Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

[Freefaller]

@Freefaller who is the quote with? It’s a panel more than my current quote and slightly less on battery but all the same brands.

Inverter is 3.6kw for my quote but the batteries are a pair of 5.2s giving 10.4kwh.

Price sits at a nudge over £12k so my thinking is to give the company you spoke to a call to see what they can do and where I sit as I’d like the facility to sell more back if I can as there will be a day or two a week where I’m using naff all.

A local company to us in Sussex: https://www.solardynamics.co.uk/

 

[SBo]

@Freefaller who is the quote with? It’s a panel more than my current quote and slightly less on battery but all the same brands.

Inverter is 3.6kw for my quote but the batteries are a pair of 5.2s giving 10.4kwh.

Price sits at a nudge over £12k so my thinking is to give the company you spoke to a call to see what they can do and where I sit as I’d like the facility to sell more back if I can as there will be a day or two a week where I’m using naff all.

In practice I have found it is less about exporting more than 3.6kw than being able to power everything during the day, oven and kettle, or dishwasher and washing machine etc at once for instance. With a 3.6kw limit your batteries and solar can't fully satisfy that demand. The G99 fast track route is the middle ground, your inverter won't export more than 3.6kw to grid but can supply more to meet house need (ie yout CT clamp measurements are used to throttle back production when needed).

 

[Andrew Moore]

A local company to us in Sussex: https://www.solardynamics.co.uk/

A bit out of the way for them to quote I’d imagine

Thank you though!

 

[Freefaller]

A bit out of the way for them to quote I’d imagine

Thank you though!

Possibly

 

[Siliconslave]

after a few false starts and a big delay were booked in as well, waiting for the DNO now and hopeing for installation in October. Not pulling the trigger back in March has ended up costing us about 10%

 

[413x]

Intrigued by all the talk of solar.
But I suspect this house is not great for solar.

This is the house on Google satellite.
Issues to me look like our tree and the roof getting narrower as you go to the apex.

I doubt you can get many panels on that.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Intrigued by all the talk of solar.
But I suspect this house is not great for solar.

This is the house on Google satellite.
Issues to me look like our tree and the roof getting narrower as you go to the apex.

I doubt you can get many panels on that.

Is the map orientated , as in, up is north?

 

[413x]

Is the map orientated , as in, up is north?

Yeah forgot to mention that

A house nearby with similar issue has cobbled together this.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

Does the tree block the sun in the afternoon?

It's similar shaped to mine, however I didn't have the tree to contend with. I've added my panels onto the flat garage roof. Still managed to fit 3.6kw worth of panels up there.

What's the structure to the top of of the picture? That looks like it's got a pretty decent oriented roof to add a bank of panels to.

 

[BUDFORCE]

You could do similar but looks like that tree would cause a lot of shading.

Just my uneducated guess I hasten to add.

 

[Journey]

Intrigued by all the talk of solar.
But I suspect this house is not great for solar.

Some is better than none, and in fact the first few kW will make the biggest dent in the bills, even more so if you add a small to medium sized storage battery. Looking at the roof, but not knowing the true orientation of the roof, or the length, you might be able to fit 7 panels on the rear roof near the tree line, but again, do the trees shade the roof? Obviously in the winer it is less of an issue, but the sun doesn't get as high either. Basically the picture creates a good few questions.

 

[SBo]

Yeah forgot to mention that

A house nearby with similar issue has cobbled together this.

+1 for covering the south facing roof of that outbuilding at the top. Two strings (upper and lower), no need for optimisers etc. Inverter and battery down there, AC and data cable back to the house. Barely any scaffold needed, easy peasy and low cost. Trimming of those trees to the west if possible.

 

[MR_Punk]

I'm after a bit of advice. My wife has started looking into this as we've been keen to install these ever since we got a new build 3 years ago. I'll admit I don't really know the first thing about them. We've had this quote and TBH I haven't a clue whether we are on the right lines or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

10 x 410W Mono PERC Half-Cell MBB Black Frame​

Rating: 410W
Efficiency: 21%
Width: 1,134mm
Height: 1,722mm
JAM54S-30-410-MR-BF
Assembled with 11BB Perc cells, the half-cell configuration of the module offers the advantages of the higher power output, better temperature-dependent performance, reduced shading effect on the energy generation, lower risk of hot spot, as well as enhanced tolerance for mechanical loading.
12 Year Product Warranty.
25 Year Linear Output Warranty.
Higher Output Power
Lower LCOE
Less shading and lower resistive loss
Better mechanical loading tolerance

GivEnergy Hybrid 3.6kW Inverter​

GivEnergy hybrid inverters is a must for every house hold where you have backup power during power outages as well as saving on your utility bill. This unique hybrid utilizes the free giving sunlight and makes it an flexible power source that is available when you need it as well as direct battery charge from your PV array.
System needs to be connected to the internet to comply with warranty requirements.
Product Features
Uses GivEnergy Lithium batteries that can be added to extend KWh of battery bank
Batteries can be charged from Solar PV as well as your current utility supply
Cloud based monitoring and control through WEB APP interface
Inverter can be remotely updated Via Wi-Fi /4G dongle
Inverter do have 2500W backup power capability
Available in 3.6KW and 5KW
Inverter has 2 MPPT PV inputs that allow you to have solar panels in 2 different orientations
Installations can be for new installs or retrofit to an existing system
Backup function supported


GivEnergy End User Brochure (1)

GivEnergy 9.5kWh Li-Ion Battery​

Utilising lithium iron phosphate, GivEnergy batteries are extremely safe and can be installed in a wide range of locations. Their market-leading battery warranty means you can use your battery as much as you want for 10 years and still be covered.
Features:
Plug & Play functionality
Fully Recyclable at end of life
Remote Firmware upgrades
IP65 Rated
10 Year warranty


Giv-Bat 9.5



Mounting system - Renusol

Renusol - VarioSole+ Mounting rail 41 x 35 x 3200 mm​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.


x Choose quantity

Mounting system - Renusol 2

VarioSole Rail connector​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.


x Choose quantity

Mounting system - Renusol 6

RS1 End and Mid Clamp 30 - 50mm Silver ( ONE FOR ALL )​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.

Mid Clamp Rapid16 40-50mm Black​

Solar gear - 1

Santon 25A 2 Pole AC Isolator​

Part No: SAN-M25-2 Switches - AC Isolators


x Choose quantity


Consumer unit 8

Schneider Electric Easy9 4-Module 2-Way Populated Garage Consumer Unit​

Not selected

Conduit 2

Tower Conduit Heavy Gauge 20mm x 2m Length Black​

x Choose quantity

Conduit 5

Tower Terminal 1-Way Terminal Box 20mm Black​

x Choose quantity

Conduit 1

Tower Spacer Bar Saddles 20mm Black Pack of 2​

x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 7

Rayleigh 1-ph generation meter 100A (1000 pulse/kWh)​

Part No: RIHXE12R Meters - Single Phase Generation Meters


x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 10

MC4 Male Connector - Single​

Part No: MC4-MAL Cables - Connectors


x Choose quantity

Solar Gear - 11

MC4 Female Connector - Single​

Part No: MC4-FEM Cables - Connectors


x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 12

4mm2 single-core DC cable​

Part No: CABLE 4 Brown Cables - DC Cables


x Choose quantity
50% discount

Solar gear - 13

4mm2 single-core DC cable - Grey​

Part No: CABLE4-1-100-Grey Cables - DC Cables


50% discount

cable 7

Doncaster Cables 4.0 Twin & Earth​

code:6242Y


75% discount

Solar gear - 15

PV on Roof and Hazard Labels Pack​

Part No: BIOHAZARD Labels - Hazard Labels





subcontractor

Scaffolding service​

All work is carried out with the customer's needs in mind,
from domestic to commercial we always ensure that all of our work is carried out with the utmost professionalism and to the highest standards as we pride ourselves on keeping our customers happy and delivering their requirements.




Labour

Total for installation/testing/commissioning​

EPC 1

EPC - energy performance certificate​

To apply for the Higher rate of feed-in tariff payments we need a valid EPC which meets the Grade of D before raising an MCS certificate. please ensure your EPC pre dates the MCS certificate.
Not selected


MCS 1

MCS paperwork​

This is required for your Feed in tariff paperwork -
We will provide you with an MCS certificate on completion of the installation and only after we have received final payment.
Not selected

Options selected	0 of 3
Subtotal, includes discount of 99.87	10,264.07
Total GBP	£10,264.07

 

[OldKitMan]

EPC 1

EPC - energy performance certificate​

To apply for the Higher rate of feed-in tariff payments we need a valid EPC which meets the Grade of D before raising an MCS certificate. please ensure your EPC pre dates the MCS certificate.
Not selected


MCS 1

MCS paperwork​

This is required for your Feed in tariff paperwork -
We will provide you with an MCS certificate on completion of the installation and only after we have received final payment.
Not selected

Options selected	0 of 3
Subtotal, includes discount of 99.87	10,264.07
Total GBP	£10,264.07

Feed in tariff hasn't been a thing for years - that's a bit concerning.

 

[Werewolf]

definitely not an expert but that looks like a good price.

We got ours fitted yesterday, our 12x 385 panels are currently outputting something like 3.8kw and filling the 6kw battery up nicely.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

Feed in tariff hasn't been a thing for years - that's a bit concerning.

Don't you need that though to get things like Outgoing Octopus?

Edit - yes you do, from Octopus Energy site.

Does micro-generation still need to be installed under MCS to take advantage of Outgoing Octopus?​

Under the Feed-in-Tariff scheme, installations needed to have a Microgeneration Certificate administered by the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS).

We will still require your renewable energy generation to be installed by a MCS approved installer and to provide us with the MCS certificate.

We also advise that solar micro-gen is installed according to the Renewable Energy Code of Conduct (RECC).

 

[94JDH]

I'm after a bit of advice. My wife has started looking into this as we've been keen to install these ever since we got a new build 3 years ago. I'll admit I don't really know the first thing about them. We've had this quote and TBH I haven't a clue whether we are on the right lines or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

10 x 410W Mono PERC Half-Cell MBB Black Frame​

Rating: 410W
Efficiency: 21%
Width: 1,134mm
Height: 1,722mm
JAM54S-30-410-MR-BF
Assembled with 11BB Perc cells, the half-cell configuration of the module offers the advantages of the higher power output, better temperature-dependent performance, reduced shading effect on the energy generation, lower risk of hot spot, as well as enhanced tolerance for mechanical loading.
12 Year Product Warranty.
25 Year Linear Output Warranty.
Higher Output Power
Lower LCOE
Less shading and lower resistive loss
Better mechanical loading tolerance

GivEnergy Hybrid 3.6kW Inverter​

GivEnergy hybrid inverters is a must for every house hold where you have backup power during power outages as well as saving on your utility bill. This unique hybrid utilizes the free giving sunlight and makes it an flexible power source that is available when you need it as well as direct battery charge from your PV array.
System needs to be connected to the internet to comply with warranty requirements.
Product Features
Uses GivEnergy Lithium batteries that can be added to extend KWh of battery bank
Batteries can be charged from Solar PV as well as your current utility supply
Cloud based monitoring and control through WEB APP interface
Inverter can be remotely updated Via Wi-Fi /4G dongle
Inverter do have 2500W backup power capability
Available in 3.6KW and 5KW
Inverter has 2 MPPT PV inputs that allow you to have solar panels in 2 different orientations
Installations can be for new installs or retrofit to an existing system
Backup function supported


GivEnergy End User Brochure (1)

GivEnergy 9.5kWh Li-Ion Battery​

Utilising lithium iron phosphate, GivEnergy batteries are extremely safe and can be installed in a wide range of locations. Their market-leading battery warranty means you can use your battery as much as you want for 10 years and still be covered.
Features:
Plug & Play functionality
Fully Recyclable at end of life
Remote Firmware upgrades
IP65 Rated
10 Year warranty


Giv-Bat 9.5



Mounting system - Renusol

Renusol - VarioSole+ Mounting rail 41 x 35 x 3200 mm​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.


x Choose quantity

Mounting system - Renusol 2

VarioSole Rail connector​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.


x Choose quantity

Mounting system - Renusol 6

RS1 End and Mid Clamp 30 - 50mm Silver ( ONE FOR ALL )​

Renusol Mounting Rail, to be used with VarioSole product range.

Mid Clamp Rapid16 40-50mm Black​

Solar gear - 1

Santon 25A 2 Pole AC Isolator​

Part No: SAN-M25-2 Switches - AC Isolators


x Choose quantity


Consumer unit 8

Schneider Electric Easy9 4-Module 2-Way Populated Garage Consumer Unit​

Not selected

Conduit 2

Tower Conduit Heavy Gauge 20mm x 2m Length Black​

x Choose quantity

Conduit 5

Tower Terminal 1-Way Terminal Box 20mm Black​

x Choose quantity

Conduit 1

Tower Spacer Bar Saddles 20mm Black Pack of 2​

x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 7

Rayleigh 1-ph generation meter 100A (1000 pulse/kWh)​

Part No: RIHXE12R Meters - Single Phase Generation Meters


x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 10

MC4 Male Connector - Single​

Part No: MC4-MAL Cables - Connectors


x Choose quantity

Solar Gear - 11

MC4 Female Connector - Single​

Part No: MC4-FEM Cables - Connectors


x Choose quantity

Solar gear - 12

4mm2 single-core DC cable​

Part No: CABLE 4 Brown Cables - DC Cables


x Choose quantity
50% discount

Solar gear - 13

4mm2 single-core DC cable - Grey​

Part No: CABLE4-1-100-Grey Cables - DC Cables


50% discount

cable 7

Doncaster Cables 4.0 Twin & Earth​

code:6242Y


75% discount

Solar gear - 15

PV on Roof and Hazard Labels Pack​

Part No: BIOHAZARD Labels - Hazard Labels





subcontractor

Scaffolding service​

All work is carried out with the customer's needs in mind,
from domestic to commercial we always ensure that all of our work is carried out with the utmost professionalism and to the highest standards as we pride ourselves on keeping our customers happy and delivering their requirements.




Labour

Total for installation/testing/commissioning​

EPC 1

EPC - energy performance certificate​

To apply for the Higher rate of feed-in tariff payments we need a valid EPC which meets the Grade of D before raising an MCS certificate. please ensure your EPC pre dates the MCS certificate.
Not selected


MCS 1

MCS paperwork​

This is required for your Feed in tariff paperwork -
We will provide you with an MCS certificate on completion of the installation and only after we have received final payment.
Not selected

Options selected	0 of 3
Subtotal, includes discount of 99.87	10,264.07
Total GBP	£10,264.07

Make sure the inverter is a gen2 version for better charge/discharge rates - also has built in WiFi and ethernet port.

 

[OldKitMan]

Don't you need that though to get things like Outgoing Octopus?

Edit - yes you do, from Octopus Energy site.

It's not called FIT any more though I thought, it's Smart Export Guarantee now - maybe just the companies templates need updating.

 

[SDK^]

I'm after a bit of advice. My wife has started looking into this as we've been keen to install these ever since we got a new build 3 years ago. I'll admit I don't really know the first thing about them. We've had this quote and TBH I haven't a clue whether we are on the right lines or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

​

EPC 1

EPC - energy performance certificate​

To apply for the Higher rate of feed-in tariff payments we need a valid EPC which meets the Grade of D before raising an MCS certificate. please ensure your EPC pre dates the MCS certificate.
Not selected


MCS 1

MCS paperwork​

This is required for your Feed in tariff paperwork -
We will provide you with an MCS certificate on completion of the installation and only after we have received final payment.
Not selected

Options selected	0 of 3
Subtotal, includes discount of 99.87	10,264.07
Total GBP	£10,264.07

That price looks good [Probably on the low side of current demand and market rates]

Don't worry about the 'feed in tariff' wording - it's just generic words which has not been updated on their template, to Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

On the 3.6kW Inverter - this means it will be limited to that power rating. If you turn on several high energy devices at once, e.g. An oven and microwave or a Kettle and toaster, then it will probably go over 3.6kW and need to pull power from the Grid. If you think you need more inverter capacity then look at upgrading this to 5kW (which costs a little more)

 

[Journey]

On the 3.6kW Inverter - this means it will be limited to that power rating. If you turn on several high energy devices at once, e.g. An oven and microwave or a Kettle and toaster, then it will probably go over 3.6kW and need to pull power from the Grid. If you think you need more inverter capacity then look at upgrading this to 5kW (which costs a little more)

That is the rated PV to grid/house amount not the battery discharge rate for AC into the household electrics. Something people forget to consider for night time use when there is no solar power.