Quote for solar? - Seems high!

TeamMCS

Hey all,

I'm based down in West-Sussex and I was thinking of getting solar. With a semi-detached house, and a small garage I thought it would be worth looking into.

My garage, which is pretty much south facing is around 4x8 and looked to be a great place to install panels without ruining the look of my house.

The installer has come back with 330 Watt BenQ panels, which are pricey but quite efficient. They've suggested a 3.9kw install with a standard 3.6 inverter plus roof mounts etc. The entire install has been costed at nearly 6.8k.

I thought I'd do a bit of digging, as this seemed *very* high - especially considering no scaffolding etc is required. I grabbed a couple of wholesale accounts and I'm seeing the panels, for 3.9kw come in at roughly 3.3k with an inverter. I'm guessing a roof mount cannot be more than 500 (standard flat roof).

So If I'm being generous. 3.3k + 500 (roof mount) + 200 misc (isolators, generation meter) we're talking 4 grand + vat. As a simple, ladder only install. 6.8 seems bloody high.

Any thoughts?

Exiled_Tyke

Others can give a more informed view than me but for what it's worth.

1. Yes it seems high - although I think your expectation of 4K is on the low side. I paid 6K for a 3.3 Kw system with lots of scaffolding. A number of quotes all came in very similar. Have you got more than one company to look at this.
2. Note that VAT is at the reduced rate on a PV system
3. Even if you got the system for 4K I can't see it paying for itself with the now much reduced FIT rates.

TeamMCS

I have given up on FIT, I use a lot of power during the day so PV is pretty much perfect for me.

I'm still trying to get additional quotes. My bug bare is I can see how much the panels/inverter/cables cost wholesale. Given how easy it would be to do an install, I'm guessing a couple of blokes, at 250/day (500+vat) would be more than enough.

tunnel

An 8 x 4 roof should accommodate at least 12 panels and quite possibly 14(7x2), LG still do a 285Wp panel that come in retail at around £165 each + VAT(there's also JA solar at around £149 each +VAT), they should attract the 5% VAT rate,14 of those would give you a 3.99 system
Time to get the tape out me thinks and measure that garage properly to see how many standard size panels you could actually get up there.
Take a look the site below and pass it on to the installer if need be.
http://www.swithenbanks.co.uk/shop.php?action=index

TeamMCS

Ah thanks. I'll take a look.

Do you know the cost per panel of a flat roof mount? That's the one thing I can't seem to get any conclusive numbers on. As I understand I'd mount it to the wooden rafters and weather seal the felt.

TeamMCS

Blimey Swithenbanks is in receivership!

Martyn1981

TeamMCS wrote: »

The installer has come back with 330 Watt BenQ panels, which are pricey but quite efficient. They've suggested a 3.9kw install with a standard 3.6 inverter plus roof mounts etc. The entire install has been costed at nearly 6.8k.

Hi. Several people have had deals as low as £4.5k over the last year. Rare deals, but that's the way the market was going.

Without scaffolding, and with the low FiT rate, I think that's what you need to push for, though as T says it would have to be 'normal' panels, but these can be 285's.

I appreciate you say you won't bother with the FiT, but you need to tell the installer that a return is needed. Depending on orientation you could still get 8% to 9% gross ROI at £4.5k.


BUT .... you've mentioned a flat roof! You may need planning permission, as permitted development requires the panels to follow the slope of the roof, so if you angle the panels, you may have to ask. You could fit the panels flat, but they'll generate less, and need cleaning. Also my thoughts (and T's) on spacing may be wrong if you mount panels on an angle, as you'll have to leave space between to prevent shading, which will cut down on total kWp.

Just some thoughts, not sure if I've got the whole picture.

(Shame about Swithenbanks, they've been an excellent source of reference for years ..... but perhaps I should have bought something from them.)

Mart.

TeamMCS

Thanks for the advice, it's really really helpful.

4.5k was where i really wanted to be. I was given a second quote at 3.6kw for 5 grand. Still seemed a bit more expensive for what it was.

The roof is pent, at a fair angle so I think we're OK on that - but I will definitely double check. Cheers