Solar Panel and Battery Quote Advice

Screwdriva

cf83 said:

That's unfortunate. Do you think the Powerwall route is the one I should be pursuing, though?

I'm getting another price from a 'reputable' firm and they only use Duracell inverters and batteries. Thoughts?

Absolutely, if your budget can accommodate it. The PW3 is currently my top pick by a country mile, and wins on every measurable metric except for the lack of 3 phase support, optimizers and a 10 year (vs. 12) warranty duration. What is often overlooked is the safety /reliability track record which Tesla has established across 3 generations of Powerwall products. 

If I were forced to go with another brand, it would be an Enphase/ SolarEdge system and/or the GivEnergy All in One. I would resist the temptation to settle on Duracell, which I believe is a rebadged PureDrive battery or Canadian Solar. Appreciate this may not be the answer you were hoping for...let us know if you have any luck with Heatable. . .

cf83

Heatable are looking for £14k for the PW, which is too heavy for me. 

Qyburn

cf83 said:

I don't suppose you know of anyone in Central Scotland doing that 11k PW deal?

I'm afraid my experience in Scotland is that these "shouldn't cost more than .." referrals get immediately bumped up by 30% or more for an installation up here, or end up as no bid after wasting a whole lot of time. Really you're better sticking with a local installer, with a track record of actually installing in your area. 

cf83

Yeah but none are using the materials Screwdriva quoted. So many seem to use Solis inverters. I'm fed up looking.

QrizB

cf83 said:

Yeah but none are using the materials Screwdriva quoted. So many seem to use Solis inverters. I'm fed up looking.

I know you're now fancying a Powerwall, but there are thousands of Solis inverters installed in the UK. If you can't get a Powerwall at a price you consider reasonable, the original offer isn't a bad one.

(We sometimes get lively debates over on the Green & Ethical forum about how good is good enough, and I don't want to repeat those here!)

cf83

Thanks. I went back to the installer and queried the inverter size and he agreed that it should be the bigger one especially if I want the third battery but wants £150 more for it. He also said that the application to Scottish Power is sometimes free and in other cases they charge. Does that sound right? I also need an Isolator Switch and Outfox The Market want £280 for that. 

Screwdriva

cf83 said:

Yeah but none are using the materials Screwdriva quoted. So many seem to use Solis inverters. I'm fed up looking.

This is the sad reality of the PV market - Cheap Chinese kit sold at substantial markups to unsuspecting/ naive end users. I do what I can to try to counter this but my tiny network of installers covers England / Wales only. I am always keen to meet a good one who doesn't overcharge their customers while supplying quality, ethical kit.  I hope you find one! 

Qyburn

cf83 said:

Yeah but none are using the materials Screwdriva quoted. So many seem to use Solis inverters. I'm fed up looking.

Have you spoken to Ceiba Renewables in Glasgow? No direct experience but they did the work for a local village hall and were much recommended both by them and some other people locally.

cf83

Hi,

A brief update:

I eventually settled on Electropoint, a local company who completed the install this week. The deal included:

14 panels

2 x 5.12kw batteries (Dyness)

Upgraded inverter (Solis) - 6kw

Non standard installation of Zappi EV charger

Ongoing monitoring and support facility

All notifications and certification carried out on my behalf

10k

Thoughts?

It's so frustrating seeing all this energy sitting in the batteries and I can't export it but need to wait a bit for that. Any views on the best package for me through Octopus? I think I've settled on Intelligent Octopus Go with the Outgoing Octopus (Fixed) option.

Any advice would be welcomed.

QrizB

cf83 said:

Thoughts?

Sounds like a useful installation. Hope it works well for you.

cf83 said:

It's so frustrating seeing all this energy sitting in the batteries and I can't export it but need to wait a bit for that.

While you're not being paid for export, make use of your immersion heater (if you have one). Free electricity is cheaper than gas.

cf83 said:

I think I've settled on Intelligent Octopus Go with the Outgoing Octopus (Fixed) option.

That's a popular combination. There's a slightly better deal with EON Next Drive and their fixed export tariff, but it's not managed to persuade me away from Octopus (yet).