Seeking opinions about solar quote please

123456

I hope this is the right place for this. I hope I can get advice on whether this quote is reasonable cost-wise, but also whether it is the best system for us? We are fairy low electricity users and this system seems to be geared to us producing excess to export to the grid and thereby be paid, so that gives us a bigger reduction on our annual bill (as opposed to just supplememtary solar production to reduce our bills in the summer?). Our main focus for having solar is mainly to decarbonise our own use and maybe also contribute to the grid. The figures quoted for payback are impressive, but I assume that any export price cannot be guaranteed to last. However, we are not basing any decision entirely on getting a return on the investment. I hope that makes sense!

We are a retired couple, bungalow in north of Scotland with air source heat pump & woodburner and no other energy intensive appliances. Annual electricity consumption 2, 836kWh. We'd anticipate this to rise in the coming years as we get older and need to be warmer.

The quote is for: 5.7kW system size; 12 x Aiko panels + birdproofing; Ecoflow Power Ocean battery 5.1kWh storage; Ecoflow single phase hybrid inverter, 3.68kw. Estimated annual output 4,412kWh. This is projected to give an annual self consumption of 46% with 54% export to grid. This would be with the Octopus Agile tariff.

The cost is £11, 495. (projected annual bill savings £609 but I take that with a pinch of salt)

I believe the company is reputable and has all the correct accreditations.

We are waiting for other quotes so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

QrizB

I'm not familiar with the market for solar PV in the north of Scotland, but if you were in England I'd suggest you're being charged too much.

With your annual electricity use you probably don't need a battery at all, unless you want it as a precaution against power cuts.

Your installer has also slacked off by only offering a 3.68kW inverter to go with your 5.7kW of panels. I'd have expected a 5kW inverter at least, but that will mean extra paperwork for your installer.

Payback and bill savings are also impossible to forecast if using the Octopus Agile tariff. Prices for import could be negative, and export zero! Or import could be £1 a kWh. I'd look suspiciously at any installer who thinks they can predict future Agile prices.

Without a battery, a system like yours would be perhaps £5k in England. £11k if you were to add a Tesla Powerwall (more than twice the battery capacity of the Ecoflow you've been offered).

Unless there are specific "north of Scotland" factors in play, I'd definitely wait to see what the other quotes come in at.

QrizB

Just to add:

There's a similar system to your quote (but with twice the battery capacity) at the start of this thread, quoted by EON, for just under £10k.

Further down that same thread you'll see an alternative quote from @Screwdriva including better panels and a Powerwall for £11k.

Screwdriva

Agree with everything @QrizB has shared but I will struggle to be as polite. If that quote was offered in England, I would describe it as a rip off for the following reasons:

1. Aiko is a cheap panel brand.
2. Your consumption is too low to justify the cost of a battery. That said, I have to admit I have never seen a household with a heat pump consume so little.
3. Do you think more panels could fit? Some installers can be lazy and limit system sizes to go down the G98 application route.

I appreciate there is a premium up there but I would not expect to pay more than £8K for that system as quoted. I would recommend you procure more quotes before pulling the trigger.

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957385#Comment_81957385

I'm the same with your point 2. I was thinking that a battery would be great for storing cheap night rate, to use in the HP during the day. But consumption is so low, it probably doesn't work out.

Maybe the wood burner is doing the heavy lifting? And with respect to old age, maybe that 'heavy lifting' will be replaced by more HP useage over time, regardless of temperature preference.

masuras

I had a quote from a company in Fife just for reference. The total was £11095

11 x Aiko 485w panels, Ecoflow 6kw single phase hybrid inverter and 3 x Ecoflow 5.1kw Power Ocean batteries. All admin work relating to G99 DNO network operator applications was included in the cost, as well as bird protection.

The company is reputable and has all the correct accreditations.

silverwhistle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957497#Comment_81957497

I must admit the same thought occurred to me as I'm a pensioner with a wood burner (in the deep south!) and enjoy sourcing and prepping wood but appreciate this may not be the case for me in the future. Not yet though, as it's great to come back from sea rowing to a snug lounge!

Qyburn

Our main focus for having solar is mainly to decarbonise our own use and maybe also contribute to the grid.

To meet that last goal, as well as for your own benefit, you'd do well to choose a battery/inverter type that's supported by "Intelligent Octopus Flux". That tariff allows Octopus control of your battery so they charge it when there's spare power, and discharge when they're short. In exchange you get higher export rates, and matched import/export prices so that you're not disadvantaged by theitheir use of your system.

123456

Thanks everyone for your input. I’m waiting on other quotes and your observations will help me to be more aware of what to ask. I’m also going to seek further clarification about this system from the company.

Screwdriva

Please don't use these forums to "plug" your own website/ service.

I wouldn't describe Longi, JA Solar or Jinko as reputable. They've existed longer than Aiko and that's about the only positive thing I can say about them.

This report (from 5 years ago) highlights how poorly previous generations of these panel brands degraded relative to quality non-Chinese brands of that era. Additionally, given this is a Green and Ethical forum, the ethics of these brands are even more suspect, as highlighted by this study.

I only recommend Maxeon, Solarwatt, Meyer Burger, AEG, REC, REA, Eurener, Hyundai, Q Cells in that order.