5 vs 10 Solar Panels with Battery from Octopus – Advice Needed for Future EV & Heat Pump

Newbie_John

At £140 a month is it even worth it?
I assume you on a standard rate 25/kWh.

When you get an electric car you could switch to some of the cheap 6p overnight tariff, especially with heat pump running on that rate your bills will significantly go down (as well as savings).

Why they estimated bill £240? Well to hype the savings, £200 saved a month shows that system pays itself back in 5 years, if you save £70 a month then we're talking 10+ years.

If you want to be green then you could consider investing in renewables like Bluefield Solar, Greencoat UK Wind etc. they pay close to 9% back (probably what your system would earn you).

QrizB

Screwdriva said:

Sam3007 said: 

I’m looking to get solar panels with a payment plan similar to Octopus’s offer of 0% interest over at least three years. Do you know any companies in the North West that provide a similar deal? Also, if I’m installing an EV charging point alongside, which brand or model would you recommend with this system ?

Sadly, I know of no companies that offer 0% financing over 3 years, as this cost is typically passed on to the customer via a higher system quote (as Octopus appears to have done).

You can get pretty close with the use of 0% credit cards (easier if the installers take card payments, a bit more complicated if they don't).

Eg. there are several current 24-month 0% offers:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards/

After 24 months you'd look to transfer any remaining balance over to another 0% deal.

Newbie_John

QrizB said:

Screwdriva said:

Sam3007 said: 

I’m looking to get solar panels with a payment plan similar to Octopus’s offer of 0% interest over at least three years. Do you know any companies in the North West that provide a similar deal? Also, if I’m installing an EV charging point alongside, which brand or model would you recommend with this system ?

Sadly, I know of no companies that offer 0% financing over 3 years, as this cost is typically passed on to the customer via a higher system quote (as Octopus appears to have done).

You can get pretty close with the use of 0% credit cards (easier if the installers take card payments, a bit more complicated if they don't).

Eg. there are several current 24-month 0% offers:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards/

After 24 months you'd look to transfer any remaining balance over to another 0% deal.

But that again costs you about £1000 as that's what you could stooze over 2 years.

Nick_Dr1

QrizB said:

Screwdriva said:

Sam3007 said: 

I’m looking to get solar panels with a payment plan similar to Octopus’s offer of 0% interest over at least three years. Do you know any companies in the North West that provide a similar deal? Also, if I’m installing an EV charging point alongside, which brand or model would you recommend with this system ?

Sadly, I know of no companies that offer 0% financing over 3 years, as this cost is typically passed on to the customer via a higher system quote (as Octopus appears to have done).

You can get pretty close with the use of 0% credit cards (easier if the installers take card payments, a bit more complicated if they don't).

Eg. there are several current 24-month 0% offers:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards/

After 24 months you'd look to transfer any remaining balance over to another 0% deal.

This is what I did. Effectively I'm using the savings on the electricity bill from the solar to pay off the cost of installation via minimum monthly repayment on the credit card. Been going 3.5 years now. If 0% deals keep cropping up for transferring the capital, then it will eventually pay for itself!

Screwdriva

^ I would try to achieve the lowest price possible for the system and then use a 0% loan from a credit card (not Amex - installers don’t accept it) or a green mortgage type loan from a bank (eg Nationwide).

Qyburn

Screwdriva said:

12 X 500W Eurener bifacial panels + Tesla PW3 = £11K installed. Why pay Octopus more for less? 

So long as that sort of price is actually on offer. I found that actual quotes came out a good 30% higher that the "shouldn't cost more than" figures bandied about on here. Or "no bid". Ultimately you have to choose from installers actually working in your area, and not pay too much attention to "shouldn't cost more than" figures from the other end of the country.

Screwdriva

Qyburn said:

So long as that sort of price is actually on offer. I found that actual quotes came out a good 30% higher that the "shouldn't cost more than" figures bandied about on here. Or "no bid". Ultimately you have to choose from installers actually working in your area, and not pay too much attention to "shouldn't cost more than" figures from the other end of the country.

What I have shared above is valid for anyone in England/ Wales with a reasonably accessible roof, within a couple hundred quid. (Scotland is the Wild West of PV/ Heat Pump pricing, so I don't get involved)

If I was in the habit of misleading MSE forum users, I'm not sure I'd have been able to help over 150 to date without someone having something to say about it!  

Sam3007

Screwdriva said:

Qyburn said:

So long as that sort of price is actually on offer. I found that actual quotes came out a good 30% higher that the "shouldn't cost more than" figures bandied about on here. Or "no bid". Ultimately you have to choose from installers actually working in your area, and not pay too much attention to "shouldn't cost more than" figures from the other end of the country.

What I have shared above is valid for anyone in England/ Wales with a reasonably accessible roof, within a couple hundred quid. (Scotland is the Wild West of PV/ Heat Pump pricing, so I don't get involved)

If I was in the habit of misleading MSE forum users, I'm not sure I'd have been able to help over 150 to date without someone having something to say about it!  

Thank you. I am now more inclined to get the bifacial ones with the Tesla powerwall 3 but I still have a few questions please 

If the space on my roof is limited , Is it better to space 10 bifacial panels with gaps to boost rear-side gain, or just install 12 panels close together (6 on each side)?

2. If I’m getting an EV soon, should I install the charger and Powerwall 3 now (if money is tight), then add solar later, or do it all at once?

4. What’s the best website to search for competitive solar quotes where I can pay by credit card if 0% instalments are not available?

Any feedback or installer recommendations for Manchester appreciated!

Screwdriva

Sam3007 said:

If the space on my roof is limited , Is it better to space 10 bifacial panels with gaps to boost rear-side gain, or just install 12 panels close together (6 on each side)?

12 bifacial panels (or more) if the installer can fit them. I'd ask your installer to paint the invisible area behind the panels with reflective white paint to maximize albedo gains, as most light passes through a bifacial panel. 

Sam3007 said:
 If I’m getting an EV soon, should I install the charger and Powerwall 3 now (if money is tight), then add solar later, or do it all at once?

I'd do it all at once to save on installation cost and put it on the 0% credit card and use the earning/ savings from the intelligent tariffs to pay off the credit card payments. That said, finances are a personal thing - you know your situation best. 

Sam3007 said:

What’s the best website to search for competitive solar quotes where I can pay by credit card if 0% instalments are not available?

None that I know of sadly. The Solar industry is very disjointed, brimming with cowboys selling poor quality components. This is a big part of why I do what I do.

Sam3007

Screwdriva said:

Sam3007 said:

If the space on my roof is limited , Is it better to space 10 bifacial panels with gaps to boost rear-side gain, or just install 12 panels close together (6 on each side)?

12 bifacial panels (or more) if the installer can fit them. I'd ask your installer to paint the invisible area behind the panels with reflective white paint to maximize albedo gains, as most light passes through a bifacial panel. 

Sam3007 said:
 If I’m getting an EV soon, should I install the charger and Powerwall 3 now (if money is tight), then add solar later, or do it all at once?

I'd do it all at once to save on installation cost and put it on the 0% credit card and use the earning/ savings from the intelligent tariffs to pay off the credit card payments. That said, finances are a personal thing - you know your situation best. 

Sam3007 said:

What’s the best website to search for competitive solar quotes where I can pay by credit card if 0% instalments are not available?

None that I know of sadly. The Solar industry is very disjointed, brimming with cowboys selling poor quality components. This is a big part of why I do what I do. Feel free to DM me and I'll do my best to help! 

Thanks, I have DM you