Solar installation in NW required 28 October 2022 at 2:02PM in Green & ethical MoneySaving 15 replies 374 views

Spies

Optimisers on shaded panels only, relatively little cost and it will more than pay for itself. 

paddcomp

ECO Renewables quote in and had a nice chat on the phone. Not surprisingly much less than PS quote.

2nd_time_buyer

paddcomp said:

This is the panel layout on the roof, main house and garage.  What's people views on the shading from the chimney, and what are my options?  Do I a) remove the panels likely to be shaded? b) fit TIGO optimisers to the shaded panels only c) ignore the shading issue? d) something else?
The chimney is approx 3-4ft plus the pot another 2ft.




Chimney shadow mid-afternoon in Oct.

I would go with the Tigop optimizers (on three panels), if there and no other shading issues. That vent pipe might also cause a few issues - can it be cut down a bit? Otherwise, optimisers on the two panels behind it might also be a good idea. If you could relocate that vent you could potentially get more panels on e.g. 4x4 in landscape format.

Note: The irradiance image above, from the SolarEdge software, assumes optimisers on all panels. The effect of the chimney and vent will be much more significant than shown in the absence of optimisers. 

Looking at the garage. This will be partially in the shade from the house from midday onwards for most of the year. There is an argument for putting optimisers on all those panels too. 

paddcomp

The quote I've been waiting for, what do you think.  I'm pretty happy with it, it includes what I've asked for (Tigo optimisers are £60 ea extra between 4 and 6 units).  The panels as from previous post are on 2 roof aspects of 12 and 8 panels.  Some other quotes are for 2 inverters to handle to VOC from the number of panels, but Givenergy confirmed the total VOC per string was acceptable for the Longi panels.  I've asked for the Gen2 Givenergy inverter but that's not available yet, but I might hang on as I think it'll work better for us.

8.2KW SOLAR PV SYSTEM

20 x 410w Longi Black Panels 

1 x Givenergy 5Kw Inverter

1 X 9.5KW Givenergy Battery

1 x Cables, conduit, isolators

1 x HIES insurance backed warranty

1 x MCS sign off 

1 x Installation

1 x Scaffolding

1 x Iboost Hot Water

1 x Bird Mesh 

 

TOTAL £14,395  fitted NO VAT 

loofer

paddcomp said:

The quote I've been waiting for, what do you think.  I'm pretty happy with it, it includes what I've asked for (Tigo optimisers are £60 ea extra between 4 and 6 units).  The panels as from previous post are on 2 roof aspects of 12 and 8 panels.  Some other quotes are for 2 inverters to handle to VOC from the number of panels, but Givenergy confirmed the total VOC per string was acceptable for the Longi panels.  I've asked for the Gen2 Givenergy inverter but that's not available yet, but I might hang on as I think it'll work better for us.

8.2KW SOLAR PV SYSTEM

20 x 410w Longi Black Panels 

1 x Givenergy 5Kw Inverter

1 X 9.5KW Givenergy Battery

1 x Cables, conduit, isolators

1 x HIES insurance backed warranty

1 x MCS sign off 

1 x Installation

1 x Scaffolding

1 x Iboost Hot Water

1 x Bird Mesh 

 

TOTAL £14,395  fitted NO VAT 

Seems to marginally exceed the much touted £1k/kWp PV + £500/kW Battery which would be ~£13k but then add in the extras such as iBoost, Meshing and presumably cost of DNO application as it can export over 16A with that inverter and actually it's a decent deal if you're happy with the installer and warranties.

Depending on where you are, I can recommend Connect Electric based in Manchester