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Quote for 29.7 kW system for Community Centre
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I very much doubt it.Only you are in a position to know if this would be the case for you. Do you consume 30kw of electricity, during the middle of the day, in summer, when most of your electricity will be generated?
We would not do it unless it made financial sense.
Otherwise do you value the (real) pleasure of helping the environment and boiling your kettle for free during the day? Not everything is about profit. Perhaps say 10kw of solar would also provide you with this pleasure at less cost? Perhaps the pleasure would be worth the financial loss.
1970s, extended in 1990s. Could be better, could be worse.If its an old building then the extra available energy for heat and dehumidifying might help the health of the building.
Good point about the inverter(s) and yes, I don't know why they are mentioning 25-year returns.I agree the vat looks like 20%. Don't forget to budget for a probable replacement inverter at some point... FIT payments are for 20 years not 25 I think?
I don't know, the supplier seemed to think it wouldn't be a problem.Will the electricity board be happy with accepting this much solar? Some consider themselves already overloaded.
Yes.Does the building already have three phase electricity or might you need an expensive upgrade?
It would be paid up-front out of reserves, there is no question of taking out a loan. The loss of interest on this would almost certainly be less than the cost of a loan.That said it is a better situation than I would have expected. Back of an envelope suggests that a 2.5% loan fixed for the first ten years with the inflation increases on the fit payment would see you paying off 30-40% of the loan in ten years without taking into account lower electricity bills. Then who knows what interest rates will be... It still leaves you probably short after 20 years but not by as much as I was expecting given the slashed subsidy payments. Unless it breaks of course and ends in tears.
If not borrowing the money no one ever takes into account the loss of capital on these quotes...
Thanks for your input!
2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.0 -
Hi Kevin, what a smashing project to be involved in. I wish you every success in arriving at a cost effective installation that will payback to the community in the coming years.
With regard to the size of array fitted then, finance permitting why not go for the largest possible. The centre may not consume anywhere near 30kWh currently but I'm sure you could soon find use for the excess produced. As a start, why not also install a couple or three 7 kWh EV chargers, handy for those using the facility and another possible source of revenue too. While a fast charger might be more attractive to some it may not be practical within the budget. Also, I suspect most people using the facility would be local and possibly stay for two or three hours giving the opportunity for a handy top up if not complete recharge.
As Mart suggested the quote seems well over the top, so it may well be worth seeking another quote or two to compare with. It's amazing what a little competition between suppliers can achieve.
Good luck, may the sun keep shining for you.East coast, lat 51.97. 8.26kw SSE, 23° pitch + 0.59kw WSW vertical. Nissan Leaf plus Zappi charger and 2 x ASHP's. Givenergy 8.2 & 9.5 kWh batts, 2 x 3 kW ac inverters. Indra V2H . CoCharger Host, Interest in Ripple Energy & Abundance.0 -
-£297 minus Operation & Maintenance Costs
Any thoughts?
I think a lot of it has already been covered but I'm curious what they are suggesting you should pay £297 pa for maintenance costs? Or is that a sum to cover replacement inverter etc over a longer period?Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.0 -
I don't know either, it's not itemised. I very much doubt it is to cover replacement inverters.I think a lot of it has already been covered but I'm curious what they are suggesting you should pay £297 pa for maintenance costs? Or is that a sum to cover replacement inverter etc over a longer period?2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.0 -
Well, well. I got another quote from a company that came highly recommended and it was slightly higher, at £27,608 + VAT (which they correctly stated as 20%). On the plus side their projections are much more realistic so they are immediately more trustworthy. I did suggest that they might like to come down by £5K or so to be more competitive and got the "We base our prices on good quality materials and excellent workmanship and will not be the cheapest quote you will find" response. I think we need another quote!2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.0
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Well, well. I got another quote from a company that came highly recommended and it was slightly higher, at £27,608 + VAT (which they correctly stated as 20%). On the plus side their projections are much more realistic so they are immediately more trustworthy. I did suggest that they might like to come down by £5K or so to be more competitive and got the "We base our prices on good quality materials and excellent workmanship and will not be the cheapest quote you will find" response. I think we need another quote!
Did they give you any idea what the breakdown of figures was? If they are using 270 Watt panels? How much each panel would be?3.795 kWp Solar PV System. Capital of the Wolds0 -
May I be the first to express my total disbelief that a 29Kw system would cost you more than £10k.
I am basing my opinion on the many scribblers on this board that have told us all repeatedly that they should be almost fitted for nothing by now.
LOL.:rotfl:16 265w panels South facing, 45 degrees, West Norfolk.0 -
It's 270W panels, but no breakdown.Did they give you any idea what the breakdown of figures was? If they are using 270 Watt panels? How much each panel would be?2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.0 -
I know that comment is tongue-in-cheek but I'd be delighted with £20KMay I be the first to express my total disbelief that a 29Kw system would cost you more than £10k. 2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.0 -
May I be the first to express my total disbelief that a 29Kw system would cost you more than £10k.
I am basing my opinion on the many scribblers on this board that have told us all repeatedly that they should be almost fitted for nothing by now.
LOL.:rotfl:
Don't forget that every time you've told us prices are much higher and haven't fallen, a new PV'er has come along and proven you wrong.
:rotfl:Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.
For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.0
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