Domestic solar PV quotes 2018

KCross · 11-11-2018 09:29PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

The only thing is, the way the front works, is if you want a 4kwp system the grant requires the battery, so if the battery costs you 5k, the actual cost to you is 2,600 idlf you discount the additional 2,400 in grant money you will get.

You are correct, thats how the grant system works. The payback is very long (15yrs+) even with the grant.

Prior to the grant it was even longer, obviously.

randombar · 11-11-2018 09:40PM

KCross wrote: »

From analysis of my own consumption a battery makes no financial sense and I'm a high user of electicity.

The payback is, imo, 15yrs+
Thats just too long to be a sensible buy.

The quotes you get will talk about 7yr paybacks but they are generally rubbish claims as they use standard rate electricity for the calculations and they assume 100% utilisation of the energy by diverting to hot water which is skewing their figures to make it look better than it is.

The figure you should be using to calculate your payback should be the night rate of 8c/kWh unless the battery is displacing something that cant be moved to night rate (background load, cooking etc). And when calculating the day rate it should use the discounted rate that everyone can avail of which is around 17c/kWh right now, not the 20-22kWh that the SolarPV providers use in their calculations..... add it all up and the payback will be 15yrs+, not 7.... at least thats what fell out the bottom of my spreadsheet anyway.... YMMV.

By the time it has just paid for itself it will be very old tech, degraded and you are then crossing all your fingers that it will last another 10yrs to give you a payback. If anything goes wrong like a failed inverter (which does happen) your TCO is completely shot. It just doesnt make sense, imo. The payback needs to be <10yrs, preferably 5 to make it a sensible investment.

There is also the distinct possibility that there will be a Feed-in-tariff in the next 10yrs which will cost ALOT less than battery tech and is much more usable and scalable and you're not worrying about battery degradation etc. If you have stumped up for a battery and then a FiT comes in you will have wasted your investment, imo.

I know others on here believe in drawing the grant. I think its foolhardy. Decide for yourself but definitely run the numbers for your house and see what you get.

Could you send on the spreadsheet you used to calculate ROI? Think I've to do a few more sums.

I did receive a quote with and without a 2.4kwh battery and it was only 1300 + vat (not including labour) difference.

wexfordman2 · 11-11-2018 09:41PM

KCross wrote: »

You are correct, thats how the grant system works. The payback is very long (15yrs+) even with the grant.

Prior to the grant it was even longer, obviously.

Can't see it taking 15yrs. If you take even an assumption without pv and just using it as a night save device.

Charge battery overnight, 5kwh at 8c per kwh, is 40c

Discharge during the day, at 18c per kwh, and you save 50c per day, 3.50 per week or 182 euro per year, which is approx 15 year payback.

That's without solar pv being used to charge the battery.

KCross · 11-11-2018 10:15PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Can't see it taking 15yrs. If you take even an assumption without pv and just using it as a night save device.

Charge battery overnight, 5kwh at 8c per kwh, is 40c

Discharge during the day, at 18c per kwh, and you save 50c per day, 3.50 per week or 182 euro per year, which is approx 15 year payback.

That's without solar pv being used to charge the battery.

You're assuming that you will be able to fully charge and discharge the battery every day of the year which is a gross over-estimation/simplification.

A 4kWp system today in Ireland would have generated less than 2kWh and most likely all of that would have been used by the house background load and nothing to the battery.

How are you then going to manage the system to tell it to be a night saver device tonight but be an excess storage device tomorrow.... you'd need to be sitting on weather forcecasts and second guessing your generation continuously.... its not a viable way, imo, to use the system. It needs to be plug 'n play. Unless you have found an inverter with some super smart controls that I havent seen.

If you have run the numbers for your own house and you are confident it works for you then great, I wish you the best with it. I just dont see it myself and I based my calculations on real world weekly figures from Solar PV systems installed in Ireland (they are publicly available stats) and I modelled it on a monthly basis with my house consumption along with the quotes I got.... it just didnt stack up and certainly didnt give anywhere near the payback time I was comfortable with. Even if my figures were out 20% it was still too long a payback.

SolarPV on its own (no battery) just about makes sense but I'm trying to do a more direct labour route to reduce the ROI time further.... not sure yet if it will work out since you have to forego the grant in this scenario..... still working on it though, just need a spark now that I can trust and willing to do it.

wexfordman2 · 11-11-2018 10:38PM

KCross wrote: »

You're assuming that you will be able to fully charge and discharge the battery every day of the year which is a gross over-estimation/simplification.

A 4kWp system today in Ireland would have generated less than 2kWh and most likely all of that would have been used by the house background load and nothing to the battery.

How are you then going to manage the system to tell it to be a night saver device tonight but be an excess storage device tomorrow.... you'd need to be sitting on weather forcecasts and second guessing your generation continuously.... its not a viable way, imo, to use the system. It needs to be plug 'n play. Unless you have found an inverter with some super smart controls that I havent seen.

If you have run the numbers for your own house and you are confident it works for you then great, I wish you the best with it. I just dont see it myself and I based my calculations on real world weekly figures from Solar PV systems installed in Ireland (they are publicly available stats) and I modelled it on a monthly basis with my house consumption along with the quotes I got.... it just didnt stack up and certainly didnt give anywhere near the payback time I was comfortable with. Even if my figures were out 20% it was still too long a payback.

SolarPV on its own (no battery) just about makes sense but I'm trying to do a more direct labour route to reduce the ROI time further.... not sure yet if it will work out since you have to forego the grant in this scenario..... still working on it though, just need a spark now that I can trust and willing to do it.

The figures i have though were based on not using and solar pv, just charging during night to avail of low rate. What I was trying to show was that even the battery in it's own, at 2,600 would take less than the 15yrs payback you mentioned.

As far as telling the system when to charge, i would think the smarts are not too much of a challenge.

I mean, you charge it by the cheapest rate electricity available to you.

A) excess solar

night rate

uck51js9zml2yt · 11-11-2018 11:04PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

The figures i have though were based on not using and solar pv, just charging during night to avail of low rate. What I was trying to show was that even the battery in it's own, at 2,600 would take less than the 15yrs payback you mentioned.

As far as telling the system when to charge, i would think the smarts are not too much of a challenge.

I mean, you charge it by the cheapest rate electricity available to you.

A) excess solar
night rate

Is that what you've done?

wexfordman2 · 11-11-2018 11:06PM

Brecken Tart Newscast wrote: »

Is that what you've done?

Install not finished yet, but I have night rate and the system will be tuned to utilise night rate and solar.

uck51js9zml2yt · 11-11-2018 11:07PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Install not finished yet, but I have night rate and the system will be tuned to utilise night rate and solar.

Are they doing this for you? Is it in the price you quoted?

KCross · 11-11-2018 11:15PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

The figures i have though were based on not using and solar pv, just charging during night to avail of low rate. What I was trying to show was that even the battery in it's own, at 2,600 would take less than the 15yrs payback you mentioned.

Yea, I understood your point. I'm pointing out that you wont get a full charge/discharge cycle every day with SolarPV, so your example doesnt really tell you anything.

wexfordman2 wrote: »

As far as telling the system when to charge, i would think the smarts are not too much of a challenge.

I mean, you charge it by the cheapest rate electricity available to you.

A) excess solar
night rate

Maybe not that much of a challenge if the inverter is connected to the net and is reading forecasts or something but the reality is that the inverters, AFAIK, dont do anything like that.

So, the reality is you would have to do the following each day...

- check forecast for tomorrow
- decide if there will be excess generation from your system or not.
- calculate if that excess is enough to justify not charging the battery on night saver or maybe only half or quarter charging it etc.
- Make the necessary changes to the system (if it even allows you to) for the next day.
- repeat each day.

Its not viable really to do it manually. It would have to be automated.
If you are aware of an inverter that has that capability I'd like to hear about it and I'll recalculate myself.

I believe the system will be setup to behave in one particular way and thats it. You wont get a full charge/discharge cycle out of it 365 days and thats the key point.

_dof_ · 11-11-2018 11:19PM

KCross wrote: »

How are you then going to manage the system to tell it to be a night saver device tonight but be an excess storage device tomorrow.... you'd need to be sitting on weather forcecasts and second guessing your generation continuously.... its not a viable way, imo, to use the system. It needs to be plug 'n play. Unless you have found an inverter with some super smart controls that I havent seen.

I think the Moixa does just that, looks like some pretty cool tech. Don't know if it's available in Ireland though.

KCross · 11-11-2018 11:42PM

_dof_ wrote: »

I think the Moixa does just that, looks like some pretty cool tech. Don't know if it's available in Ireland though.

Thanks, that says it takes weather input...

We’ll explain the “SMART” element of our solar energy service. Using machine learning, it utilises inputs from the weather and your energy usage patterns to create an optimal plan for your battery.

However I dont think its in realtime or at least I cant see that from their website. Its something that is calculated by them and they advise you how to configure the system. Its still "hardcoded".

I might fire them an email and confirm.

And as you said, doesnt look like its in Ireland anyway.

unkel · 12-11-2018 12:13AM

air wrote: »

Your assertion here that it is possible to simultaneously import and export to the grid just highlights that you have little to no understanding of the subject at hand.

Reading back what I posted about importing and exporting at the same time and indeed it makes no sense. I apologise

air wrote: »

In the situation outlined, (5kw production, 5kW load, 3.6kW inverter) the PV will provide 3.6kW to the load via the inverter and the remainder of 1.4kW will be imported from the grid.

My main point was not about sizing of an inverter in a PV system, I agree with your points. It is more about the sizing of a hybrid inverter in a PV + battery system. It makes no sense to me that you have to import from the grid at the high day rate while your battery is full

I maintain my position that a hybrid inverter of 3.6kW is too small for a 5kwp array + 6kWh battery

unkel · 12-11-2018 12:18AM

KCross wrote: »

If it was possible to get a 5kW inverter at the same cost and same efficiency as a 3kW inverter then of course you would buy it but clearly thats not the case. There is a cost.

3.6kW Solis hybrid inverter €1258 + VAT
5.0kW Solis hybrid inverter €1298 + VAT

air · 12-11-2018 12:38AM

unkel wrote: »

Reading back what I posted about importing and exporting at the same time and indeed it makes no sense. I apologise

No problem, we all make mistakes.

unkel wrote: »

It makes no sense to me that you have to import from the grid at the high day rate while your battery is full

This is only relevant at times when the battery has available capacity and power demand is between 3.6kW and 5kW, in reality this will be a tiny percentage of operating time for the vast majority of households.

unkel wrote: »

I maintain my position that a hybrid inverter of 3.6kW is too small for a 5kwp array + 6kWh battery

That's a reasonable position, but it would be of more value if you justified it with some reasoning.

The negligible cost difference you have listed goes a long way towards justifying the larger inverter especially if the purchaser has a mind to expand the PV array down the line.

Regarding the system in question, a single 2kWh module is the way to go at present. Add the additional modules at a later date when the cost has reduced further as there is no grant aid towards them and the expansion should be plug and play.

_dof_ · 12-11-2018 12:42AM

KCross wrote: »

Thanks, that says it takes weather input...
We’ll explain the “SMART” element of our solar energy service. Using machine learning, it utilises inputs from the weather and your energy usage patterns to create an optimal plan for your battery.

However I dont think its in realtime or at least I cant see that from their website. Its something that is calculated by them and they advise you how to configure the system. Its still "hardcoded".

I might fire them an email and confirm.

And as you said, doesnt look like its in Ireland anyway.

I had heard the CEO of Moixa discussing it in an interview and my understanding was that it was all automatic, the smart controller learned your usage patterns and took the weather forecast and your usage patterns into account to automatically adjust the charging and of the battery to maximize usage of the PV and minimize import of the grid at high rate and minimize the export to the grid (assuming no FIT).

So, if it knew that it would be cloudy tomorrow and had learned that your PV installation would only generate a small amount, it would charge the battery from the grid overnight to nearly full, but if it was forecast to be sunny tomorrow and your usage pattern showed that the PV wouldn't cover the first couple of hours of demand, then the battery would be charged just enough overnight to cover that shortfall, based on the prediction that the PV would generate enough to cover the house demand and charge the battery for the rest of the day.

But I could be wrong. If you get more details from them, please do share.

unkel · 12-11-2018 12:50AM

air wrote: »

The negligible cost difference you have listed goes a long way towards justifying the larger inverter especially if the purchaser has a mind to expand the PV array down the line.

This is it. This thread is mainly about PV installs based on the new subsidy. Which is capped at 4kwp

Anyone putting up a €10k system (before subsidies) is fairly sure they are going to stay in their house for a very long time. And we all will be using a lot more electricity in future (and less fossil fuels). Panels are already very cheap and it is super easy to add a few panels to an existing system. Plug and play. I sure would plan to add more panels myself later if I had a subsidised system like that installed today.

It makes no sense at all to install a 3.6kW hybrid inverter in a system like that (when a 5kW inverter costs the same)

wexfordman2 · 12-11-2018 12:58AM

Brecken Tart Newscast wrote: »

Are they doing this for you? Is it in the price you quoted?

Sorry, I think you got the wrong end of the stick, I was talking about a hypothetical cost of 5k for a battery only

wexfordman2 · 12-11-2018 01:04AM

KCross wrote: »

Yea, I understood your point. I'm pointing out that you wont get a full charge/discharge cycle every day with SolarPV, so your example doesnt really tell you anything.

Maybe not that much of a challenge if the inverter is connected to the net and is reading forecasts or something but the reality is that the inverters, AFAIK, dont do anything like that.

So, the reality is you would have to do the following each day...

- check forecast for tomorrow
- decide if there will be excess generation from your system or not.
- calculate if that excess is enough to justify not charging the battery on night saver or maybe only half or quarter charging it etc.
- Make the necessary changes to the system (if it even allows you to) for the next day.
- repeat each day.

Its not viable really to do it manually. It would have to be automated.
If you are aware of an inverter that has that capability I'd like to hear about it and I'll recalculate myself.

I believe the system will be setup to behave in one particular way and thats it. You wont get a full charge/discharge cycle out of it 365 days and thats the key point.

Sorry kc, but you are.missing the point.

Fristly, you referred to a 15yr payback in a solar with battery, I queried that showing a payback of 15yrs for a battery system that is purely for night rate charging.

So my point was, that if there is a 15yr payback in battery alone, then a battery with solar pv would have a greater payback.

Secondly, most inverters are connected online now, and do provide the features you are talking about. The one I am getting iantalled will do just that.

KCross · 12-11-2018 11:23AM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Sorry kc, but you are.missing the point.

Fristly, you referred to a 15yr payback in a solar with battery, I queried that showing a payback of 15yrs for a battery system that is purely for night rate charging.

So my point was, that if there is a 15yr payback in battery alone, then a battery with solar pv would have a greater payback.

Secondly, most inverters are connected online now, and do provide the features you are talking about. The one I am getting iantalled will do just that.

I understand your point fine and I've explained already the logic to why that example doesnt stack up unless the system is automatically adjusting itself on a daily basis in advance based on weather forecasts.

Does your inverter do that? If yes, as I already said, I'd like to know exactly what inverter that is, so I can research it for myself.

If it doesnt auto adjust based on forecasts you wont get a full charge/discharge cycle every day.

The one _dof_ posted sounds promising but any of the inverters I was quoted for did not have the ability to auto adjust each day like that. I'd be surprised if yours does but please do detail what one you are getting so we can all learn.

KCross · 12-11-2018 05:55PM

_dof_ wrote: »

I had heard the CEO of Moixa discussing it in an interview and my understanding was that it was all automatic, the smart controller learned your usage patterns and took the weather forecast and your usage patterns into account to automatically adjust the charging and of the battery to maximize usage of the PV and minimize import of the grid at high rate and minimize the export to the grid (assuming no FIT).

So, if it knew that it would be cloudy tomorrow and had learned that your PV installation would only generate a small amount, it would charge the battery from the grid overnight to nearly full, but if it was forecast to be sunny tomorrow and your usage pattern showed that the PV wouldn't cover the first couple of hours of demand, then the battery would be charged just enough overnight to cover that shortfall, based on the prediction that the PV would generate enough to cover the house demand and charge the battery for the rest of the day.

But I could be wrong. If you get more details from them, please do share.

You are correct.
https://youtu.be/aOWetRn1J1A?t=855

One of the founders explains it in the above video... about 2mins of it is all you need to listen to.

Worth listening to the rest of it if you're interested in V2G as well but the 2mins I've given above explains the weather forecasting and machine learning/AI stuff.

It does sound pretty cool and it would significantly change the ROI.

However, the quotes I got from the SEAI registered guys were for Solis or Trannergy inverters and they dont do this AI stuff.

So, if you dont charge the battery using night rate and then there is no excess the following day you end up getting no energy in the evening from the battery and vice versa if you top up the battery at night and then you have excess Solar during the day the battery wont be able to take it because its already full so you've lost out on the free excess, which is the point of getting a battery in the first place. This AI thing solves that but its not the norm and none of my quotes included it.

I sent Moixa an email for more info so I dont know if their system works in Ireland or is it UK weather only for now or do they even supply the system outside UK. I suspect they dont because a key piece of what they do is GridShare where they sell your energy back to the grid (Virtual FiT). So I'd say they are focussed on making that a success in the UK first.

If I hear back I'll post again. Thanks for sharing it anyway, its interesting. This Solar tech stuff is evolving.

wexfordman2 · 12-11-2018 09:24PM

KCross wrote: »

I understand your point fine and I've explained already the logic to why that example doesnt stack up unless the system is automatically adjusting itself on a daily basis in advance based on weather forecasts.

Does your inverter do that? If yes, as I already said, I'd like to know exactly what inverter that is, so I can research it for myself.

If it doesnt auto adjust based on forecasts you wont get a full charge/discharge cycle every day.

The one _dof_ posted sounds promising but any of the inverters I was quoted for did not have the ability to auto adjust each day like that. I'd be surprised if yours does but please do detail what one you are getting so we can all learn.

My inverter installers next Monday

http://primehybridenergy.com/downloads/prime_brochure_july_17.pdf

I dont see a lot of difference featurewise tbh, nothing that isn't or can't be implemented with software features. The weather forecast is interesting, but nothing groundbreaking. Predicting usage and generation is pretty standard stuff (or should be for anything being installed these days).

Unless I am still missing something ?

unkel · 12-11-2018 09:38PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

My inverter installers next Monday

http://primehybridenergy.com/downloads/prime_brochure_july_17.pdf

No EN50438 cert? That's interesting from a SEAI approved Solar PV installer.

wexfordman2 · 12-11-2018 09:54PM

unkel wrote: »

No EN50438 cert? That's interesting from a SEAI approved Solar PV installer.

When you say "interesting" is that with one eyebrow slightly raised, or is it with both eyebrowes retreating to the back of your head?

I might query it, I may be linking to the wrong product, this one here is similar spec, and it mentions advance forecasting, that KC has been talking about.

http://primehybridenergy.com/downloads/pdf_ac_coupled_residential.pdf

uck51js9zml2yt · 12-11-2018 11:03PM

Just to add to the debate - opinions appreciated - here's the spec i was offered. Is it good/bad or indifferent?
Remember I was offered a smaller inverter/ less panels than wexfordman for the same money. I've to talk to him about that still but would like some feedback....wexford - how does the equipment compare to yours ?

Project Overview
Figure: Overview Image, 3D Design
PV System
3D, Grid-connected PV System

PV Generator Output 4.55 kWp
PV Generator Surface 23.6 m²
Number of PV Modules 14
Number of Inverters 1

The yield
PV Generator Energy (AC grid) 3,211kWh
Grid Feed-in 3,211 kWh
Down-regulation at Feed-in Point 0 kWh
Own Power Consumption 0.0 %
Solar Fraction 0.0 %
Spec. Annual Yield 705.81 kWh/kWp
Performance Ratio (PR) 88.3 %
Yield Reduction due to Shading 0.0 %/year
CO₂ Emissions avoided 1,92

System Data Type of System3D, Grid-connected PV System

Simulation model used:
- Diffuse Irradiation onto Horizontal Plane - Hofmann
- Irradiance onto tilted surface - Hay & Davies

Module Areas x 2 (east & west)
1. Module Area - Building 01-Roof Area East
PV Generator, 1. Module Area - Building 01-Roof Area East
Name Building 01-Roof Area East
PV Modules 7 x Q.PEAK DUO-G5 325 Rev1
Manufacturer Hanwha Q.CELLS
Inclination 35 °
Orientation East 90 °
Installation Type Roof parallel
PV Generator Surface 11.8 m²

Inverter configuration
Configuration 1
Module Areas Building 01-Roof Area East + Building 01-Roof Area West
Inverter 1 Manufacturer SOLTARO
Model SOLTARO HYPER-3680
Quantity 1
Sizing Factor 123.6 %
Configuration MPP 1: 1 x 7 /MPP 2: 1 x 7

Simulation Results
Results Total System
PV System
PV Generator Output 4.6 kWp
Spec. Annual Yield 705.81 kWh/kWp
Performance Ratio (PR) 88.3 %
Yield Reduction due to Shading 0.0 %/year
Grid Feed-in 3,211 kWh/year
Grid Feed-in in the first year (incl. module degradation) 3,211 kWh/year
Standby Consumption (Inverter) 48 kWh/year
CO₂ Emissions avoided 1,927 kg / year

wexfordman2 · 12-11-2018 11:34PM

Brecken Tart Newscast wrote: »

Just to add to the debate - opinions appreciated - here's the spec i was offered. Is it good/bad or indifferent?
Remember I was offered a smaller inverter/ less panels than wexfordman for the same money. I've to talk to him about that still but would like some feedback....wexford - how does the equipment compare to yours ?

Project Overview
Figure: Overview Image, 3D Design
PV System
3D, Grid-connected PV System

PV Generator Output 4.55 kWp
PV Generator Surface 23.6 m²
Number of PV Modules 14
Number of Inverters 1

The yield
PV Generator Energy (AC grid) 3,211kWh
Grid Feed-in 3,211 kWh
Down-regulation at Feed-in Point 0 kWh
Own Power Consumption 0.0 %
Solar Fraction 0.0 %
Spec. Annual Yield 705.81 kWh/kWp
Performance Ratio (PR) 88.3 %
Yield Reduction due to Shading 0.0 %/year
CO₂ Emissions avoided 1,92

System Data Type of System3D, Grid-connected PV System

Simulation model used:
- Diffuse Irradiation onto Horizontal Plane - Hofmann
- Irradiance onto tilted surface - Hay & Davies

Module Areas x 2 (east & west)
1. Module Area - Building 01-Roof Area East
PV Generator, 1. Module Area - Building 01-Roof Area East
Name Building 01-Roof Area East
PV Modules 7 x Q.PEAK DUO-G5 325 Rev1
Manufacturer Hanwha Q.CELLS
Inclination 35 °
Orientation East 90 °
Installation Type Roof parallel
PV Generator Surface 11.8 m²

Inverter configuration
Configuration 1
Module Areas Building 01-Roof Area East + Building 01-Roof Area West
Inverter 1 Manufacturer SOLTARO
Model SOLTARO HYPER-3680
Quantity 1
Sizing Factor 123.6 %
Configuration MPP 1: 1 x 7 /MPP 2: 1 x 7

Simulation Results
Results Total System
PV System
PV Generator Output 4.6 kWp
Spec. Annual Yield 705.81 kWh/kWp
Performance Ratio (PR) 88.3 %
Yield Reduction due to Shading 0.0 %/year
Grid Feed-in 3,211 kWh/year
Grid Feed-in in the first year (incl. module degradation) 3,211 kWh/year
Standby Consumption (Inverter) 48 kWh/year
CO₂ Emissions avoided 1,927 kg / year

I would def query the inverter size, it may be an error .

My system was 18 panels, in the one south facing roof, so the yeild figures for yourself will be quite different as you are in two different roofs and not south facing.

I wonder, if the lower inverter size is perhaps because you may not get the full yeild if you are not as well orientated. I am guessing completely here, others may know better.

If it is the 3.6kw inverter and you are going for less panles (14) than mine there is def room for him to improve.the price.

What make of inverter and battery did he spec?

conor_mc · 12-11-2018 11:45PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

I would def query the inverter size, it may be an error .

My system was 18 panels, in the one south facing roof, so the yeild figures for yourself will be quite different as you are in two different roofs and not south facing.

I wonder, if the lower inverter size is perhaps because you may not get the full yeild if you are not as well orientated.

If it is the 3.6kw inverter and you are going for less panles (14) than mine there is def room for him to improve.the price.

What make of inverter and battery did he spec?

If it’s an East-West setup, then the peak power is only about 50% of what the full setup on a south-facing roof is?

Water John · 13-11-2018 01:14AM

That was my main concern, seeing the orientation of the panels. At most I'd have SE and SW. I understand, that's the roof you've got. Any garage or shed? Any ground room? I know that would cost more to install.
I'll leave the specs to the sparkys'.

air · 13-11-2018 04:54AM

A 3.6 kW inverter is perfectly sized for that East West system, it is slightly over sized if anything IMO. Around 3kW would be perfect but no point splitting hairs.
The shallow slope will mean poorer winter performance and higher summer peak output but there isn't anything you can do about that.
Without a FIT the ideal slope is around 50 degrees for Ireland. It will provide better winter output when self consumption is higher. The slight reduction in summer output is moot since it is likely to be spilled anyway.

randombar · 13-11-2018 01:28PM

Hi Guys,

Bit nervous now about the panels based on angles, roof size etc.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zu8nj4p780fzqaz/Screenshot%202018-11-13%2012.24.49.png?dl=0

Two roofs.

Bigger one:

Approx 7.2m by 2.1m

Roof is facing South by South East

Velux in the middle that doesn't/won't open.

Also have another roof that is South West (I slated myself and could be replaced entirely with panels if that is an option)

Approx 5m x 2.4m

12 square metres.

Angle isn't great on that one from my reading of the above.

How many panels in total do you think I can get and am I mad

conor_mc · 13-11-2018 01:38PM

GaryCocs wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Bit nervous now about the panels based on angles, roof size etc.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zu8nj4p780fzqaz/Screenshot%202018-11-13%2012.24.49.png?dl=0

Two roofs.

Bigger one:

Approx 7.2m by 2.1m

Roof is facing South by South East

Velux in the middle that doesn't/won't open.

Also have another roof that is South West (I slated myself and could be replaced entirely with panels if that is an option)

Approx 5m x 2.4m

12 square metres.

Angle isn't great on that one from my reading of the above.

How many panels in total do you think I can get and am I mad

Set up a demo account on helioscope and you can play with the panel types/locations, and then run simulations to see how much each setup will generate per year.

Domestic solar PV quotes 2018

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