Is This a Good Solar Panel Quote? Seeking Expert Opinions! ☀️

ravi342883

Hi everyone,

I recently received a quote from Project Solar for a solar panel installation, and I'd love to get some insights from those with experience in the industry or homeowners who have gone through a similar process. Here’s what’s included in the quote:

🔹 12 Evolution Maxima 490W panels

🔹 8.6kWh FOX Energy Cube battery

🔹 Full installation

🔹 Lifetime Solar Panel Warranty

🔹 Lifetime Inverter Warranty (Twin Tracker Inverter)

🔹 15-Year Battery Warranty

💰 Total Cost: £10K

As I'm new to this and just started R&D around this and love to move towards green energy.

Does this seem like a reasonable price for the system and warranties provided? Are there any specific things I should watch out for? or good to proceed with this?

I’d really appreciate any advice or feedback! Thanks in advance. 😊☀️

FlorayG

I can't comment on the price but I got mine from Project Solar and the installation was very efficient and the after sales service excellent, so I'm very happy with mine
I think the prices may have come down because I paid more than that! But you can't compare my installation with yours

QrizB

Project Solar are generally quite expensive for what you get (sorry FlorayG).

That particular deal isn't terrible, but see for example this recent quote here for a similarly-sized system at a bit under £8k.

You could contact @kev1744 to see who they got their quotes from? Or ask @Screwdriva for a recommendation?

happyretiree

I haven’t got solar panels told me that he found he needed an extra battery for storage. You have to pay vat on extra batteries if you buy them after the installation so make sure you get enough battery storage at the time of installation cos you then you won’t pay vat. 

Screwdriva

ravi342883 said:

Does this seem like a reasonable price for the system and warranties provided? Are there any specific things I should watch out for? or good to proceed with this?

I’d really appreciate any advice or feedback! Thanks in advance. 😊☀️

I would ignore the "lifetime warranty" sales tactic. It's very unlikely you will succeed at claiming anything but a pro-rated paltry amount (think < £100), should something fail decades down the road. 

Before I jump into spec, can I ask what your annual consumption is? Also, do you suffer from power blackouts or plan to get a heat pump anytime soon? 

I'll be back with more once I have your responses.

happyretiree said:

I haven’t got solar panels told me that he found he needed an extra battery for storage. You have to pay vat on extra batteries if you buy them after the installation so make sure you get enough battery storage at the time of installation cos you then you won’t pay vat. 

This was the case but the rules have changed. Batteries are VAT free now. 

QrizB said:

You could contact @kev1744 to see who they got their quotes from? Or ask @Screwdriva for a recommendation?

Last I heard, the installers were able to fit 9 X 500W black bifacial panels on @kev1744's roof. 4.5+kW is an incredible result for such a small surface area. I hope images of the result will be shared soon! 

Ectophile

Is that lifetime warranty insurance backed?  If not, it's likely to be the lifetime of the company installing the panels.  That can be very short.

And look for any clauses that mean that the warranty is largely worthless.  For example, it's parts only and you have to pay them for the fitting.

kesteven

Hi, sorry to bother you but I just like to ask if you go with that Project solar instalation? I`m also considering having solar system fitted, and already had a person here from Project solar last week who offered me exactly the same deal than yours for £16k! I said I need to think about it and told him to call me in few days. Then I try to google what was possible about them and I found your post. So when that surveyor call me back I asked him why I was quoted so much?, he told me that your quote must be special offer as it hardly cove the cost of materials and only office can give that special offer price, so I refused £16k offer. Next day someone else from their office call nad offer me the same system for £9998. I`m really confused as thats the best price I got around here but I don`t know if they can be thrusted? Any advice? Thanks, 

QrizB

Hi @kesteven if you search the forum you'll find lots of Project Solar threads. They tend to be expensive for what you get, but have very persuasive (some might say pushy) salespeople.

Their installers are generally OK.

Most of the forum regulars would say that you can get better kit at the same (or lower) price if you shop around.

There have been a few recent threads (within the past couple of weeks) where people have been comparing solar PV quotes. Take a look at those and you'll see the sort of questions that you need to ask yourself. These will include:

- Do you use enough electricity for a battery to be worthwhile, or has it been added to the quote to pad their profit margin?

- Will the chosen number of panels fill your door, or can you add more?

- Are they going to do the extra work to get you a G99 export permit, or will you be capped to 3.68kW of export under G98 and lose your peak generation in the summertime?

Edit to add:

Those recent solar panel quote threads are on the "Green and Ethical" section of the forum:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/green-ethical-moneysaving