Solar Panels on SEAI Grant

7k is way to much, my system cost around the 4k mark before taking the grant into account. 4 Bed semi, 300 ltr water thank.

luketitz wrote: »

Any recommendations or advice appreciated, is it even worth the fairly lofty initial investment, given the lack of any real sunshine over the Winter months?

You need to be able to answer the following questions before you can decide if solar thermal is worth the investment (btw, in the majority of cases, it is not)
1. How much do you currently spend heating your hot water (don't take the saleman's figure - do the math yourself)?
2. How much of this hot water cost will the solar system replace (again be very suspicious of lofty percentages north of 50%?
3. Is there a more cost effective way of heating your water with what you have already got (e.g. if you use an electrical immersion element to heat your water but also have a central heating boiler, it is generally much more cost effective to heat your water using the boiler rather than electricity.
4. Would you be better to use the money to improve the heat retention properties of your house thus saving a larger amount on your heating bills and having a more comfortable house?

I never met a con man yet who didn't present themselves with an air of cool professionalism, I think it goes with the job description.
The cost should be around 4 to 5 k depending on some variables. So whoever quoted 7 is milking it. Is it worth the outlay.
Different people have different opinions. My opinion is that if there are children in the house then it is, As the payback can be as little as around 5 to 7 years. On average a family of 2+2 is estimated to save 500 to 600 per year. Remember also that the value and benefit of the saving increases as the cost of oil and gas goes up over the years. I also haven't spoken to one person who said they were sorry they got it installed. To me if you can afford the initial outlay then it's a good investment as the cost of utilities keep going up.
The other good thing is there's little or no maintenance required as the only moving parts is the circulating Pump. And a replacement pump is not too expensive at around 120 euro.
I worked on installing a system a few years back in February when the ground temp was 6 to 6 degrees and the Snow was 6 inches thick on the ground with no Sun in the sky all day. Just a freezing cold dull day, and the panels were still producing 20 degrees of heat. the system works well all year round, Just better in summer when the skies are clearer.
If it's combined with a thermal store it can even help reduce your heating costs. So it's basically a win win after the initial cost.
If you decide you are going for it then just make sure of the quality of the equipment used and you should get a lifetime of service from it.
Best of luck with your decision.

i got active 8 to install 2 solar panels and the rest possibly 6-7 k and it was good for a year,when they walked on roof they cracked many tiles and main one was under the bloody panel.
ended up getting them to remove panels to get a new roof and refit panels,tiles were 50+ years old so better in getting half of roof all of the back done.
on cloudy days i still need to boost the cylinder as water is not hot enough.
i have seen better lately that work through the night and giving 50 degree hot water.
might be a good idea to drop into the ideal homes show coming shortly.

http://idealhome.ie/

Solar Thermal to heat hot water is a waste of resources. The panels are expensive and fragile. And you have additional costs of a tank etc. etc.

Solar PV is much cheaper and more flexible. The panels can last indefinitely and are less prone to weather damage. Electricity is more useful than hot water. Even for heating water you can use a resistance based graphite on-demand water heater as needed. The inverter costs about €600-700, panels work out €900 per KW and after that all you need is a few roof clips and racking. Pay a roofer to put the roof clips and racking up properly and pay an electrician to wire it together, no need for "specialists". An average 5KW install should cost you no more than €6k including all equipment and the sparks and roofer.

UK and Germany both have very extensive solar PV. In fact on one day this summer more than half of german electricity was from solar PV, mainly on ordinary people's roofs. The big problem in Ireland has been that you don't get paid for the electricity you send to the grid. ESB just thieve the power and sell it to your neighbor for 20 cent per kWh. In China you'd get 18 cents of that, in Uganda and South Africa you'd get 40 cents and in Germany many still get 50 cent per kWh.

The worst part is that solar PV is better aligned to the usage on the grid, peak production at 12:00 to 13:00 lines up with the start of peak daytime demand. And solar production tends to be highest when wind turbine production is lowest so they compliment each other well. Solar insolation across most of Ireland is only about 10% less than Greece, i.e. just put up 10% more panels and your power production will be similar.

Solar PV has got so cheap at this point that the subsidy isn't even necessary. At the very least they should pay people the wholesale rate that Airtricity etc have to pay for their power anyway.

Hopefully we'll see something in the budget. But definitely this nonsense of evacuated tubes on rooftops needs to stop.

I got solar water heaters about 4 years ago, cost about €7k.

I'm not sure if it is actually cost effective, but I have to say there is always hot water on tap, even in winter. We never have to put the immersion on, and that's with 6 people in the house.

Just make sure you have the grant money in the bank before you let the installers in the door.

carnsoreboxer wrote: »

Hmm so I just emailed the company mentioned above for a call out - having read comments I do regret it now. Can anyone please point me in the direction of a reputable company. Depending on costs am either looking at just water heating or including central heating. If mods don't want companies mentioned by name please PM me

Thanks

if they come make sure you sign nothing in your house by inviting them into your house for a "consultation" you do away with your right to a 7 day cooling off period . thats why they push for signatures on the day with magic discounts.