Why is solar so expensive.
Discussion
Why is solar still so expensive? I’ve heard numbers like 12 to 15k for a solar install for the last two decades. It’s stopped me bothering to look into it. I know solar panels have got cheaper to manufacture and more efficient so why still so much?
Perhaps I need to do more research but when I start most info seems delivery obtuse so I give up.
Perhaps I need to do more research but when I start most info seems delivery obtuse so I give up.
In order to qualify to sell power to the grid the installation needs to be sprinkled with fairy dust, fairy dust is at a premium and is only available to large installers who can afford to train monkeys to sprinkle the dust. A domestic solar installation is quite cheap now, it's the fairy dust barrier which is stopping electricians and the DIYer from bringing the average installation price down.
Couldn’t agree more. It is astonishing that there is no way to get retrospective approval and/or for experienced sparks to install without being in MCS. If you want to be able to sell, you are locked in to needing MCS.
The margins charged by MCS installers are huge, especially when you take into account the VAT position. I had one quote over £1000 to install a battery to a hybrid inverter. Then £600 installation for each additional battery dine at the same time. That’s essentially £600 to connect three pre-terminated cables…
Have to also be careful that the installer doesn’t try to lock you in further by changing the access codes to inverters (in the same way that alarm installers do). The guy who installed mine didn’t. Unsurprising really as it was quite clearly, judging by some of the errors he made, his first time installing the brand of inverter his company had sold.
The margins charged by MCS installers are huge, especially when you take into account the VAT position. I had one quote over £1000 to install a battery to a hybrid inverter. Then £600 installation for each additional battery dine at the same time. That’s essentially £600 to connect three pre-terminated cables…
Have to also be careful that the installer doesn’t try to lock you in further by changing the access codes to inverters (in the same way that alarm installers do). The guy who installed mine didn’t. Unsurprising really as it was quite clearly, judging by some of the errors he made, his first time installing the brand of inverter his company had sold.
Same as double glazing, a lot of the cost is in being an approved installer.
And also there are probably more, higher paid, people involved in advertising and selling the product than in installing it.
But there's a real labour cost in retrofitting panels to a typical roof.
A mate is involved with bigger installations like farms and industrial units.
It's quicker, easier and cheaper to put a bigger system on a barn roof.
And also there are probably more, higher paid, people involved in advertising and selling the product than in installing it.
But there's a real labour cost in retrofitting panels to a typical roof.
A mate is involved with bigger installations like farms and industrial units.
It's quicker, easier and cheaper to put a bigger system on a barn roof.
Mad Maximus said:
Why is solar still so expensive? I’ve heard numbers like 12 to 15k for a solar install for the last two decades. It’s stopped me bothering to look into it. I know solar panels have got cheaper to manufacture and more efficient so why still so much?
Perhaps I need to do more research but when I start most info seems delivery obtuse so I give up.
The scopes have changed a bit, but prices have definitely come down.Perhaps I need to do more research but when I start most info seems delivery obtuse so I give up.
You might be seeing the same prices but a lot now wrap in 5-10kWh of storage too.
Just go to a site like Bimble solar and work out how little panels cost now.
The inverters are still quite pricey but Victron, one of the biggest players, slashed a good 40% off all their products a couple of years back. Well, they did to 12/24 solar regulators and I'm told they did the same to the domestic market.(left a lot of us holding a lot of stock that we had to now sell at a loss....)
There is nothing stoppng you installing your own panels and connecting them to your house, but of course without MCS you can't get feedback payments. Don't take this as red, I work in the low voltage side.
The inverters are still quite pricey but Victron, one of the biggest players, slashed a good 40% off all their products a couple of years back. Well, they did to 12/24 solar regulators and I'm told they did the same to the domestic market.(left a lot of us holding a lot of stock that we had to now sell at a loss....)
There is nothing stoppng you installing your own panels and connecting them to your house, but of course without MCS you can't get feedback payments. Don't take this as red, I work in the low voltage side.
MCS certainly helps to get payments, however we've been successful with Octopus getting paid for export without it. Unfortunately the installers did everything except register it, so we had all the other documents that were required. It didn't get spotted as missing until we'd bought the house.
What is this MCS?
We have solar panels installed by a previous owner I think back in 2012. we are on a fit (don't know what yet as its taken over a year for us to prove they are now ours)
The inverter is fairly new, must have been replaced fairly recently. but the panels are old and manky and look s
t. There's also an issue that when we have heavy rain it trips. I've been told it's likely a connector for the panels on the roof.
So I was going to get an electrician to just swap over some new panels.
I take it that's not ok? what do I need to do to make it right? I have got a mate involved with solar but I don't think they really want to get involved chasing over 8 panels.
We have solar panels installed by a previous owner I think back in 2012. we are on a fit (don't know what yet as its taken over a year for us to prove they are now ours)
The inverter is fairly new, must have been replaced fairly recently. but the panels are old and manky and look s
t. There's also an issue that when we have heavy rain it trips. I've been told it's likely a connector for the panels on the roof.So I was going to get an electrician to just swap over some new panels.
I take it that's not ok? what do I need to do to make it right? I have got a mate involved with solar but I don't think they really want to get involved chasing over 8 panels.
I’ve just had 24 panels and a 5kW battery installed for €29k.
That’s about the going rate locally!
Thankfully I will get a huge rebate from the Govt., 62.5% when they get around to paying me in about a year’s time…. Oh, and €500 from my town council for doing a a green thing.
ROI will be about 5 years
That’s about the going rate locally!
Thankfully I will get a huge rebate from the Govt., 62.5% when they get around to paying me in about a year’s time…. Oh, and €500 from my town council for doing a a green thing.
ROI will be about 5 years
m3jappa said:
What is this MCS?
We have solar panels installed by a previous owner I think back in 2012. we are on a fit (don't know what yet as its taken over a year for us to prove they are now ours)
The inverter is fairly new, must have been replaced fairly recently. but the panels are old and manky and look st. There's also an issue that when we have heavy rain it trips. I've been told it's likely a connector for the panels on the roof.
So I was going to get an electrician to just swap over some new panels.
I take it that's not ok? what do I need to do to make it right? I have got a mate involved with solar but I don't think they really want to get involved chasing over 8 panels.
MCS is just the qualification stuff to register installs with the people who care. As far as I understand We have solar panels installed by a previous owner I think back in 2012. we are on a fit (don't know what yet as its taken over a year for us to prove they are now ours)
The inverter is fairly new, must have been replaced fairly recently. but the panels are old and manky and look s
t. There's also an issue that when we have heavy rain it trips. I've been told it's likely a connector for the panels on the roof.So I was going to get an electrician to just swap over some new panels.
I take it that's not ok? what do I need to do to make it right? I have got a mate involved with solar but I don't think they really want to get involved chasing over 8 panels.
Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
ARHarh said:
MCS is just the qualification stuff to register installs with the people who care. As far as I understand
Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
I wonder if we will get a rebate....it's taken so many back and forth but now finally they acknowledge us as owners, im not sure what the next step is.Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
Is that 375 from this April? we've got a 3kw system, def need new panels these even look ancient
Panels have come down a lot, inverters not as much, everything else, all the other necessary ancillarys have went up massively, costs of running a skilled technical trade company to mcs standards have increased massively, and i am told retaining good installation staff is expensive as its a horrible job in 3 of the 4 seasons a lot of install guys jack it in for easier sparky work.
m3jappa said:
ARHarh said:
MCS is just the qualification stuff to register installs with the people who care. As far as I understand
Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
I wonder if we will get a rebate....it's taken so many back and forth but now finally they acknowledge us as owners, im not sure what the next step is.Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
Is that 375 from this April? we've got a 3kw system, def need new panels these even look ancient
MCS is a rentier's wet dream, just like being an approved installer of EWI, CWI, and in the case of the elderly or vulnerable in poor quality housing double glazing, central heating etc and being able to access govt grants and loans. It's a scam organised by government, the lessons are there to be learned but the same mistakes are repeated again and again, confirming that the power of the lobbyist reaches much further than either the public or common sense.
Edited by hidetheelephants on Saturday 17th May 20:22
It's like stairlifts, mobility aids anything where folks want but DONT need it. Folks with a decent income or who sales people can screw over.
Massive margins for poor quality products and installs.
Good guarantees but hey what about when the company goes bust soon after as most do?
Pyramid sales
Timeshare
Electric beds
Stairlifts
Please add to the list of legalised fraud to part often vulnerable souls from their money.
Massive margins for poor quality products and installs.
Good guarantees but hey what about when the company goes bust soon after as most do?
Pyramid sales
Timeshare
Electric beds
Stairlifts
Please add to the list of legalised fraud to part often vulnerable souls from their money.
ARHarh said:
m3jappa said:
ARHarh said:
MCS is just the qualification stuff to register installs with the people who care. As far as I understand
Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
I wonder if we will get a rebate....it's taken so many back and forth but now finally they acknowledge us as owners, im not sure what the next step is.Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
Is that 375 from this April? we've got a 3kw system, def need new panels these even look ancient
Sheepshanks said:
ARHarh said:
m3jappa said:
ARHarh said:
MCS is just the qualification stuff to register installs with the people who care. As far as I understand
Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
I wonder if we will get a rebate....it's taken so many back and forth but now finally they acknowledge us as owners, im not sure what the next step is.Anyhow as for your fit payments, My 4kw system put in in 2013 has generated £375 since April 1st. Your may have slightly more, as yours was installed a year earlier.
Is that 375 from this April? we've got a 3kw system, def need new panels these even look ancient
_I'm not clear on definition of expensive here?
How many things can you get done to your house which you consider cheap, which involve outside labour? e.g. new driveway for my neighbour, £7k (its only small, and using concrete block paving).
If you think of it, it's installing something highly technical, at height, with complex grid connections, a lot of legal ramifications if you get it wrong (e.g. need for decent insurance, specialist gear, knowledge).
Agree MCS is a bit of a wheeze but this is the same with everything these days e.g. GasSafe, Building Regs, FENSA or CERTASS.
Do think these bodies need competition though, otherwise they have a natural monopoly in the same way water companies do, or should be public benefit companies.
How many things can you get done to your house which you consider cheap, which involve outside labour? e.g. new driveway for my neighbour, £7k (its only small, and using concrete block paving).
If you think of it, it's installing something highly technical, at height, with complex grid connections, a lot of legal ramifications if you get it wrong (e.g. need for decent insurance, specialist gear, knowledge).
Agree MCS is a bit of a wheeze but this is the same with everything these days e.g. GasSafe, Building Regs, FENSA or CERTASS.
Do think these bodies need competition though, otherwise they have a natural monopoly in the same way water companies do, or should be public benefit companies.
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