Solar Quote in Bristol

soundmary

Just had a quote for a 4Kw system, 14 x 280w Sun Edison with enphase. £10,600 from My Planet solar. Comedy quote? What should I be looking at, and does anyone have good experience with an installer locally. We have some shading issues from an extension next door which will be particularly bad in the winter so I need someone who will give me good advice about whether it's worth it.
Thanks,
Mary

pinnks

I am 40 miles east of you. My installer came down from Kidderminster - www.eco2solar.co.uk. Really pleased with advice and workmanship. Paid just over £6k 2 and a bit years ago for my 3.5kWp system.


Also got a reasonable quote from empower down in Dorset for Solar edge. Nearly went with them but decided to go with the others as they had done my mate's install. www.empowerenergy.co.uk

Martyn1981

Hiya Mary, I'm the other way (so to speak!) about 40km's to the west.

If the shading issues are only significant in the winter, then that's not too bad, as generation is much lower then, so losses are also naturally lower.

You can mitigate against shading losses, such as a Solaredge system, as pinnks has mentioned (I've got one of those on the WNW) or micro-inverters such as enphase.

Whether or not it's all worth it will depend on price, and getting non "comedy quotes" from decent installers, hopefully sub £6k and heading for £5k.

For general research and a basic start have a glance at the PV FAQs.

Mart.

Andy_WSM

I and my neighbours had 1 world solar in Bristol install our systems some 4 years ago and have had no problems or issues at all. The installers were competent and friendly and the price was competitive at the time.

http://www.1worldsolar.co.uk/

Maybe invite them around to give you a quote - you will need to point out shading concerns if it's not sunny as it isn't at all obvious if there are no shadows being cast and you know the roof far better than they possibly can.

Your current quote sounds a bit heavy - to the tune of £4K or so.

soundmary

Thank you for the advice. I was pretty happy with the system they suggested, the reasoning made sense and I think it would give me a reasonable return. The price though was horrendous. I'd really like to use a local firm if possible so if anyone else has dealt with someone they would recommend do let me know!

soundmary

Thanks @Andy_WSM

gazapc

Andy_WSM wrote: »

I and my neighbours had 1 world solar in Bristol install our systems some 4 years ago and have had no problems or issues at all. The installers were competent and friendly and the price was competitive at the time.

http://www.1worldsolar.co.uk/

Maybe invite them around to give you a quote - you will need to point out shading concerns if it's not sunny as it isn't at all obvious if there are no shadows being cast and you know the roof far better than they possibly can.

Your current quote sounds a bit heavy - to the tune of £4K or so.

A good friend of mine works for 1 world solar (you probably spoke to her on the phone, edit: perhaps not 4 years ago). I haven't purchased solar from them but seem a half decent lot so worth getting a quote.

miffy257

We had a similar quote from my planet.co.uk but then I went on a site that sent me 4 different people in my area who would quote for me. The quotes came in at almost half that price. Wish I could remember the site sorry. We are going with forever green energy and we are in Chepstow so they might do your area too.

nigelpm

I'm Bristol area and used these guys:

http://www.sunlightfuture.co.uk/

You can read their reviews and feedback online but I found them to be excellent in every regard.

EricMears

miffy257 wrote: »

We had a similar quote from my planet.co.uk but then I went on a site that sent me 4 different people in my area who would quote for me. The quotes came in at almost half that price. Wish I could remember the site sorry. We are going with forever green energy and we are in Chepstow so they might do your area too.

I believe this may be the site to which miffy25t referred :-
http://www.solarguide.co.uk
I got several reasonably competitive quotes from them in 2011 but settled for a local firm that had installed SPs for several neighbours.

As a test I checked my own area on Solarguide and saw 'my' installers listed there then looked at Bristol where they listed 50+ firms

soundmary

Thank you all! Already got a more realistic quote of £6700 for an almost identical system. Just waiting for a couple more before I commission someone.