Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

Already have solar panels installed (when moved in) but there is no battery. Would like to add a few more panels (south facing) and a battery but local companies seem off with the entire thing?

Anyone reccomend a company in Bromley/London that might be able to do it? I can't think why people are hesistant... is it because the system exists and they're not sure how to link it together?

Also any reccomendation on batteries - Tesla is being thrown around a lot but I am noticing some chepaer alternatives.
 
Is the existing system a FITS system?

There's no problem adding more solar and batteries, I had originally just solar installed in 2015 which is still a FITS system, I've since added more solar and batteries, and then a third lot of panels, thats a total of 43 panels and 15.5kWp along with 29 kWh of storage.

Tesla is a very good option, but the are cheaper alternatives.

When you say a few, do you literally mean 3 panels? If so the job is likely too small and would be quite expensive per panel, if this south roof is of reasonable size I would have thought they'd have used that with the existing system.

We really need more info.
 
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Any idea of age, may be adding extra isn't an option.
(panels need to be compatible and inverter may not have the capacity spare)

If the system is old(ish) then it may be worth just refreshing it.
Panels and inverters are cheap now.

Unless its really old or low powered they are likely to be able to use the wiring and hopefully rails which is a chunk of the install time.
 
Word of caution to replacing an old system. If its old its highly likely a FITS system, if you don't know what that is then basically you should be getting paid a nice sum for every kWh generated.

www.sunsave.energy

The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme: an expert guide [UK, 2025]

Discover the history of the UK's solar Feed-in Tariff between 2010 and 2019 - and learn about its replacement.
www.sunsave.energy www.sunsave.energy

My understanding is that you can replace/extend a FITS system, but you need someone who's MCS certified and knows what they are doing. From my understanding if you replaced a 4 kWp system with an 8 kWh peak system your FITS would be based on 50% of generation, pro-rata old system size to new..

The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme in the UK began on April 1, 2010 and closed to new applications on April 1, 2019, the earlier the system was installed the higher the amount you are paid (currently around 72p for every kWh for a 2010 system), these payments are guaranteed for 20 and 25 years depending on when installed. Altering the system can invalidate this.
 
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@b0rn2sk8 - odd thing this morning, Home assistant is still reading "Intelligent Dispatching" for my Myenergi zappi through octopus as 'on'. It usually clocks off at half 5. Oddly I also got a message through octopus app overnight saying it could not communicate with my device, yet it seems to be and I can too.
I've had to disable the home assistant automation as it keeps flicking itself.into.chargw battery mode even though it's not cheap electricity anymore.

Not sure what to try as communication seems ok.
I'll probably reboot the zappi to see if that kicks octopus to update this sensor
 
I've placed the order for my new system. £7,100 includes moving my existing 6 onto my garage then 5.46kW Solar PV:

12 x 455W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System
5.18kW FOX ESS battery
Bird proofing (although my current doesn't have this and no issues in the 3.5 years it's been up)

Thought that was a pretty good deal. Install date due on 30th January, so I should get as much of the benefit I can out of it in 2025...!
 
SeatIbiza said:
I've placed the order for my new system. £7,100 includes moving my existing 6 onto my garage then 5.46kW Solar PV:

12 x 455W Panel 'AIKO Neostar + Mesh' System
5.18kW FOX ESS battery
Bird proofing (although my current doesn't have this and no issues in the 3.5 years it's been up)

Thought that was a pretty good deal. Install date due on 30th January, so I should get as much of the benefit I can out of it in 2025...!
Click to expand...
Be sure to check which inverter it is. You'll want the 5kW inverter with 5.46kW of panels. It'll probably be a H1 Gen 2 inverter, so you'll want the H1-5.0E G2, not the H1-3.7E G2.
 
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A local firm has given me this quote. Panels are 450w Solarwatt AM5 and it’s a 11.04kwh BYD HVM battery. Install is relatively tricky as we have a stone roof and the battery is going to be on the opposite side of the house to the meter and consumer unit. The firm has done a couple of recent houses and are well recommended so I don’t mind a bit of a premium but I want to check the pricing is not massively out of whack?
 
That’s also pretty expensive. I paid less and got a bigger east/west system from a decent brand with whole home backup a year ago and prices have dropped since.

I’d also be looking at power wall 3 if you have that sort of money to splash.
 
One More Solo said:


A local firm has given me this quote. Panels are 450w Solarwatt AM5 and it’s a 11.04kwh BYD HVM battery. Install is relatively tricky as we have a stone roof and the battery is going to be on the opposite side of the house to the meter and consumer unit. The firm has done a couple of recent houses and are well recommended so I don’t mind a bit of a premium but I want to check the pricing is not massively out of whack?
Click to expand...
For that money we got 40 x aiko 455w panels as part of our sigenergy 16 kWh battery, 10 inverter and gateway system plus all the paperwork, scaffolding etc
 
Journey said:
Bigger capacity battery, 11kW inverter, 3x MPPT's, easily fitted out doors, proper whole home back up with gateway etc. Better software integration/control than a mixed brand system like BYD/Fronius.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
b0rn2sk8 said:
That’s also pretty expensive. I paid less and got a bigger east/west system from a decent brand with whole home backup a year ago and prices have dropped since.

I’d also be looking at power wall 3 if you have that sort of money to splash.
Click to expand...
I’m guessing a lot of the cost here is driven by install rather than the kit itself? I’m getting some other firms to quote but we have had issues in the past with people not willing to do it due to stone tiles etc.
 
It looks like you are paying absolutely top whack for the kit as well.

£6500 for a mixed hybrid inverter and 10kwh battery is not the best value.

A Tesla powerwall 3 is £6300 including the gateway and it’s a 13.5kwh battery and 11kw inverter. Installer tax is quite high on those though.
 
Best purchase I’ve made since getting my solar and batteries installed was a £30 mini pc to run home assistant and predbat!

Had it since around September and it’s run flawlessly with octopus Intelligent.

November - December 2024 bill averaged 7.58p

Same period in 2023 was 9.01p

Saving £13.37!

Looked and since installing home assistant it’s saved me around £21 so far just by fully automating the charge and discharge in line with the extra cheap IOG slots
 
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