Solar Panels & battery storage

31 replies

Lavendersquare · 08/03/2023 16:19

Like many others we are looking to install solar panels on our roof and have had a quote from a reputable company to install 14 panels on our south facing roof with a 10kwh battery for storage.

All In including installation the cost is coming in at just over £13k.

I'm surprised the price isn't higher, anyone recently had solar installed, what do you think of the price?

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OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 09/03/2023 17:10

We already have 2 x air source heat pumps and all electric . So making the necessary upgrade. Already on tariff for heat pumps and all machines on timers, including car charging.

deplorabelle · 09/03/2023 17:51

TizerorFizz · 09/03/2023 17:10

We already have 2 x air source heat pumps and all electric . So making the necessary upgrade. Already on tariff for heat pumps and all machines on timers, including car charging.

Did you have to have planning permission and/or 3 phase supply for such a big array? We have 15 panels but if funds allow in the future I'd like to install heat pump and more solar and/or battery to help run it. Funds certainly don't at the moment sadly

TizerorFizz · 09/03/2023 17:58

Do not need PP. We are AONB and green belt. We didn’t for heat pumps either. We did have a huge oil tank previously. Don’t think we have phase 3. We got 2 quotes and I’m pretty sure no phase 3 available. Tiny hamlet with no street lights Need to get moss off roof prior to installation though.

StatisticallyChallenged · 09/03/2023 19:10

Calmdown14 · 09/03/2023 16:35

Sounds about right. The batteries are the expensive part.

I'd recommend studying your electric meter to see roughly what you use and when to make sure you are sizing the battery correctly (remembering that it won't discharge below about 15% to protect it).

We went for a 5kwh as we are on economy 10. Only had it for two months so it's winter useage.

It is just about sufficient but an extra kw would have ensured it went right through on our heavier use days (I only have 14 hours to cover though and some of these are day time)

However, the cost of the extra battery to save the couple of kWh probably doesn't stack up.

The days are noticeably longer and so the time the battery needs to last is diminishing, meaning I'd only make marginal savings on a couple of months of the year.

You also need to consider the maximum rate your batteries can discharge through the inverter. You may have 10kwh to go at but if you are using 5kwh at once it probably won't support it l.

These are just things to be aware of, not to put you off. I am loving mine!

I'm north Scotland and despite having snow my peak meter hasn't moved in four days.

The max discharge is worth considering. Ours is about 2.6kwh, which covers us completely unless the oven is on or the heat pump is running. But the heat pump only goes tips us over occasionally (our usage seems to hit about 3.5ish at most when it's running) but only for very brief periods so it only uses a tiny amount of peak rate. Same with oven or hob. I can see the grid import on the app and it's very little.

We're averaging just under £2 a day in electricity just now (not counting standing charge), which includes running a large SUV doing about 50 miles a day.

JeemyWatch · 11/09/2023 19:04

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Floopdifloo · 11/09/2023 20:06

A question about the actual
installation process (might be a stupid question but I know nothing about this!) - how/where does the wiring from the panels actually access the inside of the property? Is it directly underneath the panels or elsewhere?
I ask because I have asbestos encapsulated underneath UPVC so if they drill through soffits or fascias I could potentially have a problem.

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