Solar quotes - advice

DSB_

Hi all,

First time poster, long time lurker.

Like many, I've been putting out feelers for a PV installation due to the increase in energy costs.

I would love some feedback on the two quotes below. My gut reaction is that they are both expensive for what they offer.

Quote 1 (11.1kWp), fully installed:

30 x SolarEdge Smart Module 370W Mono All Black panels.

30 x SolarEdge optimisers

1 x SolarEdge 10,000 HD Wave inverter
1 x SolarEdge Energy Bank (10kW)

£24,000 

Quote 2 (6.75kWp), fully installed:

18 x SunPower Maxeon 3 375W All Black panels.

18 x SolarEdge optimisers

1 x SolarEdge inverter

£14,100

Options: 

SolarEdge Energy Bank (10kW) - £7,500

Bird Protection - £1,000

Total (all options): £22,600

Things I've noticed from contacting a dozen or so installers. One, it's really difficult to get installers to quote at all at the minute. And two, installers by default seem to quote for premium panels. I've not had any luck getting an installer to quote to install panels from JA Solar, Jinko, QCells and the like.

Your thoughts very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: Added missing SolarEdge Battery to Quote 1.

ABrass

Awful value. For a large system you should be aiming for £1 a Watt. You're getting twice that.

Why solar edge? Do you have shading?

DSB_

£1 a Watt was what I was originally aiming for when starting out. I thought I would entertain £1.20 a Watt due to the upwards pressure on PV prices due to the demand but I've not been able to get a quote anywhere near that currently. 

No shading on our roof. I listed no issues with shading when initially reaching out to both installers but both came back with optimisers, I don't know why.

I'm pretty sure the 30 panels specced in quote 1 won't fit on our available roof space as well. Oh well, it's a starting point I guess. 

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll get back on to both installers and try and hammer them down.

rew81

£1000 bird protection!? Is it against condors?
That alone says a lot about the company who offered that quote. 
Maxeon 3 is a good panel but they are now at Maxeon 6 technology wise (obviously the price is higher).

DSB_

rew81 said:

£1000 bird protection!? Is it against condors?

I raised my eyebrows when I read it. I was under the impression that bird protection is just some plastic netting/fencing + the time spent to install. £400 seems reasonable to me.

mickyduck55

DSB_ said:

rew81 said:

£1000 bird protection!? Is it against condors?

I raised my eyebrows when I read it. I was under the impression that bird protection is just some plastic netting/fencing + the time spent to install. £400 seems reasonable to me.

Mine is metal but I agree £400 would be reasonable...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124965684203?hash=item1d188903eb:g:2ekAAOSwFSti1ngQ&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4JGWcDjTWJiOrWDA/UzGOkompeaSMjGzfMycCjcXxGKy+N8+7a7gseH6szC5nCDZDFmfY4hzW+ZBIIP2oVxW95fGevErlse4ShvlL7pjZaNqeW8wQjJy+T0n3clU29tgtKT3PmsPlSHPUbje4syVb8tS1EGz0FebZidgmwuPKlwFmJkuY/6UcR5mrPpxn576P3L2xNZnyGfw3V3t7VFDbQ8UcnIIVh4TrcM2zwMgTJcygD1zyYYVeT3K8z8+wvmURlS4ZAXj0k7FE/hOWww6BrAEZuY3FySviPiUODzdnBYE|tkp:BFBMoJLT9vZg

QrizB

I'll echo what others have said - both quotes are in the "go away and don't bother me, I'm busy" range.

DSB_

I don't seem to have the ability to edit posts as a forum newb, but quote 1 @ £24,000 also includes the same SolarEdge 10kWh battery, apologies for missing it off. It still seems like poor value even with the battery taken into account.

Edit: Reaching 5 posts unlocked the ability to edit posts. Yay! Added missing battery to OP.

Screwdriva

One, it's really difficult to get installers to quote at all at the minute. And two, installers by default seem to quote for premium panels. I've not had any luck getting an installer to quote to install panels from JA Solar, Jinko, QCells and the like.

There is no shortage of installers willing to quote the cheap stuff. Consider yourself lucky in that you don't need cheap, budget brands to get value for money. 

Hope you won't mind a few questions:

1) Where are you located?
2) There appears to be a range in the # of panels you have been quoted for - any reason for this? 
3) Have you modeled a system/ usage/ payback with and without a battery based on your actual usage via this calculator?

A 30 panel system (400W Sharp Black Panels) + 30X Solar Edge Optimizers + SE Inverter w/ 25 year warranty should cost you no more than ~£12K today. Add another another £6-8K for a Solar Edge/ LG 10 kW battery if you must have one. £500 for bird netting and Bob's your uncle! 

ABrass

And knock two grand or so off if you don't need solar edge.

DSB_

Hope you won't mind a few questions:

1) Where are you located?
2) There appears to be a range in the # of panels you have been quoted for - any reason for this? 
3) Have you modeled a system/ usage/ payback with and without a battery based on your actual usage via this...

Happy to answer!

1) Midlands.

2) When making initial contact with installers I wasn't really sure on the system size we needed, so the only guidance provided was that our annual consumption is around 10,000 kWh. This is what they came back with. I think installer one just worked out how many panels were needed to generate 10,000 kWh and went with it. Installer two I think realised that the quote was going to be way far out on the high end of the spectrum and chopped the number of panels to shrink the price.

3) I've used that calculator. Based on our consumption and assuming £1 a Watt is achievable it normally works out at about a 5 year payback period for just panels. Plus another 18 months or so if a battery is included. An 8 kWp array seems to work out as the best return on investment, coupled with 8-10 kWh of storage from Pylontech, GivEnergy or similar. Ballpark: £12,000-13,000. 

Question: When people talk about "£1 a Watt", are they talking solely about the cost of the installed panels? Is the inverter another expense, or is it wrapped up in that £1 a Watt figure?