Thoughts on a Solar Panel quote please.

Had a quote through my local authority scheme and wondered if this is competitive. Increased significantly since my last quote which I declined, but understandably so due to energy costs driving up demand.
Complete solar panel system
£9,609
  • Roof survey
  • Installation
  • 16 panels
  • Inverter
  • Materials and fittings
  • Monitoring tool
  • Extended warranties 
  • Insurance-backed guarantee 
Panels are Suntech 390 Mono All Black with a 12 year warranty. No battery included (£3800 extra for 4.6Kw), not sure if I really need as I work at home, and could possible use generated power during the day).

Any comments welcomed! 
Thanks

«1

Comments

  • Alnat1
    Alnat1 Posts: 3,759 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    I'd expect the battery to be included for that price.
    Barnsley, South Yorkshire
    Solar PV 5.25kWp SW facing (14 x 375) Lux 3.6kw hybrid inverter installed Mar 22 and 9.6kw Pylontech battery 
    Daikin 8kW ASHP installed Jan 25
    Octopus Cosy/Fixed Outgoing 
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 16,624 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 7 November 2022 at 1:56PM
    That's a 6.24kWp system, so £1.54 a watt which seems pricey. Under £8k would be more reasonable.
    They haven't mentioned the spec of the inverter. For a system that size I'd expect at least a 5kWp inverter, which will involve a G99 application (which they also haven't mentioned).
    I'm not exactly a fan of Light Renewables but a system that size would be maybe £7.5k from them, based on the quotes they were offering a couple of months ago (look at "Option 2" then add 50% to go from 4kWp to 6kWp):
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79430559/#Comment_79430559
    @GD2022 has just (this last weekend) had a system installed by them, maybe he can share what his system cost?:
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79607017/#Comment_79607017

    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • GD2022
    GD2022 Posts: 19 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    QrizB said:
    That's a 6.24kWp system, so £1.54 a watt which seems pricey. Under £8k would be more reasonable.
    They haven't mentioned the spec of the inverter. For a system that size I'd expect at least a 5kWp inverter, which will involve a G99 application (which they also haven't mentioned).
    I'm not exactly a fan of Light Renewables but a system that size would be maybe £7.5k from them, based on the quotes they were offering a couple of months ago (look at "Option 2" then add 50% to go from 4kWp to 6kWp):
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79430559/#Comment_79430559
    @GD2022 has just (this last weekend) had a system installed by them, maybe he can share what his system cost?:
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79607017/#Comment_79607017

    We had the standard 10 panel 4k system installed with the SolarEdge hybrid inverter as well as bird proofing, £6.2k all in.

    Paid in full this morning and have already received the MSC & NAPIT certificates.

  • Screwdriva
    Screwdriva Posts: 1,429 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 7 November 2022 at 7:49PM
    In my experience, council schemes are suboptimal on price and quality of components. I'd avoid Suntech - they're at the bottom end of the Chinese panel quality spectrum, if there is such a thing!

    I was fortunate to be able to help GD2022 with his installation and have seen a recent quote for a 16 panel system in the GLA. And no, you likely won't need a battery unless you are a heavy night time user or have an EV/ heat pump.

    16 x 400w Sharp black solar panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency and a 15 year product warranty

    16 x SolarEdge optimizers. 25 Year warranty

      1 x SolarEdge HD Wave single phase inverter[Battery ready inverter] 25 year product warranty 

    ~£7500 installed. G99 included.

    -  10 x 400w LG + 6 x 550W SHARP BiFacial Panels + SE 3680 HD Wave Inverter + SE Optimizers. SE London.
    -  Triple aspect. (22% ENE/ 33% SSE/ 45% WSW)
    -  Viessmann 200-W on Advanced Weather Comp. (the most efficient gas boiler sold)

    Feel free to DM me if I can help with any energy saving!
  • GD2022 said:
    QrizB said:
    That's a 6.24kWp system, so £1.54 a watt which seems pricey. Under £8k would be more reasonable.
    They haven't mentioned the spec of the inverter. For a system that size I'd expect at least a 5kWp inverter, which will involve a G99 application (which they also haven't mentioned).
    I'm not exactly a fan of Light Renewables but a system that size would be maybe £7.5k from them, based on the quotes they were offering a couple of months ago (look at "Option 2" then add 50% to go from 4kWp to 6kWp):
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79430559/#Comment_79430559
    @GD2022 has just (this last weekend) had a system installed by them, maybe he can share what his system cost?:
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79607017/#Comment_79607017

    We had the standard 10 panel 4k system installed with the SolarEdge hybrid inverter as well as bird proofing, £6.2k all in.

    Paid in full this morning and have already received the MSC & NAPIT certificates.

    Excellent thanks for the reply!
  • In my experience, council schemes are suboptimal on price and quality of components. I'd avoid Suntech - they're at the bottom end of the Chinese panel quality spectrum, if there is such a thing!

    I was fortunate to be able to help GD2022 with his installation and have seen a recent quote for a 16 panel system in the GLA. And no, you likely won't need a battery unless you are a heavy night time user or have an EV/ heat pump.

    16 x 400w Sharp black solar panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency and a 15 year product warranty

    16 x SolarEdge optimizers. 25 Year warranty

      1 x SolarEdge HD Wave single phase inverter[Battery ready inverter] 25 year product warranty 

    ~£7500 installed. G99 included.

    Thanks! I posted as I wanted to check out the competitiveness of the council scheme so appreciate your comment. I declined a previous offer last year as reviews (and I know they are not always completely reliable) for the supplier selected were poor. This time it seems a much better supplier but price seemed high.
  • In my experience, council schemes are suboptimal on price and quality of components. I'd avoid Suntech - they're at the bottom end of the Chinese panel quality spectrum, if there is such a thing!

    I was fortunate to be able to help GD2022 with his installation and have seen a recent quote for a 16 panel system in the GLA. And no, you likely won't need a battery unless you are a heavy night time user or have an EV/ heat pump.

    16 x 400w Sharp black solar panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency and a 15 year product warranty

    16 x SolarEdge optimizers. 25 Year warranty

      1 x SolarEdge HD Wave single phase inverter[Battery ready inverter] 25 year product warranty 

    ~£7500 installed. G99 included.

    Thanks! I posted as I wanted to check out the competitiveness of the council scheme so appreciate your comment. I declined a previous offer last year as reviews (and I know they are not always completely reliable) for the supplier selected were poor. This time it seems a much better supplier but price seemed high.

    Reviews can be a double edged sword. People mainly only write them when they have had a bad experience, vs the many that have had no issues at all.
  • kvothe
    kvothe Posts: 18 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    In my experience, council schemes are suboptimal on price and quality of components. I'd avoid Suntech - they're at the bottom end of the Chinese panel quality spectrum, if there is such a thing!

    I was fortunate to be able to help GD2022 with his installation and have seen a recent quote for a 16 panel system in the GLA. And no, you likely won't need a battery unless you are a heavy night time user or have an EV/ heat pump.

    16 x 400w Sharp black solar panels, 25 year warranty to 86.2% efficiency and a 15 year product warranty

    16 x SolarEdge optimizers. 25 Year warranty

      1 x SolarEdge HD Wave single phase inverter[Battery ready inverter] 25 year product warranty 

    ~£7500 installed. G99 included.

    Can you recommend an installer? I've had quotes ranging from 8k to 20k for a 4-5kw system, 10 kwh battery and a 3.68kw inverter. 
  • Screwdriva
    Screwdriva Posts: 1,429 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    kvothe said:
    Can you recommend an installer? I've had quotes ranging from 8k to 20k for a 4-5kw system, 10 kwh battery and a 3.68kw inverter. 
    Would suggest you go with an installer local to you - I work with a couple and both are based in the South 
    -  10 x 400w LG + 6 x 550W SHARP BiFacial Panels + SE 3680 HD Wave Inverter + SE Optimizers. SE London.
    -  Triple aspect. (22% ENE/ 33% SSE/ 45% WSW)
    -  Viessmann 200-W on Advanced Weather Comp. (the most efficient gas boiler sold)

    Feel free to DM me if I can help with any energy saving!
  • vienly
    vienly Posts: 241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    kvothe said:
    Can you recommend an installer? I've had quotes ranging from 8k to 20k for a 4-5kw system, 10 kwh battery and a 3.68kw inverter. 
    Would suggest you go with an installer local to you - I work with a couple and both are based in the South 
    I thought LR works the whole of UK? According to another member they did an install in Outer Hebrides, isn't that in Scotland??
    Then they said they going to be in Notts soon?
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