Solar Quote views

collinsca

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084280#Comment_82084280

Not currently on a ToU - i would explore tariff switch in anticipation of solar installation (i have scores of questions - this being one of them - but i didnt want to flood the post initially, i just wanted to see if people thought it was a good deal).

I've just got an online quote from Octopus…

The current thinking is for AirCon only, but i know with these things your behaviour can change and i think that the rooms we want the units in for cooling are also the rooms we would want it in for heating - so it may turn out we use it for heating.

I'm aware that AC units that heat as well as cool (are classed as air‑to‑air heat pumps), so qualify for 0% VAT until March 2027 - potential to revert back to 5% after? - so ideally this would be a "fast follower" - but we shall see.

Newbie_John

Trying to figure out if battery makes sense for you - your yearly consumption is extremely low, sure air con will add more but that should be covered a lot by just solar - and if you're not planning to use in winter then theres no need to store cheaper inported energy.

Flux is great if you had west, south west facing roof, you have south, so peak is at 13:00 with about 45% at 5pm so battery may come handy. But not sure if it adds up in your case, of it allowed you to export £300 more a year then you just end up paying for battery, no point storing energy beyond 7pm as its cheaper than export rate 16-19.

I think just panels quote is good, Id go for battery only if you definitely would use AirCons for heating.

collinsca

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084472#Comment_82084472

OK thanks for your thoughts. Appreciate your thinking - anything that saves me money is good!

My gut feel is to get a battery whilst it's a decent quote… but i will definitely see what they say for onsite inspection - though they may try and 'sell it to me' anyway?

House is South facing…. but we also have a garage that is South West facing…. I didn't include it in the quote because I may decide to extend it in future and thought this may scupper it… BUT realistically I may not extend garage for a decade… so i could get a decade of usage from them…. but i thought i would wait for an onsite inspection to discuss.


Here are some photos for context….

Front of house - Tree is at max height - I'm not sure if that would count as 'shading' the panels… will await onsite inspection but welcome thoughts…

Garage

Re the tiles… there may be an *additional charge depending on the tile type - i have no idea what tile type this is! - can anyone advise?

*Slates;- Plain or rosemary clay tiles;- Corrugated steel;- Seams (e.g. Calzip);- Torching, mason or lime mortar behind the tiles or
slates;- Bolted tiles;- Insulation sprayed tiles / slates.

Thanks

QrizB

i have no idea what tile type this is! - can anyone advise?

Your house looks like it was built in the last 50 years. It will have nice safe, robust concrete tiles, not the fragile/dangerous/weird ones in your list.

Re. battery, another reason to buy one in the future would be if you buy an EV and move to an EV tariff. A home battery would then let you run your house on the same cheap electricity that you use for your EV.

collinsca

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084523#Comment_82084523

Thanks - i should have said…. it was built in 2019!

Ah yes…. EV… We dont have an EV and may not get one for 5+ years… initially i had the quote include an EV Charger install but now my thinking is to ask them to "future proof" for an installation… so set up cables or whatever they need to do…. i spoke to them and they said absolutely this is something they could do.

Newbie_John

If 5+ years EV then the two direction EVs may be more popular by then, so again you wont need a battery - the car will act like one.

Of other things saving money - check you mortgage provider - I used Barclays green grant to get £2k for green grant installation - halved to £1k now but still miney off.. some other banks offer similar grants too.

collinsca

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084556#Comment_82084556

Noted - i'll have to think hard on this battery question.

Wow - i'll definitely check this - thanks. My mortgage is with Nationwide.

collinsca

Looks like they do an interest free borrowing… Green Additional Borrowing | Nationwide

But alas no "money off" that i can see

Newbie_John

Well, theres min £5k, so if you went for a full set up of £6000, let Nationwide pay for it, then put your money in 5% saving account for 5 years - it will make £1500, then when it ends - pay off that.. £1500 discount 😅

In this case id go for battery..

collinsca

I should add… i DO have the cash to pay for it outright…. but 0% Interest is tempting…

My current mortgage is very low, about £12k - which i plan to clear within 2 years.

AI is telling me to pay cash now.. and maybe use this for future AirCon…. (as this mortgage can only be used ONCE)