Quote for solar, is this a good price? - Updated

Raxiel

Edit: I made this post back in August, I'm editing it now in October after having my system installed, see the bottom of page 5 for details. /Edit

Solar panels have always been on my 'wish list' of home improvements, but the recent spikes in prices have spurred me into looking into it more closely.

We recently had a firm fit insulated plasterboard that should help with the gas bill this winter, but they also do Solar (and heat pumps) so I got them back for a quote  for the former.

The quote:

8 x 380W Canadian panels for ~3kW, 2x Sunsink Inverters. £6.8k fitted. I'm told Canadian and Sunsink are highly regarded, I've no idea.

Their Estimated payback was 8.5-9 years at ~2.5kWh generated with the unit rates projected to be announced, and 5p/unit export.

House is in the Midlands, Roof is unshaded with SE, SW, and NW aspects. The quote assumed 4x on the SE and 4x on the NE (same as next door). I think I'd ask them to move two of the NE to the SW as north isn't ideal, but the SW won't hold 4.

We currently use around 290kWh/m of electricity, including all cooking. Heat and hot water is via an efficient gas combi.

For comparison a quick and dirty quote from Eon for 8 panels is £6.9k but we've not spoken to anyone else yet (need to grab my neighbor next time I see them to quiz them on their array).

The figure I had in my head was £1k + £1k per kW so this is higher, but I don't know if my figures are out of date.

Do their numbers make sense? Do mine?

Thanks

ABrass

No, that's pretty poor.

3kW is pretty small, but you may be roof space limited. They're using two inverters rather than finding a single one that can handle two strings, which is normally a cheaper choice and more efficient.

Going for NE rather than SW is a very strange choice but there might be a reason. Splitting panels over multiple aspects complicates installations slightly and can add some cost, but not that much cost.

The payback period may be a bit optimistic as well. The electricity prices are going to be eye watering for the next few years but they will probably drop back to merely painful after that.

Get more quotes.

Raxiel

ABrass said:

No, that's pretty poor.

3kW is pretty small, but you may be roof space limited. They're using two inverters rather than finding a single one that can handle two strings, which is normally a cheaper choice and more efficient.

Going for NE rather than SW is a very strange choice but there might be a reason. Splitting panels over multiple aspects complicates installations slightly and can add some cost, but not that much cost.

The payback period may be a bit optimistic as well. The electricity prices are going to be eye watering for the next few years but they will probably drop back to merely painful after that.

Get more quotes.

Thanks.

The roof isn't huge, I don't know exactly what clearances are required but based on 1.7m x 1m panels you could physically fit six on the SE & NW sides, and three on the SW (Hip end).

Not sure why they're suggesting two inverters, although having just spoken to my Neighbor, she mentioned that her Dad is currently having a system installed and has had the panels sitting inactive on his roof for six weeks waiting for the inverter to come off backorder. The company that quoted me today would be using what they have in stock and said they could have the whole system commissioned within a week.

Neighbor couldn't remember what wattage her 8 panels are off the top of her head (more than 380W though) so she's going to get back to me. She paid more for her system four years ago though.

Will definitely be getting more quotes.

gazapc

Just be careful about comparing to some older quotes on here. I've had two quotes for ~3 kW systems in the £6-6.5k range. Compared to you that includes a hybrid inverter (but no storage) and only one set of scaffolding.

The solar market is absolutely bonkers at the moment so even getting quotes, let alone a decent price is difficult in my experience.

I'd be careful about being fooled by the 'we have this in stock and can do it in a week if you decide now' type of selling.

Raxiel

gazapc said:

Just be careful about comparing to some older quotes on here. I've had two quotes for ~3 kW systems in the £6-6.5k range. Compared to you that includes a hybrid inverter (but no storage) and only one set of scaffolding.

The solar market is absolutely bonkers at the moment so even getting quotes, let alone a decent price is difficult in my experience.

I'd be careful about being fooled by the 'we have this in stock and can do it in a week if you decide now' type of selling.

That's fair, although they were similarly prompt with fitting the insulation, finishing a day early, despite my skepticism over their timetable. There was no pressure to decide though, he said they could do it in a week if we wanted or in a month, up to us.

They're quite good at actually responding to queries. I'd say that makes them expensive, but none of the other companies I approached for quotes even responded (besides the one who repeatedly didn't show, then ghosted me after the third missed appointment) So technically they were the cheapest.

ABrass

I got three quotes for solar panels about four months ago. I got another two weeks ago that was cheaper than all of the others. By half in one case. The solar panel industry is busy but the price is mostly down to the installers rather than market conditions.

Search the forum and see if anyone has any recommendations for fitters in your country/part of the country.

If you wait a month I might be able to recommend my fitter. (8kW for £8k, + 6.5kW battery for £12k) but it's a bit early yet.

ccbrowning

That's a great price, @ABrass - I've been looking at 9.5kW battery + 4kW PV and the prices have been around £13k-16k.

94JDH

ccbrowning said:

That's a great price, @ABrass - I've been looking at 9.5kW battery + 4kW PV and the prices have been around £13k-16k.

Is that really how prices have increased - I ordered mine end of March ( fitting is end of this month) 7.2kW PV, two gen2 inverters and 2 two x 9.5kW batteries all with Tigo optimisers 14k - I've lost touch!

ccbrowning

94JDH said:

ccbrowning said:

That's a great price, @ABrass - I've been looking at 9.5kW battery + 4kW PV and the prices have been around £13k-16k.

Is that really how prices have increased - I ordered mine end of March ( fitting is end of this month) 7.2kW PV, two gen2 inverters and 2 two x 9.5kW batteries all with Tigo optimisers 14k - I've lost touch!

Well I'm in the northwest and have gotten four quotes so far and the cheapest came out to close to 13k.

Screwdriva

Hi there! 

That's a pretty poor quote. My installer currently is quoting around £6K installed for 

10 X Sharp 400w panels
10 X SolarEdge Optimizers
1   X SolarEdge 3680 HD Wave Inverter 

All of the above with a 25 year warranty. 

Also, I wouldn't waste resources on the North facing roofs. Does very little. If you can only fit 6 panels total on the SE/SW/W aspects, so be it! You'll save some £ on the system upfront. 

Raxiel

Well after reading the written quote, I misunderstood and its 1 Sunsync inverter. Two inverters, when mentioned were when we were discussing having 10 panels in a 4+2+4 arrangement, which they didn't recommend.

Had one other (online) quote at £5995, and waiting for another call today.

Feeling very conflicted. We can pay for any of the systems quoted without having to borrow, but it won't leave us much of a savings buffer for uncertain times ahead. If the first firm can indeed fit the whole system immediately then at least we'd get the remainder of the summer sun, but if it could be a couple of months as some have said, might be better off waiting until Feb-march?