Solar panels headache - please help!

mkl_404

Good morning. We are thinking of having some solar panels installed, partly to become greener and partly to save some money in the foreseeable future. 

We are in a 4-bedroom semi-detached townhouse (so three storeys), we use gas for central heating, we do not want heat pumps and are unlikely to own an EV. We are going to stay here for at least 10-12 years but this is not our final home so the investment needs to make financial sense.

We use, on average, 3400 kWh per year and both work from home.

We have sourced 2 quotes so far.

The prices vary to some degree but due to our lack of 'solar' knowledge, find it difficult to compare the offers.

1. ECH Group Ltd
5.1kW Solar PV: 10 x 510W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System
PV Installation for a total cost of: £4,895 Inclusive of VAT
AIKO Panels: 25 Year Product & 30 Year Performance Warranty
10 year inverter and workmanship warranty

2. Solar Fast
DMEG 450W Bifacial (pitched) 10 panels
PV Installation for a total cost of: £8k Inclusive of VAT
Panels: 30 years warranty
24 month workmanship warranty

Solar Fast is really pushing for a battery (Duracel), but I just cannot see it working for us, bearing in mind our electricity use. I feel that we would not be worse off (financially) just selling any surplus to the grid, and the lower initial investment may make it work, especially since we are not intending to stay here 'forever'.

Any thoughts, please? Is the first one too good to be true?

mkl_404

Suggested panel placement:

Robin9

I paid a little less than you a couple of years ago -  a p panel scheme subsidised by my local council.  I decided against a battery as we are home during the working day and thought the generation would enable us to do use the dishwasher etc  then.

We have a installation that faced N - NE.   Our usage has dropped by 500 kWh  saving about £125 pa; our export is about 1000  kWh and is worth £150.

As a financial scheme then No but a contribution towards a cleaner place then Yes.  Perhaps a benefit to the value of the house then Yes.

Screwdriva

mkl_404 said:

Good morning. We are thinking of having some solar panels installed, partly to become greener and partly to save some money in the foreseeable future. 

We are in a 4-bedroom semi-detached townhouse (so three storeys), we use gas for central heating, we do not want heat pumps and are unlikely to own an EV. We are going to stay here for at least 10-12 years but this is not our final home so the investment needs to make financial sense.

We use, on average, 3400 kWh per year and both work from home.

We have sourced 2 quotes so far.

The prices vary to some degree but due to our lack of 'solar' knowledge, find it difficult to compare the offers.

1. ECH Group Ltd
5.1kW Solar PV: 10 x 510W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System
PV Installation for a total cost of: £4,895 Inclusive of VAT
AIKO Panels: 25 Year Product & 30 Year Performance Warranty
10 year inverter and workmanship warranty

2. Solar Fast
DMEG 450W Bifacial (pitched) 10 panels
PV Installation for a total cost of: £8k Inclusive of VAT
Panels: 30 years warranty
24 month workmanship warranty

Solar Fast is really pushing for a battery (Duracel), but I just cannot see it working for us, bearing in mind our electricity use. I feel that we would not be worse off (financially) just selling any surplus to the grid, and the lower initial investment may make it work, especially since we are not intending to stay here 'forever'.

Any thoughts, please? Is the first one too good to be true?

A few thoughts:

1) Both AIKO and DMEG are extremely low end Chinese panel brands. Neither have been on the market for 2 years and have no track record. I don't recommend either unless they're free via an ECO4 scheme.

2) Both quotes don't specify the inverter brand or size. This is important as not all inverters are created equal and many installers specify 3.6kW inverters to avoid G99 application paperwork. 

3) Unless you suffer from blackouts or plan on getting a heat pump soon, I agree that a battery will not pay for itself within warranty. Installers do their best to convince unsuspecting homeowners to invest in them, as their overall job profitability increases, which is a sad reality of the industry.

4) Installers I use to help others offer 10 X Eurener 500W Bifacial panels paired to SolarEdge 5kW inverter with a 20 year warranty for ~£5200. This is a 10% larger system size with a much better, more ethical panel brand. 

Hope this helps give you perspective!  Solar is a great technology that so many of us advocate passionately. I hope you'll join us soon! 

mkl_404

Screwdriva said:

mkl_404 said:

Good morning. We are thinking of having some solar panels installed, partly to become greener and partly to save some money in the foreseeable future. 

We are in a 4-bedroom semi-detached townhouse (so three storeys), we use gas for central heating, we do not want heat pumps and are unlikely to own an EV. We are going to stay here for at least 10-12 years but this is not our final home so the investment needs to make financial sense.

We use, on average, 3400 kWh per year and both work from home.

We have sourced 2 quotes so far.

The prices vary to some degree but due to our lack of 'solar' knowledge, find it difficult to compare the offers.

1. ECH Group Ltd
5.1kW Solar PV: 10 x 510W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System
PV Installation for a total cost of: £4,895 Inclusive of VAT
AIKO Panels: 25 Year Product & 30 Year Performance Warranty
10 year inverter and workmanship warranty

2. Solar Fast
DMEG 450W Bifacial (pitched) 10 panels
PV Installation for a total cost of: £8k Inclusive of VAT
Panels: 30 years warranty
24 month workmanship warranty

Solar Fast is really pushing for a battery (Duracel), but I just cannot see it working for us, bearing in mind our electricity use. I feel that we would not be worse off (financially) just selling any surplus to the grid, and the lower initial investment may make it work, especially since we are not intending to stay here 'forever'.

Any thoughts, please? Is the first one too good to be true?

A few thoughts:

1) Both AIKO and DMEG are extremely low end Chinese panel brands. Neither have been on the market for 2 years and have no track record. I don't recommend either unless they're free via an ECO4 scheme.

2) Both quotes don't specify the inverter brand or size. This is important as not all inverters are created equal and many installers specify 3.6kW inverters to avoid G99 application paperwork. 

3) Unless you suffer from blackouts or plan on getting a heat pump soon, I agree that a battery will not pay for itself within warranty. Installers do their best to convince unsuspecting homeowners to invest in them, as their overall job profitability increases, which is a sad reality of the industry.

4) Installers I use to help others offer 10 X Eurener 500W Bifacial panels paired to SolarEdge 5kW inverter with a 20 year warranty for ~£5200. This is a 10% larger system size with a much better, more ethical panel brand. 

Hope this helps give you perspective!  Solar is a great technology that so many of us advocate passionately. I hope you'll join us soon! 

Thanks a lot! I note that you are based in SE. Are there any companies/installers in the SW that you may recommend? (we are based in Devon if that helps)

Screwdriva

I've helped forum members in Sheldon/ Teignmouth/ Exeter and know installers who cover these areas too! Feel free to DM me and I'll do my best to help. 

QrizB

I agree with the above. The ECH quote is a reasonable-ish price for budget equipment. The Solar Fast quote is not

Screwdriva's suggestion is also a good price for bigger-brand products with a longer track record.

Avallon_2

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Chinese brand quality comments.

AIKO have been producing solar panel cells since 2009 and hold a number of patents (although it's true that they have only fairly recently started to build their own panels).

Have a look at this review from a company that sells a variety of brands including AIKO and Eurener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCYPJJEhfs&t=1051s  - suggest you make up your own mind.

The ECH group pricing is very good but still realistic. I've gone for a deal with 7kw worth of AIKO panels and 6kw inverter (I had a choice of brands), bird mesh, HIES insurance backed warranty for £4,650.  If you have the room - happy to share the details of the company I'm using - more panels > improved ROI.

If you don't have the room, it would be worth exploring the Eurener option on the basis of the panels being more premium at comparatively low additional cost.

mkl_404

Avallon_2 said:

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Chinese brand quality comments.

AIKO have been producing solar panel cells since 2009 and hold a number of patents (although it's true that they have only fairly recently started to build their own panels).

Have a look at this review from a company that sells a variety of brands including AIKO and Eurener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCYPJJEhfs&t=1051s  - suggest you make up your own mind.

The ECH group pricing is very good but still realistic. I've gone for a deal with 7kw worth of AIKO panels and 6kw inverter (I had a choice of brands), bird mesh, HIES insurance backed warranty for £4,650.  If you have the room - happy to share the details of the company I'm using - more panels > improved ROI.

If you don't have the room, it would be worth exploring the Eurener option on the basis of the panels being more premium at comparatively low additional cost.

Apparently I can only squeeze there 10 panels in total but plsease let me know who have used and I will contact them for a quote. Thank you!

Screwdriva

Avallon_2 said:

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Chinese brand quality comments.

Out of curiosity, are you basing you view on Spirit Energy's (a polarizing installer to say the least) YouTube channel or do you have any experience/ data to back up your comment? Or is it simply premature confirmation bias, given that you have yet to experience your system first hand? 

Avallon_2

Screwdriva said:

Avallon_2 said:

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Chinese brand quality comments.

Out of curiosity, are you basing you view on Spirit Energy's (a polarizing installer to say the least) YouTube channel or do you have any experience/ data to back up your comment? Or is it simply premature confirmation bias, given that you have yet to experience your system first hand? 

I'm basing it on my research. I'm happy to be corrected by you that AIKO are 'extremely low end' if there is any evidence you are able to share?