Final check before committing to solar PV quote

boots_babe

Hi,

I posted our very first solar PV quote on here for feedback, and since then have spoken to a number of other installers. We have now decided who we would like to go with, and I just wanted to sense-check the quote before we go ahead.

Also couple of things re the panels:

• we asked for the price differential if we had premium brand panels, they are saying that for LG Cello 410 panels, they cost £100 more each = £2k more total. Does that sound right? Was just surprised at such a large difference. At that price it doesn't seem worth it.
• we asked about getting a quote for the latest version of the Trina panels, but he said they pretty much supply what is available at the time (obviously subject to agreement with the customer). He was very honest, and said that by the time our DNO G99 comes back, it could well be that the Trina 395 are no longer available and they would need to propose a different one, as this is what has been happening through the year so far. I do understand this in principle as I'm conscious there are ongoing supply issues. Just wondering if other installers have been taking a similar approach?

The quote :

20 x Trina Vertex S 395 panels (25 year performance warranty, 15 year defect warranty)

Solis 8kw 5G dual MPPT inverter (5 year warranty)

Givenergy 9.5kw battery (10 year warranty)

Emlite bi-directional kwh meter

MCS and HIES
DNO G99 application
Includes all roof access, scaffold, mounting, no extra costs.
 
Total £16,200 - this is the cheapest quote we've had by about £1500.

The quote includes installation of a second meter, as he said there was insufficient space in our current meter box. 

Many thanks.

Bianchiintenso

Sounds very similar in price to an installation we're having next week, so seems to be at current market rates

20 x 400 Watt Panels Sharp (NU-JC400B)

Sunsynk 8.000 kW Inverter

Sunsynk 10.24 kWh Battery Storage

DNO EPVS certification

Tigo optimisers

Tigo gateway

£16,050

rew81

If you chose Trina why not use their latest panels Vertex S+ 415W?  30years/25 years warranties dual glass design. Much better than Vertex S.
Where are you based? 

QrizB

rew81 said:

If you chose Trina why not use their latest panels Vertex S+ 415W?

The OP has already answered that specific question.

boots_babe said:

• we asked about getting a quote for the latest version of the Trina panels, but he said they pretty much supply what is available at the time (obviously subject to agreement with the customer).

boots_babe

rew81 - I can't seem to get the quote feature to work but to reply to your question:

Because our installer says they only quote for what they know they can get stock of. However, as it's taking around 2 months for a G99 application in my area, he was very honest and said even the ones he's quoted may no longer be available by then. 

I did ask specifically about the latest Trina model, but he said he didn't want to promise something that he wasn't sure would be available.

We are in Lancashire, have contacted all MCS installers within about 1.5 hour drive.

rew81

boots_babe said:

rew81 - I can't seem to get the quote feature to work but to reply to your question:

Because our installer says they only quote for what they know they can get stock of. However, as it's taking around 2 months for a G99 application in my area, he was very honest and said even the ones he's quoted may no longer be available by then. 

I did ask specifically about the latest Trina model, but he said he didn't want to promise something that he wasn't sure would be available.

We are in Lancashire, have contacted all MCS installers within about 1.5 hour drive.

Plenty of stock from what I can see. 

boots_babe

That's interesting, thanks rew81. Is that a reputable site do you know?

However at that price, the latest Trina panels are only about £25 per panel less, than what we're being quoted for LG ones. So my thinking would be, if we were going up to that pricepoint, would we not be better getting the LG ones?

Which brings me full circle, as much as I can see it's worth getting the latest tech, I struggle to see how paying ~£2k more to do so, will make enough of a difference to give a good ROI on the extra money?

Hope that makes sense.

QrizB

boots_babe said:

That's interesting, thanks rew81. Is that a reputable site do you know?

Midsummer Wholesale has been around for a while, but I've not used them myself.

boots_babe said:

However at that price, the latest Trina panels are only about £25 per panel less, than what we're being quoted for LG ones. So my thinking would be, if we were going up to that pricepoint, would we not be better getting the LG ones?

Midsummer look to be quoting £193.70 each for their 415 watt panels (46.7p/watt). Are you saying your installer is offering 410W LG panels for £220 a panel (53.6p/watt), and the Vertex S 395 are only £120 a panel (30.3p/watt)?

30p a watt is a very low price in the current market.

boots_babe

Yes that's right, it's £100 more per panel if we go with the LG ones.

This installer was the cheapest by £1500 of the quotes we've had, so I'm  ow wondering if that's because he's somehow got the Trina 395 panels at a really good price?

I feel like I'm agonising over the panel choice, but we'll have them for 25 years so don't want to regret whatever we go with.

QrizB

boots_babe said:

This installer was the cheapest by £1500 of the quotes we've had, so I'm  ow wondering if that's because he's somehow got the Trina 395 panels at a really good price?

Midsummer have them on clearance for £130:
https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/buy/trina/Trina-395

But then there's this from your original post:

boots_babe said:

... he said they pretty much supply what is available at the time (obviously subject to agreement with the customer). He was very honest, and said that by the time our DNO G99 comes back, it could well be that the Trina 395 are no longer available and they would need to propose a different one, as this is what has been happening through the year so far.

If you do choose this installer and the 395W panels, there's a risk that the clearance sale will have finished by the time he comes to install and you'll end up paying the extra £1500-£2000 anyway.

boots_babe

Yes absolutely right, we've considered that. But the more I read on various forums, there doesn't seem to be any guarantee with any installer.  Especially when we know it'll be a 2 month wait for G99 in our area, in which time, things could well change. 

Why is it so complicated!