Solar Panel Quote Help! Is This The Right Amount?

snoop321

Hi Everyone.
I have been reading through the boards for a few weeks now and I have my first quote which looks about right to me but I have often been wrong. Too late for the feed in tariff as install is likely to be April/May.

My usage at the moment is 2400KW per year. I have been told this is below average but I do not have dishwasher/dryer and other like wise items but I would purchase them if I installed

The quote is and here is the information i have been given.
The Price: £4820
12 x Ja solar 280 PV Panels
Solis Inverter
Annual KWH generation is 2503 kWh
Front elevation ESE (orientation degrees from south -65)
Back Elevation WNW (orientation degrees from south 115)
roof angle 35 degrees

the proposed idea I was given was to to split the panels 6 on the front and 6 on the back that way electricity would be continued to be produced through the day as the sun from around 12 is at the back of the house till the end of day. (I have no shading problems)

now the plot thickens were I also had my parents house survey at the same time, same equipment to be used and the house faces SSW 2700kWh of electricity to be produced and the quote was £4500
When I questioned this decrease in cost I was told that they would be all panels would be put on roof rather then front and back like mine and those were the associated costs of splitting the panels.

now my questions!
1) is the quote reasonable?and the £300 difference should i be paying it?
2)the system itself sounds like a mid rage product?am i correct?
3)I am thinking of having an extra 2 panels at the back at the cost of £350 but do I need them?
4)Will the inverter still be the same with the two extra panels?
5)how do I monitor what is being produced as this was not mentioned at the time
6)Is £4500 about right for my parents?

I appreciate the time if anyone can help me out!

Thank You

Bluebell1000

You may be able to find an installer who can install more quickly. We had two companies who were able to install within a week or two, when we had ours fitted.

I can't help with price much. It's cheaper than ours which were installed in December, but we had solar edge fitted because of shading, and that puts the price up. When we looked JA panels seemed mid range. We ended up with Q cells 325w, which meant we could up our generation, and the panels had a slightly better long term % functionality at 20 years (something like 85% of original rather than 80%).

remembermee

I’ve had lots of quotes and I can tell you that yours is looking to be very good for that many panels. Who is the company?

Exiled_Tyke

A significant cost is often scaffolding to access the roof which is often necessary. If this is the case here then an extra set of scaffolding for the two elevations could account for the higher installation price.

snoop321

Thank you for your replies, the quote is from Eon and includes a £300 discount for this month only. Looking at other quotes from the forum this is OK as I can add another 2 panels for £350 make it more economical money wise.

My other option is wait it out until April and see what happens when the feed in tariff finishes but will I get it any cheaper?

remembermee

Our cheapest quote was the solar installation company and they want to fit them ASAP - I’m talking days. So companies can definitely do it quicker. Eon quoted us and said it wouldn’t be until April before they get done - so after the feed in tariff.

snoop321

Ahh I see, thanks for the tip. I have just called them and they are going to email me with the quote by end of the day. If anyone else has found a quote from a company who was the best in the list please let me know

Zarch

Depends on your location as many local installers won't travel the length of the country.

If you're in the North Midlands / Yorkshire area then I can recommend CTS Renewables who did mine back in September.

remembermee

snoop321 wrote: »

Ahh I see, thanks for the tip. I have just called them and they are going to email me with the quote by end of the day. If anyone else has found a quote from a company who was the best in the list please let me know

Let us know what they come back with.

snoop321

West Midlands, I did phone cts today they point blank told me they won't be installing as they can't get it done before the fit expires. I did still ask for a quote and I think that request has just got ignored, must be very busy to decline trade for the future.

No quote from solar company at the moment, I will give them a call tomorrow and see what's happening.

remembermee

snoop321 wrote: »

West Midlands, I did phone cts today they point blank told me they won't be installing as they can't get it done before the fit expires. I did still ask for a quote and I think that request has just got ignored, must be very busy to decline trade for the future.

No quote from solar company at the moment, I will give them a call tomorrow and see what's happening.

I’m West Midlands too. Wonder if we saw the same guy from eon lol