Current PV panel prices

A question about : Current PV panel prices

Didn't know if I should just tack this onto an existing thread.
Really just a few comments on a home visit by Solatricity, a company selling PV technology. The guy arrives pretty much on time, and spends two and a half hours doing a very thorough pitch. In fact, by the time he got down to projected payback charts, I think he was as shattered as we were. His company uses Kyocera panels. A ten panel self sufficiency package would pay back in eight to ten years. A twenty panel, Investment return package, (the largest amount of panels we can get on our roof,) also paying back in the same time. Just short of thirteen grand for ten panels, and just short of twenty grand for twenty. There was a two grand reduction for being the first postcode in the area purchase, on both of these prices. He had a laminated sheet with the prices on which seems very straightforward. A twenty four panel system costs, neatly enough, twenty four grand. This being the largest setup qualifying for the FIT system.
We didn't purchase, my wife in particular felt we were too old to benefit.
However, I can't fault the salesman on his presentation.
Hope this info may help some prospective purchaser.

Best answers:

• Jackieblack, The ten panel system is 1.35kwp and the 20 panel, 2.7kwp. I agree about the payback times. On my quote, the "now" figure which is current useage at current prices, payback would take twenty years!
  reeac, I presume you have to earn back your ten grand, before this 9% return starts to kick in. I agree mini cash isa's look sick, we may be forced back into equity Isa's this year.
  keith_r59, thank's for your comments. The guy did guess a 90 degree pitch by sight, but I reckon he would be pretty close.
  Hot news folks, the marketing manager of the company has just phoned us with a Ј8526 offer for ten panels. Feel rather pressured just now.
• Thanks Keith, I told the guy I would phone back if we were interested.
• Thank you for your calculations Cardew.
  To put our experience in context, I did approach Solatricity's stand in a Mall, and I did agree to a visit by a rep. That much is down to me. In 1996 my wife and I agreed to a visit by a thermal panel company. Following his spiel he gave us fifteen minutes to agree an on the spot purchase, in order to get a reduction of a thousand pounds from the price of four panels. On that occasion we succumbed and signed an agreement which, the following morning, a local solicitor told us must be adhered to, or we could be sued.
  We certainly wouldn't make that mistake again!
• [QUOTE=David Aston;41982774]reeac, I presume you have to earn back your ten grand, before this 9% return starts to kick in. I agree mini cash isa's look sick, we may be forced back into equity Isa's this year.
  QUOTE]
  I don't understand. I paid out Ј9945 and my calculated return should be Ј900 [Ј760 from the 41.3p/unit, Ј27 from exported electricity and Ј120 from reduced elect. bill]. That works out at 9% p.a.. The Ј9945 was sitting in a b.soc. account which was paying a measley 1% or so but I would otherwise have put it in two cash ISAs [his and hers] yielding 3-4% come April 5th. It's not exactly comparable as the PV spend isn't retrievable and must be regarded as a home improvement like a conservatory or a daughter's wedding [joke].
• i would certainly get more than one quote, after i had the first guy round i had a prety good idea of what size system i wanted for 12 sharp panels with inverter ranged from Ј18,000 (gulp) on special offer reduced to Ј12,000 finally bought for Ј8,500. the system is fine,great instalation team, but wouldn't recommend the company. i think you need to have a good shop around.
• I've been thinking a bit more re. PV panels as a financial investment. With inflation currently at ca. 4% the true net return on any bank account/building soc. etc investment is about zero whereas the 9% index linked return on PV/FIT spend is still 9% making it infinitely better. True, you've spent the cash and can't get it back unless it adds a bit to the house value but current inflation levels certainly tip the scales towards PV/FIT.
• I have just ordered a 3.92 kWp system using Sharp Panels and Fronius inverter for under Ј12500. That's almost the largest size you can have and still get the best FIT. Installers offering 20% off or Ј1000 off if you order today are salesman and are usually selling something that is way over priced. I expect to get Fit payments of Ј1600 pa, Ј50 for units returned to the grid and save Ј150 per year on units used. Total C Ј1800 all tax free.
• reeac,
  My original comments on needing to get back the cost of installation prior to benefiting from the 9%, did refer to the fact that you can access your money if is left on deposit, but not actually pay for a holiday for instance, by removing one of the panels from your roof and offering it to Bales or Kuoni!