Solar advice please (quote and options)

Solarchaser

Screwdriva said:

Solarchaser said:

I'm sure screwdriva will be able to share the company he seems to quote as a price guide, and then you will have a recommended company, as well as what he considers a good price too 👍 

To date, I use 3 installers to cover England and E. Wales for friends, family and anyone who needs a quality system quote. # of installations since 2/22 = 121, including several forum members. Average system size 5.5kW and rising.

Which installer I recommend comes down to desired components/ specification, location and budget. As an example, one offers the Powerwall 2 and are registered with RECC, another is with HIES and offers the All in One battery, the third has both + MyEnergi but is limited to the Greater London area.

 I am paid a big fat £0 for any of this, but I insist that installers avoid brands with spotty reputations, and that they pass on savings on marketing and lead generation to the end user. This incentive has worked quite well for all involved, as should be reflected by the quotes I share. Always happy to help anyone who needs it but not here to market on anyone's behalf.

Spies said:

Could try getting a quote via Heatable? 

They offer superb kit (Enphase inverters and Alpha or the All in One battery + REA Bifacial panels.) Really great installer and spec but they are priced at a premium of ~£2K as a result.

Great that you are telling us all how many people you have helped, giving up your free time, with no reward, to help others.
That is literally the whole reason of having these kind of forums, so good for you.
So can you help the OP?

Screwdriva

Solarchaser said:

Great that you are telling us all how many people you have helped, giving up your free time, with no reward, to help others.
That is literally the whole reason of having these kind of forums, so good for you.

Very kind of you to say. Thank you!

Solarchaser said:

So can you help the OP?

Gladly, and have offered to help. The only thing I can't do (yet) is help with a Fogstar battery, as it is so new, untested, and offered at a unbelievable price point. The best battery that will fit with OP's budget is the GivEnergy 9.5kW though I would recommend the All in One given the superior specification for the £.

Solarchaser

Well as someone using the fogstar batteries for around 3 months, id highly recommend them.

The thing that's different with the fogstar batteries is that actually what you are buying is a box and a bms, technically buying whichever prismatic cells you want is up to you.

I have picked eve cells for one stack and envision for another and so far both are giving exactly the capacity they are stating.

nazuro4013

Thank you for the interesting information Screwdriva. I was thinking a 5kw inverter would also allow me to charge/discharge my 15kwh battery faster, but I will see at what premium. I think I'm settled now on not going for the NW aspect so just my 9 panels, therefore a 3.6kw inverter would make sense for them.

Appreciate your offer on alternative companies, but I've done quite a bit of research into the Fogstar and read various anecdotes that I'm convinced that is the way forward. If anyone knows any other installer that installs Fogstar then I would happily get a quote from them too!

nazuro4013

Hi, hope you don't mind my asking a follow up question. I'm getting second thoughts about whether this is actually  a good decision or not. My 11 year payback period is generated based on a 6,000 kw annual consumption and a 32p electricity tarrif. In actual fact, my current consumption is approx. 5,000 kw and my tarrif (octopus Tracker) averages about 17p. 
9 panel + (15kwh battery) system at £10k gives me an approx. 3,429 Kwh annual output. Add another 6 panels on my NW aspect for an extra ~£2k and I get an extra 1,400 Kwh output.

I am hoping to get an ASHP installed in the next couple of years, hence my wanting this battery, so I could make use of off-peak tarrif to charge it up and then use it. But, with Octopus Cosy tarrif, would that be sufficient instead?

If I lose the battery and just go for the solar, i'll be paying ~£7.5k for 3,400 kwh, which "saves" me approx. £578 (3400 * 0.17) a year. So, my payback period is 13 years. Is it worth it? Have I missed anything here? 

Thank you in advance. Let me know if I should make a new thread on this topic.

Screwdriva

Those numbers don't add up for me. As I see it:

1) A 9 X 425W SHARP panel + SolarEdge inverter w/ 20 year warranty will cost you ~£5200 installed. All inclusive including G98. HIES and bird netting.

2) Assuming you generate 3400kWh p.a (seems a bit low for me but let's assume its accurate) and sell 70% of this to the grid at an average of .20p via Octopus Flux, you will earn ~£475. You will also save ~£255 in electricity consumption (average of .25p per kWh). Total ~£730 p.a.

3) Over a 14% annual return or a ~7 year ROI at expected Q2 '24 Flux prices. 

4) I would invest in a battery at the time of getting the heat pump. VAT free as an add on and prices may be lower, capacity would be higher and tariffs may have evolved further. 

Hope this makes sense?

Waywardmike

Screwdriva said:

3) Over a 14% annual return or a ~7 year ROI at expected Q2 '24 Flux prices. 

And if Flux prices are halved (or worse), which wouldn't be unreasonable, that ROI doubles.  The Energy crisis slashed your 20 year ROI to <10 (~7 If I recall), it could quite easily go the other way.

Screwdriva

Waywardmike said:

And if Flux prices are halved (or worse), which wouldn't be unreasonable, that ROI doubles.  The Energy crisis slashed your 20 year ROI to <10 (~7 If I recall), it could quite easily go the other way.

My ROI timeframe was higher as I elected to purchase a much more expensive system in 2019 (£7K). I don't know how you see prices halving in the world we currently live in? I suppose that's my way of saying yes, I view that prediction as unreasonable for the foreseeable. 

nazuro4013

Thanks Screwdriva. That makes sense. I will reply to your DM. Do you (or anyone else) know if SolarEdge inverter works with Fogstar should I want to add this battery at a later date? 

Presumably the reason it only makes sense for a battery with an ASHP is the ability to charge it at a cheap rate and then consume during the day (we're home all day). Thanks

Screwdriva

nazuro4013 said:

Do you (or anyone else) know if SolarEdge inverter works with Fogstar should I want to add this battery at a later date? 

If I were you, I'd contact Fogstar directly to ask if their battery can be AC coupled to the SolarEdge system. I don't see why it wouldn't but worth asking.