Installing solar panels

[TC176]

DH and I are considering having solar panels installed. We’ve found a company who have been very helpful regarding the installation. However, they haven’t been able to advise about connecting to the grid and the best tariffs. We are thinking about battery storage as well and would want an Economy 7 type of tariff for overnight topping up. We won’t be generating enough to export (we think). We’d be grateful for any advice re suppliers to go with, thank you.
Apologies for posting in AIBU, but it’s the most read thread.

It's hard to know as everyone's set up is so different but you could look at some big energy companies tariffs for examples. Octopus Go is one that springs to mind.

The rates offered for exporting to the grid are awful, so I would factor in a battery if you possibly can. Males much more sense to store what you make.

If you are going to be exporting to the grid essentially the amount you get is determined by the smart export guarantee and by how much individual suppliers pay you to export. Spoiler: it's not very much.

If you aren't generating enough to export then having solar panels makes no difference, you just sign up to a standard electricity contract, which are all basically at the price cap at the moment and any power you need to draw from the grid you pay for as normal. The modern equivalent of the Eco7 tariffs are ones designed for EV car owners whereby you will pay more for power during the day but for a 4 hour window overnight you pay significantly less, and during this time if you have a battery you want to be topping it up at that time.

I will say to do your sums about the battery very, very carefully. In the vast majority of cases they do not make economic sense.

Having an EV or one on order opens up a lot of tariffs so that's pretty key.

We had them installed on our last house and they sure made a difference. However, when we came to sell we found mortgage companies were funny about them. So you might want to check this out.

I'm thinking ofthis as well and id echo what pp said. Selling back to the grid gives you peanuts, so we are looking at having batteries, though they do hike up the cost considerably. Added to which, I understand the batteries are in short supply, they are, apparently made in China, so we are expecting a delay in installation when we choose our supplier.

I'm not sure about the economy 7 thing. What I've read seems to suggest that it's more cost effective to run your dishwasher and clothes washer ect during daylight hours.

You can also look at something the Eddi or iboost so that surplus power generated heats your water which you then store warm to save on heating at a later time.

Go to the MCS find a contractor page and put in your postcode. This will give you a list of authorised installers in your area and you can phone around and get someone local to (if necessary) come out and do a survey to ensure your roof and orientation are right for PV.

It sounds to me as if you've made contact with a sales team who won't know anything about the technical and installation side of things. My friend who's been fitting PV for more than a decade is pestered to death by sales people who sell people like you a system and then want him to install it for pennies.

Lose their number: they are not the way to go. MCS certified companies are audited and their installations and books checked each year. They work to stringent requirements regarding contracts, installation quality and so on. It's like using a Gas Safe engineer for a gas boiler: you know they're qualified and their work is monitored and checked for safety.

Most MCS companies that install PV panels will be able to advise on and install batteries too. Best to get them all fitted by the same company. There are currently shortages of batteries and PV panels and inverters, so it may be a few months before you can have your system fitted.

We got solar panels a few months ago. We have a fairly small 4000kW system and so far on average make twice what we need to run our house. Even on a bad day we make what we need for ourselves. The battery is worth it because it means that we can use our own electricity 24/7. Currently we save about £70 per month (based on what the energy that we use would have cost us at the current tarrif). I suspect that the savings will grow with time but currently we are still looking at 10 year plus to break even.

Despite my best efforts I have yet to get paid for the surplus. Lots of companies only want to take electricity from people they are also supplying and no one wants new customers to supply. So I have had to go with my existing supplier EDF (who pay just 1.5p per unit that they could then sell to you for 27.5p). Processing this application has so far taken almost 4 months and counting (because of delays getting certificates to makes an application, then the first company approached turned round and said actually we now only accept existing supply customers and we are not taking on new customers and now EDF who clearly only have a tiny team processing all their applications). Even with a potential margin of up to 1800% the suppliers clearly don't seem to want the electricity. Unless something changes I would not factor in payments from electricity suppliers into your economic equation at all. The reason your fitting company are not giving any tips and advice about getting signed up to this is because it is so difficult to do at the moment.

I think you have a 4kw system: otherwise you'd be a small power station. 12-16 panels?

Don't base your calculations/ expectations on the sunniest (and this year exceptionally sunny) months of the year. There will be long dark days in winter when you won't produce much at all and your draw will be higher — lights, heating, oven etc.

Have you tried Good Energy, which trades in green electricity?

Thanks, you are right it is a 4kw system not a small power station. Do you work for them or deal with them? I went to the Good Energy website and they only mention the old FIT tariff, not the new SEG tariff for more recent installations. Is that a mistake? I suppose I should give them a call. I have never personally known more people to get installations than right now.

I love talking about solar panels! There’s loads of FB groups online who are way knowledgable than me though. The company that pays the best for export is Octopus which is 7.5p per KWH but you have to already be with them. Otherwise it’s about 4p per KWH. That’s why we’re staying with BG which only pays about 3.2p. The unit price Octopus we’re offering us would have obliterated the export tariff payments. You don’t have to be with the same company for receiving electricity as exporting to. You must have an MCS certificate to export but not all companies supply it. We used Project Solar U.K. who aren’t the cheapest. If you decide to go with them then maybe PM me and I’ll give you my details as I get a referral fee (hint hint) 🙏

Battery storage is essential in my opinion and we have one.

Thanks to everyone for your very helpful replies, giving us lots to consider.
As a result of all the advice here, we’re not going with the company we spoke to earlier and will look at the MCS website and speak to other companies before committing. I didn’t expect so many responses, so thank you all again.

@ClottedCreamAndStrawberries I’m looking at various batteries at the moment - could I ask which one you chose for your solar PV system? Thanks

We've just signed up to solar with Eon. We have gone with a battery as we want to use as much of the energy we generate ourselves so I'm not thinking too much about selling back to the grid.