Talk to me about solar panels.

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Saw this but they apparently don't serve my area, I'm in Stafford!

You don't get to choose what they help with and solar panels are only for those with electric heating, but I'm on the waiting list to see if I can get help with solid floor insulation as I don't want to do the rest myself - it was a git!
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I'm not sure it's worth us having a feed in tariff. We're not well insulated and can't be, plus we have economy seven and won't get it back once we lose it.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I'm not sure it's worth us having a feed in tariff. We're not well insulated and can't be, plus we have economy seven and won't get it back once we lose it.
How much of an advantage is E7 nowadays? When I looked a while ago the prices were very similar
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
How much of an advantage is E7 nowadays? When I looked a while ago the prices were very similar
Octopus Go is technically E7 in a way…

While I appreciate the solar/heat pump grant, I’m not sure a £30k threshold for eligibility is a great one. We’re on a bit above that between us and we’re fine but if we had a kid we’d be financially ruined - the cat costs enough as it is.
 
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tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just had the guy out from the quote I liked the look of and will go ahead with it. I've seen pics of his work and talked to a previous customer in Stoke, his numbers were good (not the best but he wasn't vague on equipment) and he's going to make a few changes at no cost that will be better suited for me regarding the batteries and where I need them mounted. He doesn't think I'll get what he quoted on the main roof so we may have an east array too, will know more on the day.

Booked in for October 26th.
 

Manorboy

Well-Known Forumite
Just had the guy out from the quote I liked the look of and will go ahead with it. I've seen pics of his work and talked to a previous customer in Stoke, his numbers were good (not the best but he wasn't vague on equipment) and he's going to make a few changes at no cost that will be better suited for me regarding the batteries and where I need them mounted. He doesn't think I'll get what he quoted on the main roof so we may have an east array too, will know more on the day.

Booked in for October 26th.
We had solar panels fitted at the end of July but no battery, could you give a contact number for the person who quoted you as I would like a price for a battery.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Now I've met him I will, still can't make any promises for his work but he's the least salesman type one I've dealt with by far. His quote had already sold it TBH but you still want to see who they are.

Laurence Johnson
Green Logic UK

I met him via this group:

If you do get him to do a quote I'd appreciate it if you tell him Jamie gave you his details :D

EDIT: Full disclosure, he'll give a small referral fee off my install if you go ahead
 
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tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Hi
I have asked for a quote and mentioned you.
Thank you.
I know he's very busy, his post on FB had him generate over 90 quotes for people over the weekend, but he was back to me within the day. As I said previously I did get a cheaper quote but they were very vague about specific parts whereas he listed them from the go. I've now changed those parts but the thought was there!
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
@Withnail (and anyone else with solar panels) any ideas what you get for exporting? Standard seems to be 4p but if a customer apparently octopus offer 7.5p, anyone else offer a good deal?
Not sorted yet - not expecting much though.

There are reasons but they are boring and antithetical.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Not sorted yet - not expecting much though.

There are reasons but they are boring and antithetical.
In theory my setup will have an under powered inverter, so will only ever generate 3.6kw/h despite significantly more panels. In practice they will be in different orientations so will peak at different times, so whilst I expect a little clipping on a cloudless summers day in most instances my wastage will be minor. Should I find myself at the clipping point regularly (very doubtful) I can jump through all the hoops for a G99 application* (>3.6kw inverter) but my main priority is generating enough to cover my daily load for as long as possible in winter.

As such I don't expect much return from exporting, a better tariff may have changed this.

* A G99 means application in advance of installation and no work can go ahead without authorisation of the local energy grid. This could be done in days, it could take months, and your hands are tied til then. Only costs a few hundred so if you have lots of time before the install I'd do it, assuming your array is over 5kw anyway, but if 3.6kw or under the G98 is notification only and can be done after the work, so no hold ups. In theory a G99 can come back with costs to upgrade the grid to handle your extra potential load, but thats unlikely in a residential situation.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Useful app for anyone wondering what their sun situation is:

Screenshot_20220909-152730_Sun's path.jpg


 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Yes

Verification from installer needs to be provided to supplier before deets can be dooted.

Done now - we've gone low - sticking with good energy because, f**k it, why not? Standing up for the little guy.
Any idea what your total yield per day has been lately? Did some figures last night as baby wouldn't sleep, suspect I messed up somewhere though. Figures seem to think in August I'd have got about 21kwh on average.

Screenshot_20220911-084722_Sheets.jpg
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Any idea what your total yield per day has been lately? Did some figures last night as baby wouldn't sleep, suspect I messed up somewhere though. Figures seem to think in August I'd have got about 21kwh on average.

View attachment 12918
Oooo.

That’s over half our entire office building’s usage, and that could fit a significant amount more than a 5kwh system on it… that gives me a lot of hope for our landlord’s future investment in solar on the site
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Oooo.

That’s over half our entire office building’s usage, and that could fit a significant amount more than a 5kwh system on it… that gives me a lot of hope for our landlord’s future investment in solar on the site
What are business rates like for electricity nowadays?

1kw of panels will cost about a grand to install and produce about 900kwh per year. If for arguments sake we said 1000 too then at 33p there is the potential to repay themselves in 3 years. Of course you need batteries to actually make use of it all.
 
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