EON - Solar Panels - Thoughts on my quote please

Migion

Hi All,

With all the craziness lately I have been exploring my options in terms of solar, had a number of quotes, the best of which seems to be from EON.

Some notes on the house - south facing, minimal shading, 35 angle of the roof, some older appliances (kitchen) that will be updated in the near future.

I work from home most of the time going to a site at most once a month but this is seldom the case, so I can utilise the leccy during the day at its peak - washing machine etc with a few changes in routine. 

The quote: £10,341.06 - 3 years no interest to pay this off:

Included in quote:
15 x Tier 1 - 360 W Monocrystilline - all black = 5.4 kWh total max output - 25 year power warrenty.
GivEnergy Hybrid inverter(5.4 kWh) with 8.2 kWh battery, 8.2 kWh usable - 10 year manufacturing warrenty on both.
MCS cert.
HIES insurance guarentee.
Installation and Scaffolding.

Looking at prices of the same/simular items buying personally would cost around 7-8k and i would have to install myself and wouldnt have the benefit of the cert needed for SEG.

Estimated output per year 5027 kWh
SEG for first year only 5.5p p/kWh

We use around 400kWh per month usually a little less, again can be improved on with newer appliances - occasionally is a bit higher if we are renovating with power tools etc.

Reason for looking/asking:
Currently with leccy were fixed on unit rate of 18.54p and standing daily charge of 22.64p until october from then its looking like 40p or more for a direct debit deal, looked at a few quotes from MSE which showed this, even EON being around 50p although i appreciate this may change and hopefully for all of us will drop, my concern being if it increases again in November.

We are also on diesel oil heating, so could potentially switch to immersian heater with large water tank if the prices of that doesnt drop, luckily its almost summer and we have some remaining so can wait this out a little longer.

From a few calcs iv looked at its looking like 9 year ROI @18.54p, ROI@50p looks like 5 and a halfish but not sure how true those numbers are.

Also have the quote till the beginning of April so can hold off to see if more increases happen then.

Let me know your thoughts please and if i've missed anything off the details above.

silverwhistle

The experts will be along soon with comments, but a couple of questions regarding the future: could you install a heat pump, and is there any prospect of an EV in the near future? They would both change the economics in your favour.

Also it is always good to know roughly where you are in the country to assess your likely yields.

Might have to wait for the evening shift for more replies. :-:smile:

Petriix

The solar array on its own would be around £5k, possibly slightly higher with inflation. The battery as a standalone (at 20% VAT) should be about £4k (I'm paying under that for an 8.2kWh Givenergy AC coupled), so as an addition at 5% VAT and no separate inverter you should be closer to £3k. I'd expect around £8k ideally and not over £9k.

Eon are certainly not going to be competitive with a reputable local installer. And I'd stay well away from the bigger national firms. 

Verdigris

The solar array on its own would be around £5k, possibly slightly higher with inflation.

I think the £1/Wp boat has sailed, for the time being, at least. I think £1.10 or even £1.20 is probably more realistic, which brings the array to about £6k.

2nd_time_buyer

Petriix said:

The solar array on its own would be around £5k, possibly slightly higher with inflation. The battery as a standalone (at 20% VAT) should be about £4k (I'm paying under that for an 8.2kWh Givenergy AC coupled), so as an addition at 5% VAT and no separate inverter you should be closer to £3k. I'd expect around £8k ideally and not over £9k.

Eon are certainly not going to be competitive with a reputable local installer. And I'd stay well away from the bigger national firms. 

Last summer that could have been true. From what I have seen from people getting quotes now (from a range of companies), the quote does not seem too far from the mark.  

Last year, a few of us got installs from  Eco-renewable as their prices were very competitive. They have a similar system with 12 panels for £8,500. Add an extra £1000 for the extra 3 panels. Would give you a comparable system for around £9,500. So a saving but not a massive one.

https://www.ecorenewablesgroup.co.uk/solar-battery-storage/ 

Exiled_Tyke

The quotes I posted up on these boards recently included a 5.25kW array with 8.2kWh battery for £9.5 (from a reputable local installer) so this does look a little high.  

I'd also check the generation estimates at https://photovoltaic-software.com/pv-softwares-calculators/online-free-photovoltaic-software/pvgis

Personally whilst I have been very happy with EON for my FIT payments I lost all trust with them on the sales side when they quoted me for an ASHP system. Their assumptions/numbers didn't stack up so I told them to justify them or cancel the meeting.  I still don't have an ASHP! 

Verdigris

I looked at E.on, for my own gaff, but the example prices they gave didn't seem to represent value for money. I guess the "interest free" isn't really free, so if you can get a cash discount, it might be more competitive.

Migion

@silverwhistle i've been thinking about heat pumps as well, not decided on that best case is the oil prices drop and it gives me more time to explore, just an additional thought. I have heard from word of mouth that heat pumps are depending on the type of property, heard both good and bad things.

I am interested in EV but again, my car is paid off so waiting on some kind of diesel tax/ or EVs to drop in price before commiting as i dont use the car all that often anyways so costs me next to nothing.

I'm based in North Wales, Mold area.

@Petriix, as i said i had quotes from local installers and Scottish Power, local installers is around 12-15k for a simular system, scottish power quoted around 8-9k but was a smaller battery and 12x 370W as they were larger panels so worked out less output overall as well.

Anyways, the eon quote seems competitive and has the advantage of 3 years no interest to pay back which for me makes up for a slightly inflated cost IMO, and gets rid of the up front cost of going with a local supplier.

@Exiled_Tyke Thanks for link, here are the results:



Verdigris I've been told its interest free for 3 years, if that isnt the case then its not worth it i know, but at this point thats all i can go off.

Verdigris

I'm just saying that although there isn't a formal interest agreement, they will most probably have built money into the price to cover their, at least notional, interest. It just might be worth asking for a cash price. On the other hand, until you've fully paid them you do have a hold over them for service issues. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

Migion

Verdigris said:

I'm just saying that although there isn't a formal interest agreement, they will most probably have built money into the price to cover their, at least notional, interest. It just might be worth asking for a cash price. On the other hand, until you've fully paid them you do have a hold over them for service issues. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

yeah i get that and yes the service issues could be a good thing too, hadnt thought of that.

Exiled_Tyke

If the three years interest free is valuable to you then I guess it looks ok.  They seem to have slightly over estimated production but 2% just looks like used slightly different data.   I do like Verdigris comment although I would expect the credit agreement to be hived off to someone else and so that 'hold' may not really exist.