Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Aug 2007
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- 22,408
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- Wilds of suffolk
not in the uk you dont thats very misleading that picture
Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
ah ok lol
the base of the turbine doesn't look very weather-proof how does it get mounted outside?
or is it the case that you'd have to bring it in and out as the weather dictates
yup 40x aiko panels, east west split. Sigenergy gateway, 24kWh battery and 10kW inverter. Installed Nov 2024, so still new. DNO unfortunately limited to 10 to 8 by SP Energy. Single phase. We are high electric users comparatively so I don't anticipate too much clipping.
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I wouldn't waste you're money
You'd be lucky if it generated10 watts.This guy knows what he's doing, and will give you an idea of what's required for a 2kW turbine, he's done a lot of hydro as well, on one product he made a huge mistake believing Chinese sellers when he bought the alternator and it generated less than half what it should.
So, an update after 18 months of my solar panel install.
I have had major issues with pigeons, even though I paid for and had fitted (poor job) bird proofing at the same time as the whole installation.
Have tried multiple times to contact the installer (My energy solutions) and have just been getting the cold shoulder, they have even stopped responding now.
Whilst the original install, etc appeared to be great, if you have issues going forwards they have just pushed me back all the time and I can't recommend them for CS.
Shame really, as they have missed out on other installs due to this as I have told people to steer clear.
I have had major issues with pigeons, even though I paid for and had fitted (poor job) bird proofing at the same time as the whole installation.
Have tried multiple times to contact the installer (My energy solutions) and have just been getting the cold shoulder, they have even stopped responding now.
Whilst the original install, etc appeared to be great, if you have issues going forwards they have just pushed me back all the time and I can't recommend them for CS.
Shame really, as they have missed out on other installs due to this as I have told people to steer clear.
It really is strawberries and cream
I've quoted you in this thread as it's more appropriate, the other thread is for posting generation figures.
The main thing you need to know is that it should be a FITS system, that means you get paid handsomely for every kWh it generated, you need to make sure you get all the required information and those payments are transferred over to you. Most FITS have what is called deemed export, they dem that you have exported 50% of generation and pay you based on that, but that's quite a low rate, it's often better to move the export payments side to a better tariff.
Getting a battery can be very beneficial but you need to match the battery to your usage. The battery can be charged overnight on cheap rate, then excess generation exported.
If altering the system, you need to use an MCS company that knows what they are doing as you don't want to lose the FITS payments.
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Associate
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2005
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- 1,622
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- Wirral
I wouldn't recommend them either.
Seems like after they've sold you the system, the customer service drops off a cliff.
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I was going to reply here but I see @Ron-ski has already covered most of it.
There's really no drawbacks to a properly installed solar system.
Batteries are a finely balanced thing. If used properly they can be a boon but they are very expensive so if you're not careful you might never get a return on your investment. If you know your energy usage profile and the maths works out for you then I would say go for it!
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Aug 2007
- Posts
- 22,408
- Location
- Wilds of suffolk
Adding the the maintenance angle as it was also part of the question its again another, it depends.
If everything is ok then the answer is nothing.
You can wash the panels (advice is to only use mains if your in a low hardness area) but generally its not needed, the rain and bad weather will give them a good beating and clean them up.
In the summer they may become dusty but the effort and especially cost if you don't do it yourself makes the marginal gain not worth it.
When you may want to seriously consider some panel maintenance is if you see evidence of moss/lichen etc on the panels.
This will only get worse over time. That will increase the degradation in effect that all panels suffer as it will reduce the light getting through.
Its very 50/50 that most people will ever need panels washing/maintaining over the lifespan of panels.
The rest of the system doesn't require maintenance. The most likely point of failure is the conversion point of DC to AC, so for most thats the inverter, but if you have optimisers etc then they can also fail.
Inverter swaps are pretty simple and should be low cost, and inverters now are really not that expensive.
If you go exact like for like you can basically DIY swap it, although you need to be very aware of DC electricity and being able to isolate / work safely with it.
If not a competent spark should be able to do a like for like swap with commissioning (testing etc) in a couple of hours.
If everything is ok then the answer is nothing.
You can wash the panels (advice is to only use mains if your in a low hardness area) but generally its not needed, the rain and bad weather will give them a good beating and clean them up.
In the summer they may become dusty but the effort and especially cost if you don't do it yourself makes the marginal gain not worth it.
When you may want to seriously consider some panel maintenance is if you see evidence of moss/lichen etc on the panels.
This will only get worse over time. That will increase the degradation in effect that all panels suffer as it will reduce the light getting through.
Its very 50/50 that most people will ever need panels washing/maintaining over the lifespan of panels.
The rest of the system doesn't require maintenance. The most likely point of failure is the conversion point of DC to AC, so for most thats the inverter, but if you have optimisers etc then they can also fail.
Inverter swaps are pretty simple and should be low cost, and inverters now are really not that expensive.
If you go exact like for like you can basically DIY swap it, although you need to be very aware of DC electricity and being able to isolate / work safely with it.
If not a competent spark should be able to do a like for like swap with commissioning (testing etc) in a couple of hours.
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We've been lucky in that respect, I think the solar will have been up 3 years this summer, and we didnt bother with teh bird protection and we have no issues.
That being said I think our cat can and does occasionally get up on the roof.
The key point isn’t the outlay but the RIO.Personally, as someone who is thinking about getting Solar, it would be nice to have a outlay vs your income so far and over what period. I know I'm asking a lot
M.
My system cost £16k but it’s quite large and has features you do not need like grid islanding and whole home back up in the event of a power outage.
However, it will fully pay back in under 8 years. You can get the same system today for 15-20% less in cash terms as prices have dropped recently.
You also don’t need a south facing roof, none of my panels face south, I’m directly east/west with some shading on my east roof in winter.
If you are south facing, I would also cover the north facing roof. The return on solar panels is higher the more you get because installation costs are largely fixed so the more you get the better.
Batteries are the opposite once you have enough, adding more reduces your payback period.
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Indeed.
My system (12.76kWp, 29x 440w panels, 15kWh of batteries, 10kW total inverters) cost £16,500 installed in July 2024 but it can do whole-home backup (which I have already used...) etc. My ROI is predicted to be around 5 years but I use a lot of electricity - I work from home, I have electric underfloor heating, two electric ovens etc and an EV and generally we use a decent amount of power day-to-day. This does mean we don't export as much as others do with similarly sized systems but that's fine, our calcs are based around 0 export so anything we do export is a bonus.
My bills used to be in the £300-350/month sort of ballpark - March 2024, which was before we had an EV, was £308.37. March 2025 was -£5.37 so a small profit but we used a lot more power thanks to the EV.
My system (12.76kWp, 29x 440w panels, 15kWh of batteries, 10kW total inverters) cost £16,500 installed in July 2024 but it can do whole-home backup (which I have already used...) etc. My ROI is predicted to be around 5 years but I use a lot of electricity - I work from home, I have electric underfloor heating, two electric ovens etc and an EV and generally we use a decent amount of power day-to-day. This does mean we don't export as much as others do with similarly sized systems but that's fine, our calcs are based around 0 export so anything we do export is a bonus.
My bills used to be in the £300-350/month sort of ballpark - March 2024, which was before we had an EV, was £308.37. March 2025 was -£5.37 so a small profit but we used a lot more power thanks to the EV.
Including gas, electric, standing charges and electric for my EV* our total cost for March was -£101.
Doesn't include charging away from home the week we were away, although we'd still be negative if it did.
Doesn't include charging away from home the week we were away, although we'd still be negative if it did.
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I'm definitely interested in the RIO which is why I was after the outlay vs recup'd costs. It's something I'm definitely interested in, some green technology either via solar or wind turbine/etc. I'd definitely like a battery(s) it's just more the ongoing costs (i.e. batteries need replacing, inverters need replacing, etc.) hence why I'm after the costs.
Thanks,
M.
Truncated quote for convenience.
For most of us here, our PV with battery systems will have a ROI of between 5-10 years.
Solar panels have a warranty of 20-25 years.
The electrics (batteries/inverters) have warranties of 10-15 years.
My ROI is approx 9 years (only because I opted for a larger battery system).
If I swapped my vehicle from petrol to EV I would bring my ROI down to 5 years.
Thanks, I won't quote because it is getting messy. Good to know, any details about the system such as the models, batteries, etc. assume the batteries drain at night and recharge in the day? Or do you have them constantly charging via both solar and grid? How much charge do they hold?
Thanks!
M.
Thanks!
M.
Had a few quotes for my system now. I was looking for a Tesla PW3 and Extended battery pack to give me 26kw with around 31 panels (13kw).
The quotes were coming in bewteen £20K and £31k in west London. I think ive finally settled on a company for £26k which is for x2 Tesla powerwall 3s giving me six strings to use, three on this install and three spare incase I put more panels on the garage roof in the future. The PW3s to be installed in the garage about 20m from the house with whole home backup on a gateway 3 at the house. 31 Akia panels (455 watt quoted but will ask for the newer 460W ones). Cable runs are about 35m each for both the DC and AC mains cables trenched through the garden.
Will 4mm dc cables be big enough for that run or should I ask for 6mm and is there a specific insurance cover I should be looking for them to have.
The company is https://s-tec.co.uk/
Thanks.
The quotes were coming in bewteen £20K and £31k in west London. I think ive finally settled on a company for £26k which is for x2 Tesla powerwall 3s giving me six strings to use, three on this install and three spare incase I put more panels on the garage roof in the future. The PW3s to be installed in the garage about 20m from the house with whole home backup on a gateway 3 at the house. 31 Akia panels (455 watt quoted but will ask for the newer 460W ones). Cable runs are about 35m each for both the DC and AC mains cables trenched through the garden.
Will 4mm dc cables be big enough for that run or should I ask for 6mm and is there a specific insurance cover I should be looking for them to have.
The company is https://s-tec.co.uk/
Thanks.
Batteries come in all sorts of sizes and makes, I built my own and have 29 kWh of storage.
I, and most other people will fully charge at night on cheap rate, even in the summer, as it's 7p per kWh, exports are 15p, so that's clearly financially better. I will also export my battery at night, it gets to 15% SOC at 23:25, then 5 minutes later it will start charging again. Solar in the day will cover and loads, keep batteries topped up and any excess exported.