Looking to go solar

FNG

FNG

FNG

Associate
Joined
28 Dec 2002
Posts
851
Hi,

I am looking into solar panels (and possibly batteries) on our house. We plan to live here long term (25+ years) and so it should make financial sense. I was just wondering if anyone had done this and what company they used if they have. We will buy the panels outright (not interested in any loan schemes or buy back schemes). I normally think local companies are best for most jobs (live in the Midlands), but with solar was wondering if one of the national complaints might be a better bet?
 
UPS solar are doing mine

£5450 for a 3.8kw system

the batteries didn’t seem unreasonable either
 
We got a 4.5kw system on a 3.6kw inverter ( can't have larger here). Its split system some south some west. Also a few microinverters on some panels. All in was about £4.5k. My advice is get several quotes, tell them your doing that and haggle hard.
 
Triple check your figures - IME it doesn't make financial sense, especially battery storage. I have a PV system that I inherited with the house & am glad to have it, & have looked into expanding it, but it wouldn't be worth paying to fit myself.
 
Look into buying the parts your self, and then getting someone to fit it. I think it's what I will be looking at in the summer. I would like the stack removing from the roof anyway, so would make sense to have the panels put on at the same time.
 
Can't really recommend any specific installers as I designed and bought the system I have myself, and just had it fitted and commissioned.

I'd look at many companies to get a feel of what they offering you, and how much space you have on your roof that can be used and build as big as a system as you can, the install is such a big part of the cost adding a couple of extra panels and a slightly larger inverter doesn't add much cost, but the extra generation in low sun hours/days is worth it, and when it is very sunny you'll export the rest if not topping up you battery, or charging your car (EV?).

With regards to panels, don't get hung up on brand names you know, and don't aim for the absolute maximum panel wattage as you pay a large premium to get a 400/420w panel over a 380-390w, as for the inverter if you are going for a home battery then you can look at a hybrid system which has the inverter for the solar and the charge controller for the battery as well. The battery system I have (GivEnergy) can be added to in future I went for the largest 8.2kWh pack to start with but can add a smaller one or a larger one if they bring one out in future.

You'll want to analyse your usage that you have currently, and see about shifting your tariff (if you aren't on a great deal) to something like Octopus Go or Go Faster, that will give you a chance to have a slightly higher day rate when you aren't importing as much due to solar and at night after the sun has gone down use your battery to power the home, and then recharge it at the cheap 5p/5.5p rate, and discharge again during your morning routine before the sun comes up (for some of the year), the pack will then recharge during the day and any excess will be exported.

There is a great deal more to it, obviously, but you can't do enough research IMO there's always something you'll want to know after the fact.
 
Journey said:
Can't really recommend any specific installers as I designed and bought the system I have myself, and just had it fitted and commissioned.

I'd look at many companies to get a feel of what they offering you, and how much space you have on your roof that can be used and build as big as a system as you can, the install is such a big part of the cost adding a couple of extra panels and a slightly larger inverter doesn't add much cost, but the extra generation in low sun hours/days is worth it, and when it is very sunny you'll export the rest if not topping up you battery, or charging your car (EV?).

With regards to panels, don't get hung up on brand names you know, and don't aim for the absolute maximum panel wattage as you pay a large premium to get a 400/420w panel over a 380-390w, as for the inverter if you are going for a home battery then you can look at a hybrid system which has the inverter for the solar and the charge controller for the battery as well. The battery system I have (GivEnergy) can be added to in future I went for the largest 8.2kWh pack to start with but can add a smaller one or a larger one if they bring one out in future.

You'll want to analyse your usage that you have currently, and see about shifting your tariff (if you aren't on a great deal) to something like Octopus Go or Go Faster, that will give you a chance to have a slightly higher day rate when you aren't importing as much due to solar and at night after the sun has gone down use your battery to power the home, and then recharge it at the cheap 5p/5.5p rate, and discharge again during your morning routine before the sun comes up (for some of the year), the pack will then recharge during the day and any excess will be exported.

There is a great deal more to it, obviously, but you can't do enough research IMO there's always something you'll want to know after the fact.
Click to expand...
Just FYI, I checked octopus go a few weeks ago and their day rate is 25p /kwh:eek:.
 
I was considering solar some more recently, with unit rates at a sky high price, what is the general thinking now?

Worth it if you get enough sun even without FIT?

Worth adding battery to the system?

What sort of size is good?

Unit costs only seem to go up, so whilst I wouldn't get paid a lot per kwh, the time to repay the outlay must have come down a lot now. At £0.13/kwh it was probably not a good idea, at £0.30 or more per kwh I think the idea may have some legs.
 
I can't see electric prices coming down in the next few years, if anything they will continue to rise. It's a big outlay but am hoping to get solar installed sometime this year, then a battery later. Am hoping that the system will be able to use the battery from sunup to the early hours for the majority of energy use, then be topped up on economy 7 at night (or whatever other cheap tariff is available).
 
casper_uk said:
I can't see electric prices coming down in the next few years, if anything they will continue to rise. It's a big outlay but am hoping to get solar installed sometime this year, then a battery later. Am hoping that the system will be able to use the battery from sunup to the early hours for the majority of energy use, then be topped up on economy 7 at night (or whatever other cheap tariff is available).
Click to expand...
:cry: surely you're joking:p.
 
Let's assume they stick around this level, if that's the case I wonder is it still worth it?

It's true that year on year costs do go up, recent increases are reasonably unprecedented, at least in my memory, but it's not to say it won't become the norm.

The higher the unit rate, the more beneficial solar will be, even without making profit per unit generated, it will definitely save you something each month. Quite a big outlay though, I was hoping we'd see some gov backed initiatives to get more solar installs done at a discount.
 
Journey said:
You'll want to analyse your usage that you have currently, and see about shifting your tariff (if you aren't on a great deal) to something like Octopus Go or Go Faster, that will give you a chance to have a slightly higher day rate when you aren't importing as much due to solar and at night after the sun has gone down use your battery to power the home, and then recharge it at the cheap 5p/5.5p rate, and discharge again during your morning routine before the sun comes up (for some of the year), the pack will then recharge during the day and any excess will be exported.

There is a great deal more to it, obviously, but you can't do enough research IMO there's always something you'll want to know after the fact.
Click to expand...

This is the way

theone8181 said:
Just FYI, I checked octopus go a few weeks ago and their day rate is 25p /kwh:eek:.
Click to expand...

25p is cheap right now. However it's irrelevant if you've got a battery and solar. You'll hardly ever draw any electric during the day if you're sensible with your usage.

I moved in November and this is my 1st bill. I swapped to an EV at the same time as well so for a month (approx 1200 miles driven, all electric and hot water (no gas here)) it's cost me about the same as a tank of fuel.

 
HungryHippos said:
I was hoping we'd see some gov backed initiatives to get more solar installs done at a discount.
Click to expand...

Have a look and see if your council has any initiatives. A few years ago just as we moved into our house we had some leaflets through from the council where they were looking to arrange a bulk order on solar. The idea was that if you were interested you'd express your interest, and the council then had solar firms come up with their best offer for the x hundred/thousand interested parties. That way the homeowner got a good discount on the scheme, and the fitter/supplier had a load of guaranteed work lined up.
 
Journey said:
Can't really recommend any specific installers as I designed and bought the system I have myself, and just had it fitted and commissioned.

I'd look at many companies to get a feel of what they offering you, and how much space you have on your roof that can be used and build as big as a system as you can, the install is such a big part of the cost adding a couple of extra panels and a slightly larger inverter doesn't add much cost, but the extra generation in low sun hours/days is worth it, and when it is very sunny you'll export the rest if not topping up you battery, or charging your car (EV?).

With regards to panels, don't get hung up on brand names you know, and don't aim for the absolute maximum panel wattage as you pay a large premium to get a 400/420w panel over a 380-390w, as for the inverter if you are going for a home battery then you can look at a hybrid system which has the inverter for the solar and the charge controller for the battery as well. The battery system I have (GivEnergy) can be added to in future I went for the largest 8.2kWh pack to start with but can add a smaller one or a larger one if they bring one out in future.

You'll want to analyse your usage that you have currently, and see about shifting your tariff (if you aren't on a great deal) to something like Octopus Go or Go Faster, that will give you a chance to have a slightly higher day rate when you aren't importing as much due to solar and at night after the sun has gone down use your battery to power the home, and then recharge it at the cheap 5p/5.5p rate, and discharge again during your morning routine before the sun comes up (for some of the year), the pack will then recharge during the day and any excess will be exported.

There is a great deal more to it, obviously, but you can't do enough research IMO there's always something you'll want to know after the fact.
Click to expand...

Are there any sites you'd recommend to do further reading and recommendations from where you purchased your kit?
 
SoliD said:
Are there any sites you'd recommend to do further reading and recommendations from where you purchased your kit?
Click to expand...

Well nowhere specific, DIYSolar forum is pretty good info wise, though not always specific to your locality on the globe the knowledge is good. I guess really I just read lots, watched videos, spoke with trades people I know. Read data sheets, looked at the various solar design platforms, looked at other peoples installs (IRL), talked to sales people and their respective technical people.

Kit wise, I think I said in another thread, some stuff I got through Tradesparky, other bits though a mate who manages an electrical wholesalers, I am glad I bought when I did as I paid a shade over £2.2k for my 8.2kWh battery and they seem to be over £2.6k now! Roofer fitted it all for me and arranged the scaffold, and a sparky to do the wiring and commissioning of it all. My array is dual-string 6.2kW, and with the inverter, battery, and installation, and a few other odds and ends I had done it came in under £9k.

I am glad I took the time to learn about the in and outs and know the technology, its positives and negatives, and also securing a great price for parts helps. I'd suggest if you have the time to invest or you like learning new things, then it is a very rewarding process as opposed to just calling someone up and paying to have whatever they tell you done and fitted. I am literally window shopping now, learning more about all things glazing is 2022/23 sorted. :)
 
Semple said:
Have a look and see if your council has any initiatives. A few years ago just as we moved into our house we had some leaflets through from the council where they were looking to arrange a bulk order on solar. The idea was that if you were interested you'd express your interest, and the council then had solar firms come up with their best offer for the x hundred/thousand interested parties. That way the homeowner got a good discount on the scheme, and the fitter/supplier had a load of guaranteed work lined up.
Click to expand...
Solar together is the scheme you are talking about. I was about to go with it until getting some advice from some other solar companies. Price was ok but my problem was the house I moved into last September has very old tiles on the roof. Possibly the ones it was built with in the 1930s and could easily crack when installing solar panels. My roof is literally just tiles, no membrane underneath. That's why I don't think the roof has been re done since it was built. Maybe the odd tile replaced here and there. All 4 solar companies I spoke with said they wouldn't want to install unless I had a new roof fitted and suggested it might be worth going integrated if I did. My only issue with integrated is that if I did need new solar panels at some point they might not do them in the same size in the future.
 
Getting some sort of quote done.

Early indications would suggest that battery is not worth it at the moment for me, the cost to add it, and the fact it can only store differential energy generated, I think it wouldn't be a good idea unless it became cheaper.

Still interested in getting a system put in that can generate electric, I have aircon so on the hot days I can use the extra power to run the aircon, not that we normally have lots of them, but they should go well together.
 
@HungryHippos I'd be interested to know who you get quoted by..

I'd argue for us down here battery is definitely worth it as you can use this for night hours and charge it in winter at off peak rates saving significantly more money. There's another thread few down and @Journey can give more reasons why.
 
You would think so. My house uses 10kw per day. If you can fill a battery for 60p and it covers your daily needs you're saving £600 per year. The night/day ratio is pretty vital.
 
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