KCross wrote: » This is flawed logic guys. Using your logic you might as well go for 5kWp so, draw another €700 grant and they will write you a cheque for the battery! I know you can't get a grant over 4kWp but you get my point? You can't allocate the panel grant to the battery to justify buying the battery because it might leave you with a "free" battery but then you have very expensive panels! You don't get both! There is no magic here. You simply have to get an equivalent competitive quote for the same system without a battery and the difference is what the battery is costing you. Simple. Any other manipulation of the grant figures is just fooling yourself. If the difference in cost is anything above €1500 between the two quotes you are looking at a very long payback time for your battery. I gave figures back in post 89. Did I get any of those figures wrong? Also, simply upping your install to 4.1kWp to justify the battery (as opposed to being suitable for your house) is flawed too because you will simply be pumping more to the grid and shelling out thousands extra for it. A 4.1kWp system will have masses of excess during the day even with the battery. You are too focussed on maximising the grant money and not enough on the payback imo, which is exactly what the govt want actually and why they configured the grant the way they did.
gunnerfitzy wrote: » You’ll find that at no point did I suggest getting a larger array that is suitable for one’s requirements. However, if an array in excess of 2kw is what is suitable for one’s requirements then the additional solar grant along with the battery grant should be a consideration.
KCross wrote: » Of course you should consider it. You made some additional points around charging the battery on night rate and the use of it during outages that are valid. Finances aren't the only consideration but it is pretty important! Im just making the point that the figures didnt add up when I look at it purely from a financial perspective. If you think it does add up I'd like to see the fine detail of the figures. It would help everyone here to see that. I've done my own calculations and the batteries came up well short of being viable. I could be missing something as Im not an expert either. I'm the same as everyone else on here. So please share how it makes sense financially. I believe the only way to do that is to get a quote with and without the batteries and have realistic expectations on what you can get from it in relation to displacing day rate electricity. I'm not trying to p*ss you off here gunner, just trying to work through the facts and figures like everyone else and make an informed decision.
gunnerfitzy wrote: » What crossed my mind in relation to this is could the SEAI ask for verification of planning compliance prior to final approval of a grant application? If none is forthcoming could they refuse to pay?
KCross wrote: » A 4.1kWp system will have masses of excess during the day even with the battery.
KCross wrote: » Also, simply upping your install to 4.1kWp to justify the battery (as opposed to being suitable for your house) is flawed too because you will simply be pumping more to the grid
serox_21 wrote: » Why install this systems with a company when you can buy similar systems at half price and install the panels yourself + a register electrician for electrical connections estimates costs:6 PV(1.8Kw) system - 1543euro+VAT installing panels - 0 as DIY or a couple of hundred if you need help electrical connections - 200-300(or less if you do most of the work yourself and have the electrician check it and make final connection to fuse board) total up to 2300euro(less than any company offer including grand)
niallers1 wrote: » Fair enough if you are handy and ok working at heights. I would think most would not be. Your numbers leave out alot of materials. Mounting system , not sure if you included inverter. Safety switch. If you do want the grant the installer has to be on the SEAI approved installers list. If not on list then no grant. On top of having a qualified electrician the installer has to have two additional qualifications. (2 x 4 day courses if I recall correctly )
niallers1 wrote: » 2 x 2.4kwh pylontech battery. Decent enough reviews on the battery. 295 watt Trina black panels Vandervalk mounting system. I think If You have the battery might not need the eddi. Just flick the switch on the immersion when there is juice in the battery.
KCross wrote: » Im starting to think that way myself. The registered installers are not cheap by any means. They have significant profit margin built into the parts. The labour costs are also significant (€2k for a 4kWp system). Plenty room to hire direct there.
wexfordman2 wrote: » Hi, So I am now probably looking at a 4kwp solar.with 5kwh battery. I have been also given a price for an additional 4 panels to bring my system up to 6kwp for an additional €1,250. The push for the extra 4 panels was at my instigation (I was asking if I could supplement the 4kw system with a small wind turbine, and he said the max rating allowed for domestic was 6kw). My thinking was that if I had a 4kw solar, could I supplement it with a small turbine so I could have night time generation as well (its windy where I am). Just looking for some opinions on this, is the extra cost for the solar worth it, even considering I might go EV in a few years ?
KCross wrote: » €1250 for an extra 2kWp is a fair enough price. Does that include labour? You mention 4 extra panels. Are you sure? 2kWp extra would suggest it would be more than 4 panels required to go from 4 to 6kWp Overall is your question whether you should add the extra panels or hold off on that and add a turbine? I guess it would depend on the cost of the turbine and what its likely to generate.
wexfordman2 wrote: » Thanks, So the system is actually closer to 4.5kwp, so 4 axtra panels will add about 1.3 kwp, bringing me up to 5.8.
wexfordman2 wrote: » In suppose the first question is, would the 6kwp be worth it, is will it give me better results.
wexfordman2 wrote: » Then whether the additional power added is solar or wind, I was thinking wind would possibly.be better as that will generate at night as well. I have no idea of the cost of a small wind turbine to be honest, was just thinking as I already had the inverters etc, the decision for adding a small affordable wind turbine might make more sense than additional solar.
wexfordman2 wrote: » So the system is actually closer to 4.5kwp, so 4 axtra panels will add about 1.3 kwp, bringing me up to 5.8
unkel wrote: » Those figures don't make sense. Exactly what wattage panel are they using?
KCross wrote: » There are 325W panels so that would add up alright.... just not the price!
wexfordman2 wrote: » Yep, just checked they are 320 panels (q cell q peak). So 14 * 320 panels will give 4.8, and the extra 4 panels will bring it up to just under 5.8
unkel wrote: » You're maths are still not the best
wexfordman2 wrote: » So, anyone reckon going the additional 2 panels at 1250 euro is worth it at this stage
unkel wrote: » 4 panels Do they bump up the power of the inverter or are they just installing the same one? Which one is it? 4 extra panels is maybe 1 man hour extra work (50), an extra 100 tops in materials and 4 * 160 for the panels, so worth 790 + VAT
wexfordman2 wrote: » The inverter is a prime hybrid inverter, 5kw, which was the initial one proposed for the 14 panel solution, and they did not mention a need to upgrade for the 18 panel solution. I am guessing that inverter is fine for my 14 panel solution, but under specced for the 18 panel ?
Shefwedfan wrote: » Ok, how much should it cost for electrician to install 4/8 panels if I buy all the equipment.....just connecting incorrectly and maybe running cables but I can help with that.....
denismc wrote: » Afaik the panels come with connectors that just clip together and then its a case of running cable to the inverter and consumer unit. Sparks has to install a RCB and a couple of isolators, my guy did it in under 3 hours! So less than a half a days work for the sparks if you can run the cables yourself.
