Solar Panels?

[Mikebentley]

Watching this with interest due to current events in the east. Gas heating/boiler so it would be for TVs, lights etc. I’m hoping the government re incentivise the installation of Solar and other green energy solutions.

[Sheetmaself]

pmanson said:

I think there is a product from myenergi that will do exactly that

Great, thanks I’ll take a look.

[pmanson]

It’s called eddi

[AW10]

or solar iboost - https://www.marlec.co.uk/product/solar-iboost/

[mikeiow]

Largechris said:

I've interrogated a few people about this solar malarky recently -

A recent installation using a 5 kWh battery sounds like it's working well in that they have a hot tub to heat. They charge a car mostly on Octopus overnight but also a bit from solar.

A much older installation had the FIT so owner always been happy with it.

I can't quite make the sums add up in my head, but the numbers are a very moveable feast, as gas prices soar and battery costs decrease. I do think batteries are required to make a sensible system, but the battery costs seem high in relation to capacity, recent lithium industrial cell costs have dropped to below £100 / kWh but complete home batteries seem to cost 8 - 10 times that figure.

What numbers do you need to make things add up?

We have been considering getting a ‘home battery’….quotes seem to range from about £500/kWh to over a grand, but most are in the 500-650 range.
Still feel a bit ‘toppy’ to me….although payback looks around 7years. Solutions tend to be guaranteed for about 10 years, & I imagine might well work for 15+….but that is part of the great unknowns!

For example, a reasonable 14kWh Pylontech kit lists to the public under £5k incl VAT, but installers are adding about £2k or more for a simple install. I get that it is a sellers market at the moment, but I imagine most regular Sparkies tall them, & 2k/day is a very decent rate…if that were perhaps £500, the ROI looks pretty decent.

Also be aware that batteries with have a % DoD figure - Depth of Discharge. That tells you how much you can use. So a 9.6kWh solution with the older Pylontech batteries might only really let you use 90% of it, so about 8.7kWh. Newer batteries are typically 95% or 100% - I try to look at the cost per usable kWh.

At current (sic) high prices, it feels like about a 7 year ‘payback’, but will prices remain as high as they will reach this year? I suspect that could lead to some civil disorder….many people cannot take a permanent 50% price hike….
I am struck with analysis paralysis….or as my dear old mum used to say: when in doubt, do nowt!

[Traffic]

Some March 2022 numbers to help people visualise things once they have solar (keep in mind this is from Sweden)

• Total household consumption this month = 378 kWh
• 266 Kwh we bought from the grid at a cost of 511 Swedish Krona
• The remaining consumption was direct from our solar modules 112 kWh (a further saving)
• We also produced a surplus 177 kWh from solar that we sold to the grid for 310 Swedish Krona.

This is with some mixed days of cloud, but we have clear skies looming and almost 12 hours of daylight here now already, so we are heading to a point where we will probably be selling more than we consume and building a profit into the autumn where we can then use that money to pay for the low-performance days and our added consumption for heating in the winter.

[deanobeano]

I'll add my Solar Battery stats also:

5.5 kW/P of panels
1 x powerwall (approx 13.5kw/Hr of storage - if I remember correctly) Midlands based.
On Octopus Go tariff, so powerwall is set to charge off peak @5p kW/Hr (for the time being anyway)
1 x Kona EV (set to charge in the off peak window via a Ohme smart charger)
2 x ASHP - one in the lounge and one upstairs - Gas central heating comes on to take chill off house (set at 18C)
1 fitted a 85 ltr electric water cylinder (again comes on during off peak time on a smart plug) Don't use gas for DHW anymore.

My monthly DD is £45 per month (for both gas & electric) this is about right. I do spend approx 4 months abroad over the year though, so this would be higher if I was there 365.

2 people at home (small 4 bed detached 1970's build)

Dec stats (at home all month)
80 kWh generated kWh (this shows how poor the darkest month is in terms of generation)
645 kWh home usage
596 kWh imported from grid (@5p kWh = £29.8)

Feb stats: (not at home at all in this month)
271 kWh generated
69 kWh home usage
182 kWh exported to grid (get paid 5p per kWh, as not on FIT just SEG)

April 21 stats (at home all month)
781 kWh generated
556 kWh home usage
193 kWh exported to grid

Checking my Powerwall app I am self sufficient for electricity (ie do not import any from the grid) from April - September

[Biggus thingus]

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

[southerndriver]

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

Which part of the country ? It's helpful to me to see quotes that others have got. Can you say which company gave you the quote and also the maker of the battery as they seem to vary considerably in functionality and price.

[Traffic]

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

Interested to see how much of this quote is the battery cost.

[SoliD]

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

Ouch, i've just committed to 18 x 370w panels and 2x 8.2KW Givenergy batteries for 12.1k.

[Biggus thingus]

southerndriver said:

Which part of the country ? It's helpful to me to see quotes that others have got. Can you say which company gave you the quote and also the maker of the battery as they seem to vary considerably in functionality and price.

Just outside Leeds

Greener Living

£8.5k just panels
£10.5k Including 5.2kw battery

[Biggus thingus]

Traffic said:

Interested to see how much of this quote is the battery cost.

£8.5k panels
£10.5k panels & battery

[Biggus thingus]

SoliD said:

Ouch, i've just committed to 18 x 370w panels and 2x 8.2KW Givenergy batteries for 12.1k.

That sounds like a good deal

Will to share name of supplier?

[SoliD]

Of Course - it's Solar Powerful down on the south coast. if you could mention my name Paul M in Horndean it would be appreciated.

[sawman]

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

what size of roof do you need to put that on?

[sfella]

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

Would you be happy to share company details of that quote? Seems pretty reasonable and am in the market. If you'd rather pm it's all good.

[jason61c]

sfella said:

Biggus thingus said:

Just had a quote of £10.5k for 8 panel 3kw system(all roof allows) with a 5.2kw battery from a recognized company

Includes diverter to immersion heater to heat water when excess power generated and also battery overnight charging capacity at low tariff time

Currently using about 230kw per month @ 18p per kw on fixed rate till august

Seems like a good deal to me and the way prices are going looking at at least doubling the rate from the utility companies later in the year

Can anyone recommend any other companies i could get a quote from to compere?

Would you be happy to share company details of that quote? Seems pretty reasonable and am in the market. If you'd rather pm it's all good.

that's really expensive.

[Biggus thingus]

sawman said:

what size of roof do you need to put that on?

Bog standard semi detached hipped roof south facing garden

[Biggus thingus]

jason61c said:

that's really expensive.

Who would suggest going to for a quote to compere?