Solar panels

Solar2017

Thank you for the link very informative, just to check I know you said that's the price per kw on the system, does the word system presumably include all work start to finish?

Should I be looking at around 4 thousand pounds for a 2kw if it's priced at higher based upon the 4kw system.

Any advice on companies who give honest quotes will be greatly received.

Thank you for all of your replies.

Solar2017

zeupater

Solar2017 wrote: »

Thank you for the link very informative, just to check I know you said that's the price per kw on the system, does the word system presumably include all work start to finish?

Should I be looking at around 4 thousand pounds for a 2kw if it's priced at higher based upon the 4kw system.

Any advice on companies who give honest quotes will be greatly received.

Thank you for all of your replies.

Solar2017

Hi

Cost is taken from what customers were invoiced for a fully installed system, the price paid needs to be submitted as part of the FiT process so the analysis is based on actuals, not what an installer 'thinks' they can charge.

Looking at the analysis you'll see that there's a considerable difference between the two average prices (mean & median) which would logically suggest that a considerable number of installations are being charged a lot more than the 'typical' price and even this is well above what contributors on these boards would consider a 'good' price ... comparing the various forms of 'average' is a pretty good indicator of whether there's a wide price range, pointing to opportunism, so I see no reason why you shouldn't be looking to target a 2kWp system maximum installed price somewhere in a band between the latest mean & median cost per kWp ( well below the £4k you mention) then get quotes and negotiate from a strong position ....

Do take some time to look at the FAQs which Martyn mentioned, the better informed you are the better price you'll likely be able to get ...

I'm sure that there are a couple of regular contributors to these boards who are based in the Kent to South Downs area who may be able to point you towards installers when they've picked up on this thread, but in the meantime have a look at the MCS installers database which should help (although I haven't used it for years!) ....

HTH
Z

theboylard

Hi Solar2017,

for southeast Kent, I've stuck a pin in a map and chosen a postcode in the TN26 area.

Selecting just Solar Photovoltaics, then plugging the full random postcode into MCS site as linked by Z (which they insist has a space between the 4&5 characters - how quaint!), I've hit upon 20 MCS approved businesses.

I'd suggest doing the same with your postcode.
From the generated list, have a look through and click the more info link for each approved installer and see if a) they are still trading and b) If they are still involved with Solar PV.

By all means ask whoever for a quote - but golden rule is never sign anything on the day.

As Mart said further back - we don't have a vested interest in whether you get solar or not (well, we do, because it annoys Cardew when someone gets PV !!), but there are some very technically able people here who have solar, understand the benefits and can guide you through some of the hurdles that may be thrown up.

Last but not least, there is no such thing as a silly question - if you're not sure, just ask.

Good luck

Martyn1981

Solar2017 wrote: »

Thank you for the link very informative, just to check I know you said that's the price per kw on the system, does the word system presumably include all work start to finish?

Should I be looking at around 4 thousand pounds for a 2kw if it's priced at higher based upon the 4kw system.

Any advice on companies who give honest quotes will be greatly received.

Thank you for all of your replies.

Solar2017

Hiya, I paid £4,100 for a 2kWp system in 2012, when a good price for a 4kWp system was about £7k.

Since then 4kWp prices dropped to about £5k, with some examples in the mid (and even low) £4k's, though the disruption of te PV industry caused by the government changes in 2016 have shaken things up, so £5k might be the best target now.

Back to your mentions of 2kWp, are you able to give some more detail, doesn't have to be too personal, but is that all the space available, or have you been told that 2kWp is enough?

If you have other rooves available then there are many, relatively simple ways to link systems. I apologise if it seems I'm 'pushing' for a bigger system, but consider for example if 2kWp cost £4k and 4kWp cost £6k, the price gets cheaper per kWp as you go bigger.

The 2kWp info you gave of 7 panels suggests 285Wp panels. That's a good panel choice, but if space is very limited you might want to pay for more expensive panels that are even more powerful, say 300Wp+ each. They may cost more, but you're spending so much on fixed costs (scaffolding, labour, paperwork, inverter etc) that it's probably worth it.

We may throw so many options/ideas at you, that your head will spin, but hopefully that's better than too little help.