Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

[Bigbadben]

is this something givenergy provide you access to or is it manually setup?

I tried the solcast website which lets you set up a free home account on the web

You need to go to Solcast, register your site (PV setup) and get and API key. Then in the GivEnergy portal, edit Dashboard and add the Solar Power Forecast tile and use the API key.

 

[yessuz]

Got this quote recently:

Solar Panels
LONGi
6.560 kW Total Solar Power
16 x 410 Watt Panels (LR4-66HPH-410M) (east west roof)
4,952 kWh per year

Inverter
Lux Power Technology Co., Ltd
3.600 kW Total Inverter Rating
1 x LXP 3.6K Hybrid


Battery
Greenlinx
6.4 kWh Total Battery Storage
2 x LV-L3.2-1P

All this for 12k with installation... And have no idea if anything quoted here is bad or good

Now asked them to quote battery and inverter only, as should be considerably cheaper... Then it will be a time for man maths

 

[Avendit]

Got this quote recently:

Solar Panels
LONGi
6.560 kW Total Solar Power
16 x 410 Watt Panels (LR4-66HPH-410M) (east west roof)
4,952 kWh per year

Inverter
Lux Power Technology Co., Ltd
3.600 kW Total Inverter Rating
1 x LXP 3.6K Hybrid


Battery
Greenlinx
6.4 kWh Total Battery Storage
2 x LV-L3.2-1P

All this for 12k with installation... And have no idea if anything quoted here is bad or good

Now asked them to quote battery and inverter only, as should be considerably cheaper... Then it will be a time for man maths

Looks like a nice balanced system, at a good price. Can't comment on the components I'm afraid, but 410w modules is pretty sweet these days.

If you do battery only, you will max save the price difference between 5kw of full price and off peak prices per day only. I guess if you use less than 5kw in 20 hours that could work?

Unfortunately everyone has to do their own man maths. I tried to gather all mine into this post of it helps:

Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

So I'm 2 months in (or so) and thought it worth writing up my experience for people. Its been quite a trip with many on here helping massively along the way. TL/DR: We got panels, 19 of them. Install was more involved than expected, but OK Fully solar powered in June & July, saving about...

teslamotorsclub.com

If your roof isn't too steeply sloped and both sides will get sun at the same time, you could end up clipping a bit of the time. Check how many hours that might run to and decide if it matters enough to get DNO permission to go up a size of inverter.

 

[94jdh]

Looks like a nice balanced system, at a good price. Can't comment on the components I'm afraid, but 410w modules is pretty sweet these days.

If you do battery only, you will max save the price difference between 5kw of full price and off peak prices per day only. I guess if you use less than 5kw in 20 hours that could work?

Unfortunately everyone has to do their own man maths. I tried to gather all mine into this post of it helps:

Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

So I'm 2 months in (or so) and thought it worth writing up my experience for people. Its been quite a trip with many on here helping massively along the way. TL/DR: We got panels, 19 of them. Install was more involved than expected, but OK Fully solar powered in June & July, saving about...

teslamotorsclub.com

If your roof isn't too steeply sloped and both sides will get sun at the same time, you could end up clipping a bit of the time. Check how many hours that might run to and decide if it matters enough to get DNO permission to go up a size of inverter.

And also then will charge you VAT for the battery install only, so worth having PV at the same time if you can afford it.

 

[Foucault]

Got this quote recently:

Solar Panels
LONGi
6.560 kW Total Solar Power
16 x 410 Watt Panels (LR4-66HPH-410M) (east west roof)
4,952 kWh per year

Inverter
Lux Power Technology Co., Ltd
3.600 kW Total Inverter Rating
1 x LXP 3.6K Hybrid


Battery
Greenlinx
6.4 kWh Total Battery Storage
2 x LV-L3.2-1P

All this for 12k with installation... And have no idea if anything quoted here is bad or good

Now asked them to quote battery and inverter only, as should be considerably cheaper... Then it will be a time for man maths

Very similar to the price of the system due to be installed at my house in a couple of weeks time with only difference being 9 Longi panels rather than 16, as that’s all that will fit on the south facing roof, and bird protection for £10.8k. The Longi 410w panels are about £140 each and east/west set up will cost a bit more so pretty much the same price. One thing worth considering is whether you want any mains backup as that’s something the Lux Power inverter can do as it has EPS built in. I wasn’t bothered as don’t often have power outages but worth considering if a problem. For my usage two batteries should be enough but did ask and they are currently £1,200 each, so £1,440 plus installation to add later. As Avendit says it’s worth considering whether 6.4 kWh is enough if you want to avoid peak mains power cost. I looked at my smart meter logs and there’s only about three weeks a year when it wouldn’t be enough so payback for extra battery was about 33 years!

 

[yessuz]

Looks like a nice balanced system, at a good price. Can't comment on the components I'm afraid, but 410w modules is pretty sweet these days.

If you do battery only, you will max save the price difference between 5kw of full price and off peak prices per day only. I guess if you use less than 5kw in 20 hours that could work?

Unfortunately everyone has to do their own man maths. I tried to gather all mine into this post of it helps:

Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

So I'm 2 months in (or so) and thought it worth writing up my experience for people. Its been quite a trip with many on here helping massively along the way. TL/DR: We got panels, 19 of them. Install was more involved than expected, but OK Fully solar powered in June & July, saving about...

teslamotorsclub.com

If your roof isn't too steeply sloped and both sides will get sun at the same time, you could end up clipping a bit of the time. Check how many hours that might run to and decide if it matters enough to get DNO permission to go up a size of inverter.

yeah, on average, my usage is below 500w during the day

 

[yessuz]

Very similar to the price of the system due to be installed at my house in a couple of weeks time with only difference being 9 Longi panels rather than 16, as that’s all that will fit on the south facing roof, and bird protection for £10.8k. The Longi 410w panels are about £140 each and east/west set up will cost a bit more so pretty much the same price. One thing worth considering is whether you want any mains backup as that’s something the Lux Power inverter can do as it has EPS built in. I wasn’t bothered as don’t often have power outages but worth considering if a problem. For my usage two batteries should be enough but did ask and they are currently £1,200 each, so £1,440 plus installation to add later. As Avendit says it’s worth considering whether 6.4 kWh is enough if you want to avoid peak mains power cost. I looked at my smart meter logs and there’s only about three weeks a year when it wouldn’t be enough so payback for extra battery was about 33 years!

i think I am in very similar situation.

just for fun I always set my smart meter to show instant usage, and I get idea from there.
I do a lot of miles so car would charge off peak anyway. so this would be for mostly my peak time use and evenings

 

[Avendit]

yeah, on average, my usage is below 500w during the day

0.5kw x 20 non octo hours = 10kw needed to run at 7.5p all day. + Any cooking using electric?

Also, watch the charge rate to make sure you can fully fill in your 4hr window.

 

[RedMod3]

0.5kw x 20 non octo hours = 10kw needed to run at 7.5p all day. + Any cooking using electric?

Also, watch the charge rate to make sure you can fully fill in your 4hr window.

And it scales up, so 2kW x 20 non-octo hours = 40kWh to run at 5p or 7.5p all day. 40kWh = 3 Power Walls.

 

[yessuz]

0.5kw x 20 non octo hours = 10kw needed to run at 7.5p all day. + Any cooking using electric?

Also, watch the charge rate to make sure you can fully fill in your 4hr window.

I am on IO, so it is 18 hrs. and if needed, I even get extra slots, so potentially, can be 7-8 hrs of super cheap power
also, it's more under 400w, but anyway

 

[Danny_F]

I will be first to admit my knowledge of solar and associated costs etc is fairly minimal however it is something I am trying to learn more about. I have managed to get a quote after a visit which in itself is something of an achievement however I am not sure if this is a good, fair or rubbish quote?

Annual usage is approx just below 10,000kw, house has East/West roofs, I am on Octopus, getting smart meter fitted on Monday and then will be on go and IO when Tesla arrives Nov/Dec.

Quote as follows

1 SUPPLY OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM (7.11 kWp) £11,049

1 TILE ENERGY DNO G99 APPLICATION/CONNECTION
18 JA SOLAR 395W MONO PERCIUM HALF-CELL ALL BLACK

Defect:12 year(s) Performance:25 year(s)

18 SOLAREDGE POWER OPTIMISER

Defect:25 year(s)

1 SOLAREDGE 1PH INVERTER HD-WAVE

Defect:12 year(s)

1 EMLITE ECA2.V V1 GENERATION METER
18 RENUSOL VARIOSOLE MOUNTING RAIL 50 X 37 X 4200MM
80 RENUSOL VARIOSOLE STAINLESS STEEL ROOF HOOK FOR PANTILES

1 TESLA POWERWALL 2 WITH GATEWAY BACKUP HARDWARE 13.5Kw £9450

Defect:10 year(s)

2 SFL SCAFFOLDING £1,200

18 TILE ENERGY SOLAR PV BIRD PROTECTION £540

Qty Description of Services

1 INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

Total £22,599

 

[ACarneiro]

Doesn’t seem unreasonable in the current market, IMHO
Is that the maximum number of panels you can physically fit on your roofs?

 

[Avendit]

My similar system (7.15kw e/w split, 10kw puredrive) was £13k, but that was pre energy problems, isn't a Powerwall & gateway (worth paying extra for these) and isn't solar edge. Would still imagine your payback is around 5 years tho, so well within a reasonable timeframe.

 

[RedMod3]

12 Trina Solar 395W panels (west facing roof)
12 Solaredge power optimisers
3,68kW Solaredge HD inverter
1 Powerwall (no gateway as have one)
Export Limiter
Scaffolding

Panels installed end of September, inverter due to be installed within 2 weeks, Powerwall due November.

£14,500

 

[Danny_F]

Doesn’t seem unreasonable in the current market, IMHO
Is that the maximum number of panels you can physically fit on your roofs?

Yeah I think thats the max as when he come around he initially only quoted for 11 panels. It looks like he has managed to fit more on the East side and 2 more on the West side.

 

[yessuz]

So, I took the usual consumption figures from some standard day in september.
Using that I am trying to evaluate pay back period.

current

Batteries only

Solar +Battery

Period

rate p/kwh

consumption kwh

cost p

Period

rate p/kwh

consumption kwh

cost p

Period

rate p/kwh

consumption kwh

cost p

00:00 - 00:30

7.14​

0.24​

1.7136​

00:00 - 00:30

7.14​

0.24​

1.7136​

00:00 - 00:30

7.14​

0.24​

1.7136​

00:30 - 01:00

7.14​

0.43​

3.0702​

00:30 - 01:00

7.14​

0.43​

3.0702​

00:30 - 01:00

7.14​

0.43​

3.0702​

01:00 - 01:30

7.14​

1.68​

11.9952​

01:00 - 01:30

7.14​

1.68​

11.9952​

01:00 - 01:30

7.14​

1.68​

11.9952​

01:30 - 02:00

7.14​

3.88​

27.7032​

01:30 - 02:00

7.14​

3.88​

27.7032​

01:30 - 02:00

7.14​

3.88​

27.7032​

02:00 - 02:30

7.14​

3.36​

23.9904​

02:00 - 02:30

7.14​

3.36​

23.9904​

02:00 - 02:30

7.14​

3.36​

23.9904​

02:30 - 03:00

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

02:30 - 03:00

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

02:30 - 03:00

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

03:00 - 03:30

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

03:00 - 03:30

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

03:00 - 03:30

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

03:30 - 04:00

7.14​

0.38​

2.7132​

03:30 - 04:00

7.14​

0.38​

2.7132​

03:30 - 04:00

7.14​

0.38​

2.7132​

04:00 - 04:30

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

04:00 - 04:30

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

04:00 - 04:30

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

04:30 - 05:00

7.14​

0.32​

2.2848​

04:30 - 05:00

7.14​

0.32​

2.2848​

04:30 - 05:00

7.14​

0.32​

2.2848​

05:00 - 05:30

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

05:00 - 05:30

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

05:00 - 05:30

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

05:30 - 06:00

28.79​

0.15​

4.3185​

05:30 - 06:00

7.14​

0.15​

1.071​

05:30 - 06:00

7.14​

0.15​

1.071​

06:00 - 06:30

28.79​

0.13​

3.7427​

06:00 - 06:30

7.14​

0.13​

0.9282​

06:00 - 06:30

7.14​

0.13​

0.9282​

06:30 - 07:00

28.79​

0.15​

4.3185​

06:30 - 07:00

7.14​

0.15​

1.071​

06:30 - 07:00

7.14​

0.15​

1.071​

07:00 - 07:30

28.79​

0.18​

5.1822​

07:00 - 07:30

7.14​

0.18​

1.2852​

07:00 - 07:30

7.14​

0.18​

1.2852​

07:30 - 08:00

28.79​

0.17​

4.8943​

07:30 - 08:00

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

07:30 - 08:00

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

08:00 - 08:30

28.79​

0.14​

4.0306​

08:00 - 08:30

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

08:00 - 08:30

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

08:30 - 09:00

28.79​

0.11​

3.1669​

08:30 - 09:00

7.14​

0.11​

0.7854​

08:30 - 09:00

7.14​

0.11​

0.7854​

09:00 - 09:30

28.79​

0.12​

3.4548​

09:00 - 09:30

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

09:00 - 09:30

0​

0.12​

0​

09:30 - 10:00

28.79​

0.13​

3.7427​

09:30 - 10:00

7.14​

0.13​

0.9282​

09:30 - 10:00

0​

0.13​

0​

10:00 - 10:30

28.79​

0.25​

7.1975​

10:00 - 10:30

7.14​

0.25​

1.785​

10:00 - 10:30

0​

0.25​

0​

10:30 - 11:00

28.79​

0.14​

4.0306​

10:30 - 11:00

7.14​

0.14​

0.9996​

10:30 - 11:00

0​

0.14​

0​

11:00 - 11:30

28.79​

0.11​

3.1669​

11:00 - 11:30

7.14​

0.11​

0.7854​

11:00 - 11:30

0​

0.11​

0​

11:30 - 12:00

28.79​

0.12​

3.4548​

11:30 - 12:00

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

11:30 - 12:00

0​

0.12​

0​

12:00 - 12:30

28.79​

0.09​

2.5911​

12:00 - 12:30

7.14​

0.09​

0.6426​

12:00 - 12:30

0​

0.09​

0​

12:30 - 13:00

28.79​

0.07​

2.0153​

12:30 - 13:00

7.14​

0.07​

0.4998​

12:30 - 13:00

0​

0.07​

0​

13:00 - 13:30

28.79​

0.09​

2.5911​

13:00 - 13:30

7.14​

0.09​

0.6426​

13:00 - 13:30

0​

0.09​

0​

13:30 - 14:00

28.79​

0.08​

2.3032​

13:30 - 14:00

7.14​

0.08​

0.5712​

13:30 - 14:00

0​

0.08​

0​

14:00 - 14:30

28.79​

0.1​

2.879​

14:00 - 14:30

7.14​

0.1​

0.714​

14:00 - 14:30

0​

0.1​

0​

14:30 - 15:00

28.79​

0.08​

2.3032​

14:30 - 15:00

7.14​

0.08​

0.5712​

14:30 - 15:00

0​

0.08​

0​

15:00 - 15:30

28.79​

0.08​

2.3032​

15:00 - 15:30

7.14​

0.08​

0.5712​

15:00 - 15:30

0​

0.08​

0​

15:30 - 16:00

28.79​

0.08​

2.3032​

15:30 - 16:00

7.14​

0.08​

0.5712​

15:30 - 16:00

0​

0.08​

0​

16:00 - 16:30

28.79​

0.07​

2.0153​

16:00 - 16:30

7.14​

0.07​

0.4998​

16:00 - 16:30

0​

0.07​

0​

16:30 - 17:00

28.79​

0.1​

2.879​

16:30 - 17:00

7.14​

0.1​

0.714​

16:30 - 17:00

0​

0.1​

0​

17:00 - 17:30

28.79​

0.08​

2.3032​

17:00 - 17:30

7.14​

0.08​

0.5712​

17:00 - 17:30

0​

0.08​

0​

17:30 - 18:00

28.79​

0.29​

8.3491​

17:30 - 18:00

7.14​

0.29​

2.0706​

17:30 - 18:00

0​

0.29​

0​

18:00 - 18:30

28.79​

0.17​

4.8943​

18:00 - 18:30

7.14​

0.17​

1.2138​

18:00 - 18:30

0​

0.17​

0​

18:30 - 19:00

28.79​

0.12​

3.4548​

18:30 - 19:00

7.14​

0.12​

0.8568​

18:30 - 19:00

0​

0.12​

0​

19:00 - 19:30

28.79​

0.15​

4.3185​

19:00 - 19:30

7.14​

0.15​

1.071​

19:00 - 19:30

0​

0.15​

0​

19:30 - 20:00

28.79​

1.39​

40.0181​

19:30 - 20:00

7.14​

1.39​

9.9246​

19:30 - 20:00

0​

1.39​

0​

20:00 - 20:30

28.79​

0.25​

7.1975​

20:00 - 20:30

7.14​

0.25​

1.785​

20:00 - 20:30

0​

0.25​

0​

20:30 - 21:00

28.79​

0.23​

6.6217​

20:30 - 21:00

7.14​

0.23​

1.6422​

20:30 - 21:00

0​

0.23​

0​

21:00 - 21:30

28.79​

0.21​

6.0459​

21:00 - 21:30

7.14​

0.21​

1.4994​

21:00 - 21:30

0​

0.21​

0​

21:30 - 22:00

7.14​

4.05​

28.917​

21:30 - 22:00

7.14​

4.05​

28.917​

21:30 - 22:00

0​

4.05​

0​

22:00 - 22:30

7.14​

3.96​

28.2744​

22:00 - 22:30

7.14​

3.96​

28.2744​

22:00 - 22:30

0​

3.96​

0​

22:30 - 23:00

7.14​

3.95​

28.203​

22:30 - 23:00

7.14​

3.95​

28.203​

22:30 - 23:00

0​

3.95​

0​

23:00 - 23:30

7.14​

4.1​

29.274​

23:00 - 23:30

7.14​

4.1​

29.274​

23:00 - 23:30

0​

4.1​

0​

23:30 - 00:00

7.14​

4.17​

29.7738​

23:30 - 00:00

7.14​

4.17​

29.7738​

23:30 - 00:00

7.14​

4.17​

29.7738​

​

difference

​

difference

Cost per day

£ 3.84

£ -

Cost per day

£ 2.62

-£ 1.22

Cost per day

£ 1.15

-£ 1.48

Yearly

£ 1,402.64

£ -

Yearly

£ 957.74

-£ 444.90

Yearly

£ 419.32

-£ 538.42

monthly

£ 115.29

£ -

monthly

£ 78.72

-£ 36.57

monthly

£ 34.46

-£ 44.25

taking into account that I would do loads of miles and need some charging of 30 kwh per night
Batteries only would save me ~444 a year (or ~36.6 gbp a month)
Solar + batteries would be 538 a year of savings (or 44 gbp a month)

I get basically 10-20 gbp a month difference max (let's say I cannot charge during the day as I am away) between solar and batteries only (relying on off-peak rate only).

just trying to understand the maths here... as my solar pack with batteries would be ~12k, let's say, pay off in 6 years - 2k a year or 166 a month


overall, 12k investment in the system would mean that in 45 gbp savings I need 20 years pay off :/ do I miss something here or it makes no sense in general?

 

[73henny]

You have cheap rate from 21:30 to 05:30?

 

[jqworle]

Are your figures missing VAT as well.

 

[GRiLLA]

Also you are assuming you get your current Octopus Go rate for the next 20 years, even though that rate is no longer available.

 

[yessuz]

You have cheap rate from 21:30 to 05:30?

This is due to IO providing extra slot. In this vase I would have cheap one from 23:30

Are your figures missing VAT as well.

Vat is 5% i think? Let's presume that 5% is within tolerance for calculation of energy consumption for ease of life

Also you are assuming you get your current Octopus Go rate for the next 20 years, even though that rate is no longer available.

I am presuming that there is going to be a cheap-ish off-peak tarriff. System with battery onoy or battery + solar would ensure that all household consumption is at off-peak only rate or less (solar).
I probably need to adjust consumption figures and add hypothetical 10p kwh off peak rate or eo