Looking at Solar Panels - Updated-Now installed

Officer_Dibble

Although the maths is less clear cut than with panels, I'm glad we went with a battery. We usually get through 5 or 6kW an evening/overnight/the next morning if gloomy that we'd otherwise have paid £1.50-£1.80 for, so that's £300-£400 saved (assuming 200 or so sunny days) a year at current prices for a £2400 spend. Obviously better from October. I see the argument that you can buy and sell on Agile to your advantage, but it looks like a full time activity arranging your life around when you can consume or export when you could otherwise just be getting on with life. If you fancy playing the Agile game, there's even more scope for this with a battery.

powerful_Rogue

@Screwdriva , haven't heard back from the company, but guessing that's to do with the Bank Holiday and the backlog. Before I give the chap that sent me the quote tomorrow, was just after a little bit more advice.

Rear  = East

Front = West

I want to maximize what I get, both orientations are unobstructed. Been doing a lot of reading up, however, what would be the best option in your view:

1) 10 x panels West

2) 5 x panels East, 5 x panels West

3) 6 x panels East, 6 x panels West

4) Go the whole hog, 10 x panels East, 10 x Panels West

Thanks in advance

70sbudgie

powerful_Rogue said:

@Screwdriva , haven't heard back from the company, but guessing that's to do with the Bank Holiday and the backlog. Before I give the chap that sent me the quote tomorrow, was just after a little bit more advice.

Rear  = East

Front = West

I want to maximize what I get, both orientations are unobstructed. Been doing a lot of reading up, however, what would be the best option in your view:

1) 10 x panels West

2) 5 x panels East, 5 x panels West

3) 6 x panels East, 6 x panels West

4) Go the whole hog, 10 x panels East, 10 x Panels West

Thanks in advance

I agree with @Screwdriva in as much as installing as many panels as possible.

I also think that batteries are a good hedge - though I don't have them myself. The reason that I didn't go for batteries when I installed my PV 18 months ago, is because I have an EV and I personally believe that I will benefit more from V2G in the future than paying for additional batteries now. Even if the current prices stay high for 3 years, that is relatively short term in the life of your batteries. Which is why I think batteries are a hedge because the amazing Agile rates may not last more than 3 years.

If you do go for batteries, you need to check that the inverter allows you to control charge (start time/ rate) and force discharge. This would allow you to maximise export income now, while you still enjoy the novelty of playing with your system and the export prices are so high.

Also, the important thing for sizing batteries is the charge/ discharge rate. But batteries are sold by their storage size e.g. 3kWhrs. I have got the impression from reading comments on here from those that do have batteries that 2.5kW is a standard charge / discharge rate. It is relatively easy to add another 3kWhrs of battery units to your existing system in a year if you find it isn't enough (or the current supply issues limit the number of battery units you can get hold of) But you need to bear in mind that at 2.5kW charge / discharge, you only get a little over an hour. Is that enough for you now?

SevenOfNine

Screwdriva, thanks GREAT tips

1) Pay with a credit card, even if its just the deposit. This will provide Section 75 protection incase the installer disappears.
Our installer sorts out an insurance policy to protect our deposit (I think because all the kit was likely to take months to arrive), of course it added cost but annoyingly card p'ment wasn't on offer!

2) Always check each component (but especially the optimizers and panels) when they arrive at the location prior to installation. Sometimes they get incorrectly switched due to error etc.
We discovered beforehand that our superior bird protection was to be different to expected (we'd been sent pictures of what we were supposed to be having), all sorted but it made us check ALL the components when they arrived.

3) Be politely detailed with any installation instructions when it comes to wiring on the day of. Installers always chose the path of least resistance, which may not match aesthetic requirements.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION. Our neighbour has cable trunking down his outside walls (panels on 2 sides of roof), both punch in through his side wall into his study, runs over 12' along 2 walls & then punches through to the hall where his consumer unit is located. Outside is OK but it's seriously UGLY inside his study, even with white trunking!!! So we made a different suggestion to our electricians who said "we won't be doing either of those things, we'll be doing a proper job".......& they have. They came up with a harder option for them but aesthetically GREAT for us.

4) Request bird netting as part of your quote (if a pigeon issue exists)
A friend didn't think she needed that, obliged to pay £££'s to get it done a couple of years later. it resembles rolled up chicken wire shoved under the edges of the panels, does the trick but looks rubbish. Cowboy!

5) Insist in writing that final installment (10%) will only be made upon receipt of the MCS certificate. You'd be amazed at how quickly it shows up!
BRILLIANT, hadn't thought of that, been told all paperwork/instructions etc would follow in about 10 days, but we are DEFINITELY going to do that. To be fair, they didn't get round to invoicing our 2nd installment when the kit arrived, & job completed a week ago, only got final invoice yesterday, but your 10% comment is invaluable - if so slow to invoice, maybe even slower to supply paperwork.

Thanks.

Screwdriva

70sbudgie said:

I also think that batteries are a good hedge - though I don't have them myself. The reason that I didn't go for batteries when I installed my PV 18 months ago, is because I have an EV and I personally believe that I will benefit more from V2G in the future than paying for additional batteries now. Even if the current prices stay high for 3 years, that is relatively short term in the life of your batteries. Which is why I think batteries are a hedge because the amazing Agile rates may not last more than 3 years.

Thanks for sharing. In a way, you've listed several of the exact reasons why i would not recommend a battery:

1. Energy export prices continue to increase and will likely stay high for the foreseeable.
2. V2G is a massive disruption and is on the verge of being launched, making a home battery largely redundant.
3. You'll admit 3 years is just a guess, like anyone's is. A battery is warranted for ~10 years, so that's a significant % where it's not adding much value.
4. Batteries are made in China, where conditions are poor and the embedded carbon cost of manufacture is high. Given the limited supply, that lithium is far more effective in a car where it is offsetting against much higher emissions (vs. a home with PV).
5. Batteries are modular. They can be added at a later time when they are likely to be more needed, available, capable and evolved. 

powerful_Rogue

Just received a revised quote though, what are your thoughts on the two options and the prices?

Option 1/

Size of system 6.4kh. With 6.5kh battery storage

Equipment;

16 x 400w Sharp Solar black panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency

  1 x Growatt SPH6000w Hybrid inverter and AC/DC Battery storage management system 10 year product warranty

  1 x Growatt GBL16532kh of battery storage 10 year warranty

  1 x Emergency power back up supply

  1 x Grid trading option

  1 x All cable run’s isolators and fitting’s

  1 x Micro generation meter

  1 x System Wi Fi monitor  

  1 x System registration

  1 x Access Equipment

  1 x MCS and G98 Certificates

 All service and maintenance under the terms of the warranty.

 Fully fitted price of £10,580.00 This price includes 0% Vat. No extra’s

 

Option 2/

Size of system 6.4kh. With 6.5kh battery storage

Equipment;

16 x 400w Sharp Solar black panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency

16 x Solar Edge optimizers fitted to each panel 25 year warranty

  1 x Solar Edge  SE6000 HD Wave inverter 25 Year warranty

  1 x Growatt SPA3000w AC/DC Battery storage management system 10 year product warranty

  1 x Growatt GBL16532kh of battery storage 10 year warranty

  1 x Emergency power back up supply

  1 x Grid trading option

  1 x All cable run’s isolators and fitting’s

  1 x Micro generation meter

  1 x System Wi Fi monitor  

  1 x System registration

  1 x Access Equipment

  1 x MCS and G98 Certificates

 All service and maintenance under the terms of the warranty.

Fully fitted price of £11,645.00 This price includes 0% Vat. No extra’s

Screwdriva

Glad they responded

If you absolutely must have a battery, I’d go with option 2 only. But maintain that a battery remains an indulgence & not a necessity for the foreseeable. 

powerful_Rogue

Thank you. I've done a lot of looking into it, and definitely want to go ahead with a system that has a battery.

Certainly interested in option 2, just clarifying whether it needs G99 approval and also about bird netting.

ABrass

powerful_Rogue said:

Thank you. I've done a lot of looking into it, and definitely want to go ahead with a system that has a battery.

Certainly interested in option 2, just clarifying whether it needs G99 approval and also about bird netting.

It does need G99 and Light Renewables are bad about making that mistake on their quotes. They'll clarify if requested.

ccbrowning

They'll say it is not an issue since they can limit the output, but I think that is a G100 after the initial G99 if the DNO says no? At least that is what I read between the lines when I asked about DNO approval.