Solar Panel advice

Waywardmike

Petriix said:

That might seem harsh, but it's true. That doesn't mean batteries are always a bad idea. There are combinations of unusual circumstances where they make sense, it's just that those circumstances are not applicable to the majority. For the record, I'd love to have a battery if someone else was paying for it, I just can't possibly justify the expense.

I agree with everything you've said, if, and only if, the battery was installed to save money.  I understand this is a money saving site/forum, so that should be the focus of discussions but that's not all batteries are good for.

I have neither a ASHP or suffer frequent blackouts, can't actually remember the last powercut I've had but the battery should pay for itself, so much can change in the near future, that might not be true though. My 'system' will pay for the battery in less than two years though, is that okay?

People on the site here, installing solar only now should get their investment back in a few years, that time has been cut considerably with the insane cost rises the last year or so, but maybe next year energy will be at rock bottom (here's hoping) and it will now take 15 years to get it back, maybe a policy change will mean not at all.  So maybe they shouldn't install solar, because it's all about ROI right?

The battery does far more than save me money, it makes my system far more useable, but maybe I'm in a better position to say this, having had a solar only system for 8 years and now the benefit of a battery for 1 year.

I think the issue I have on here is the preachy nature of some posters saying 'Don't get a battery unless X,Y, Z are applicable'  when they have absolutely no experience of the benefits of having one at all, just an opinion.

Petriix

I'd always say that people need to do their own sums based on their own circumstances. However, the only valid measure of the saving is to compare your actual (net) energy bill with the lowest it could have been without the battery. 

ian1246

Just an update - we decided to go with the first quote (£6390 for 11 Trina Vertex S 415W & 3.6Kwh Giv Energy Inverter). This would be split 6 & 5 panels, facing East & West.

Went with this provider since i ve seen their work a few times in my local area & frankly they were a few grand cheaper than the next quote - that and bring the only ones willing to actually climb up and do specific measurements etc...

Think our house falls in the "too difficult" category for other providers due to the layout of a number of dormer windows and the location of the loft (where the inverters going) in relation to the panels themselves and the switch board/fuse box.

Provisionally pencilled in for Thursday June 22nd to have the panels fitted etc... , however this is subject to any delays etc...

Which leads onto the next question - which Octopus Energy tariff to opt for? (we re already Octopus customers & had a smart metre installed by them last October).

powerful_Rogue

ian1246 said:

Just an update - we decided to go with the first quote (£6390 for 11 Trina Vertex S 415W & 3.6Kwh Giv Energy Inverter). This would be split 6 & 5 panels, facing East & West.

Went with this provider since i ve seen their work a few times in my local area & frankly they were a few grand cheaper than the next quote - that and bring the only ones willing to actually climb up and do specific measurements etc...

Think our house falls in the "too difficult" category for other providers due to the layout of a number of dormer windows and the location of the loft (where the inverters going) in relation to the panels themselves and the switch board/fuse box.

Provisionally pencilled in for Thursday June 22nd to have the panels fitted etc... , however this is subject to any delays etc...

Which leads onto the next question - which Octopus Energy tariff to opt for? (we re already Octopus customers & had a smart metre installed by them last October).

Octopus Flux

https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/