.
16 x 8.33 Eternity 250w Black panels (4kWp)
Solar edge inverter with 16 solar edge optimisers
Estimated annual output 3330kWh (quite reasonable)
£5700

4th quote, reasonable measure up, came up with a few options but went off the mark with his scribble of loads of different figures all over the paper, with rings around things and what looks now to be total confusion. Even managing to take off £305 in his calculations but managing to put it back on in the final quote.
His quote was also based on what I told him my other quotes were. In the end I got the impression he was more of a salesman with his almost a 1 time offer type feel.
14 x Seraphin 285w panels
Solar edge inverter with 14 solar edge optimisers
Estimated annual output 3531kWh
£6800

5th (estimate). This was a knock on the door of a neighbour who put me in touch with his installer. I didn't ask for a quote but more of a friendly estimate of what I should pay regarding the above quotes. He gave me some real good advice and confirmed some prices for me for Solar Edge systems with various panels. I may yet ask for a quote.
£5400 - £5800

6th quote. This was the best survey yet, he actually went up to the roof rather than the others counting tiles, which instantly boosted him up in the ratings. There was definitely no selling and no apparent bias to any particular manufacturer.
I have received several quoted option but for a price comparison I then asked if they could match the option of my 3rd quote above.
The good news is that they can match the quote and slightly better it, but unsure about the type of panels, they do seem the cheapest around.
16 x Phonosolar ONYX all black 250w panels
Solar Edge inverter and 16 x optimisers
Estimated annual output 3531kWh
£5660

Looks like I will pit quotes 3 and 6 against each other. It may come down to company reputation and warranties.

So, any thoughts please?

tunnel

I'd scrap 1,2 & 4
1) because there's no shade management and I believe from your view of the house its needed
2) Just too expensive
4) See 2 above


Number 3 seem to have taken shading in to consideration with their generation estimate and 6 seem ok for an in depth survey. I wouldn't rule out 5 either in case they may try price matching


I know the company I recommended you have a deal on with phono's, adding the solaredge MAY bring that price to around £5300


How good are your bartering skills?

ely_ellis

My exact thoughts too.
The company you mentioned is no.6 and I did spot a possible error in their re-quote.
Looks like in a bid to price match they have actually increased the price because if I take the difference between one of their other quotes, one with and one without Solaredge, the difference is greater than the Phono's with and without Solaredge.
I have emailed them about this, but thanks for the heads up on the £5300, I shall put that to them.
Any idea what Phono's are like?

ely_ellis

I have enquired about the deal with the Phono's and it is for a package. They cannot split the package substituting their inverter for a solar edge system so they have to quote with the none-offer price of the Phono's.
Still working on it though.

Upwind

I have CTS Renewables doing my panels tomorrow - I'll let you know how things go. They have been good to date and I have had no problems....... let's hope that this continues...

tunnel

ely_ellis wrote: »

I have enquired about the deal with the Phono's and it is for a package. They cannot split the package substituting their inverter for a solar edge system so they have to quote with the none-offer price of the Phono's.
Still working on it though.

Could you not ask them if they have any other panels that they could mix with the solaredge to get the price down a bit, something not in a deal? Would you be bothered about having silver framed panels as they are normally slightly cheaper than all black?