Solar panel recommendations

[Glover_elbow]

Whats the best route to go down for a solar panel and battery inverter sysyem for a bog standard 4 bed detached and the likely cost. We have 1 ev vehicle and may opt for another shortly so i am keen to get the savings through a solar insulation. I noticed some energy companies are offering solar installs apart from paying them off over time are there any other advantages of going via an energy provider or is the simplest and best option a local installer. Are there any new solar technology advancements to look for.

 

[Boro_Interlinked]

Last night TV , Chn 5, 7pm-8pm SolarPanels : Are they worth it. Followed a family in a 3 bed semi I think going through the install and the choices etc. Was interesting. I worked out I'd need 6 solar panels 400w each on my SW roof at full whack to boil my 1800-2200w kettle for 4 mins. ( not a battery system ) Not sure what would happen Nov - Mar though . Would have to drink frappes I expect.

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

The truth is there are a multitude of options depending on location, size, budget and aspiration.

i would seek advice from a company working in the South/South East - as they have much more experience and contacts than those in the North East (for example). such as;

Home - Use The Sun

As a family run business, Use The Sun have been installing environmentally friendly systems since 2009, both domestic and commercial

usethesun.co.uk

hope some of this helps you;

Sunshine Hours Map UK (Solar Radiation Map)

Are you considering installing solar panels and wondering what the sunshine hours are in your area? It's important as it impacts how much power your

energyguide.org.uk

 

[Andy_W]

@ThatFragranceGuy will probably be able to help you out here, I think he's got solar and a battery, and also clued up on energy prices/ tarrifs.

I've got 4 panels and no battery, sort of tied to an average energy tariff, and drive an EV but I've no idea what my panels have saved me.

My panels came with the house, but I've not calculated a payback time for more or a battery, as I probably won't be in the same house in 5 years.

If you're gonna do it, you're likely going to be better doing it interest-free if possible, as the borrowing costs now will wipe out anything you save, even when rates are very high like they are now.

Keep in mind that electricity rates are likely to start coming down over the next year or so also, as the spot prices are now back to May 21 levels, and 1/6th of the peak. They're not far off the 2018 rates even, which I'm amazed about to be honest.

Also, keep in mind how long you plan to live at the property, and when working out a saving per year, you're probably better off basing that on rates similar to what they were before the carnage, to be safe at least.

Personally if I was going to be buying a new installation, with a battery I think I would do it when the rates have settled. I think the demand for solar panels and batteries will probably be less than now, bringing thier prices down. Also less work for the installers, so you'll probably get a better install rate when they're fighting for work. Don't get me wrong though, the industry will still be on a long term growing trend, but we're probably in a localised peak now, might not be a cost-efficient time to do it.

Also, if you wait a little, there is the potential for even cheaper/ more efficient panels and batteries as they're improving all the time.

 

[The Ruthsayer]

GE, this is a typical year’s production. I have x16 250w panels, half due south, half due west. Installed in 2014, so stuff probably more efficient now. I’m in the Stokesley area.

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

I've got 4 panels and no battery, sort of tied to an average energy tariff, and drive an EV but I've no idea what my panels have saved me.

My panels came with the house, but I've not calculated a payback time for more or a battery, as I probably won't be in the same house in 5 years.

a lifespan for a solar panel is typically around 25 years which means a battery having a life span of 10 years will need to be replaced once during the lifespan of the solar system.

Meanwhile, a battery with a lifespan of 5 years must be replaced multiple times which adds to the overall cost of the battery during its lifespan.

The average lifespan for lead-acid batteries is 5 to 7.5 years while the average lifespan for lithium-ion batteries is around 11-15 years.

 

[Glover_elbow]

Last night TV , Chn 5, 7pm-8pm SolarPanels : Are they worth it. Followed a family in a 3 bed semi I think going through the install and the choices etc. Was interesting. I worked out I'd need 6 solar panels 400w each on my SW roof at full whack to boil my 1800-2200w kettle for 4 mins. ( not a battery system ) Not sure what would happen Nov - Mar though . Would have to drink frappes I expect.

Will give it a watch

 

[The Ruthsayer]

a lifespan for a solar panel is typically around 25 years which means a battery having a life span of 10 years will need to be replaced once during the lifespan of the solar system.

Meanwhile, a battery with a lifespan of 5 years must be replaced multiple times which adds to the overall cost of the battery during its lifespan.

The average lifespan for lead-acid batteries is 5 to 7.5 years while the average lifespan for lithium-ion batteries is around 11-15 years.

I’m no expert here, but I can’t see how a battery would be of much use in this country. On a good sunny day you might have 5-10kw max spare, but mostly you will consume all you generate.

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

I’m no expert here, but I can’t see how a battery would be of much use in this country. On a good sunny day you might have 5-10kw max spare, but mostly you will consume all you generate.

The average household with a 4.2 kW solar system could save as much as £514 a year on your energy bills (based on the new October 2022 energy price cap).

If you also use a solar battery, you could save even more, in fact, without one around 50% is returned back to the National Grid.

So by using a solar battery you could save an extra £230 on average or sell the energy back to the grid using the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

The SEG allows you sell the energy you generate back to the grid and depending on the supplier you choose you could sell it at 7.5p for every kilowatt hour (kWh).

Therefore, to conclude you could save as much as £744 a year for the average sized home (that’s the £514 from the energy generation itself and £230 in SEG revenues you’ll generate for the year).


Thats why i said above to take advice from those with experience - those people are generally based in the South/South East -

i hope that helps you

 

[SmallTown]

I’m no expert here, but I can’t see how a battery would be of much use in this country. On a good sunny day you might have 5-10kw max spare, but mostly you will consume all you generate.

Two reasons: when the sun is shining you don’t need energy, we don’t need to run aircon for example. You’ll need the battery on an evening.

Second is you can fill it from cheap electricity overnight to top up the sun we often don’t get.

Then use cheap leccy to power during the evening

 

[The Ruthsayer]

JVM, interesting map, but (if I am reading it correctly), but South Wast produces about 1,000 kWh, or about 1 megawatt per annum. My average is theee time this amount. What am I missing?

 

[The Ruthsayer]

Two reasons: when the sun is shining you don’t need energy, we don’t need to run aircon for example. You’ll need the battery on an evening.

Second is you can fill it from cheap electricity overnight to top up the sun we often don’t get.

Then use cheap leccy to power during the evening

Maybe, though the house don’t have aircon! Good point on the cheap overnight electric, though.

 

[SmallTown]

-

JVM, interesting map, but (if I am reading it correctly), but South Wast produces about 1,000 kWh, or about 1 megawatt per annum. My average is theee time this amount. What am I missing?

map starts with 1994 data. My thought would be it takes into account pretty inefficient 90s and noighties panels

 

[SmallTown]

Maybe, though the house don’t have aircon! Good point on the cheap overnight electric, though.

Yeah sorry with the aircon I meant we didn’t need it, so when the sun is shining we don’t need much electricity. Unlike a hot country like Oz where the energy demand nearly matches the solar input. Essentially we got solar at the wrong time in this country

 

[Nano]

-

map starts with 1994 data. My thought would be it takes into account pretty inefficient 90s and noighties panels

Is that not a map of the potential over a 20 year period, not actual production from panels?

Every time I look at it the maths just don't stack up unless you have a load of cash you don't need. A decade+ to break even is not a good investment. It would never break even if you include the opportunity cost. You'd be better sticking £10k in a S&S ISA with a low cost index tracker than spending £10k on solar panels. Even with recent high electricity charges it doesn't seem economical but they will be dropping in the future.

Seems to me like the best bet would be to wait a few years until cost of installation is much lower or the feed-in tariff is much higher.

 

[SmallTown]

Is that not a map of the potential over a 20 year period, not actual production from panels?

Every time I look at it the maths just don't stack up unless you have a load of cash you don't need. A decade+ to break even is not a good investment. It would never break even if you include the opportunity cost. You'd be better sticking £10k in a S&S ISA with a low cost index tracker than spending £10k on solar panels. Even with recent high electricity charges it doesn't seem economical but they will be dropping in the future.

Seems to me like the best bet would be to wait a few years until cost of installation is much lower or the feed-in tariff is much higher.

If I wasn’t renting I’d be on it straight away. Even if I just use it to fuel my car I reckon the savings will be worth it. Also it pays to be energy independent. Not relying on the vagaries of energy prices as much

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

JVM, interesting map, but (if I am reading it correctly), but South Wast produces about 1,000 kWh, or about 1 megawatt per annum. My average is theee time this amount. What am I missing?

the map shows hours of sunshine available - not production value - again that would rely on a multitude of options depending on location, size, budget and aspiration.

you are getting your 3 megawatts off 16 panels at circa 950 hours per annum - an expert surveyor and an experienced installer could tell you if thats efficient with the set up you have installed - or if you could do better with different quality of fittings/batteries/placements etc.

 

[BoroBosco]

Not relying on the vagaries of energy prices as much

Just the vagaries of the weather

 

[SmallTown]

Just the vagaries of the weather

Not really no, not if paired with a battery. Or just used to fuel your car

 

[The Ruthsayer]

the map shows hours of sunshine available - not production value - again that would rely on a multitude of options depending on location, size, budget and aspiration.

you are getting your 3 megawatts off 16 panels at circa 950 hours per annum - an expert surveyor and an experienced installer could tell you if thats efficient with the set up you have installed - or if you could do better with different quality of fittings/batteries/placements etc.

Thanks. The house nearest us has just had panels in the same configuration, so assume we aren’t too far off. What I really want is wind power and batteries, but I can’t find anyone interested in helping me.