Solar panels via www.fundedsolar.org

A question about : Solar panels via www.fundedsolar.org

Hi everyone,

Has anyone heard of the website www.fundedsolar.org OR had a solar installation supplied via them?

I had a sales rep (SFI consultant) come around yesterday representing a company called Euro Energy Services (who were given my details from the above website), to assess the suitability of our house for solar installation. Post assesment of direction, pitch of roof, space availability, he recommended a 16 panel 4kW system.

The company is supplying 'top of the market' German panels (forgot the brand name, but hopefully will get literature today and should be able to update), with black edges and are monocrystalline. Micro inverters would be used for each panel (apparently these are much better than string inverters). In addition, we would be provided with the Tado monitor and Solar iBoost system for water heating.

The cost comes to Ј10,200/-. Finance is available via Barclays (@10.2%), which i have rejected outright. I will be looking to arrange funding on my own.

However, what concerns me is the cost of approx. 10k. Is this in range with curren market prices for the panels and installation? I have done some research and there are all kinds of costs on the internet from 5495 to 12000 for the systems. Hence need your views folks.

Thanks & Regards,
S

Best answers:

• Walk away - the cost is extortionate, and based on 3,600Kwhs of PV generation, then on a 10.2% interest loan you might just break even by the end of your 20 year FIT payment term. I suggest that you re-post your question on the Green and Ethical MoneySaving forum.
• Hengus,
  Any idea how much such a system should cost though?
  Regards,
  S
• Cool techie,
  Firstly, micro inverters are excellent if you have shading or an installation over several aspects but they cost more than standard string inverters and are also 16 bits of equipment on your roof that could go wrong. They do come with a 20 year warranty but you may still need to pay for the other costs of replacing them - scaffold etc.
  We had our system installed just over 18 months ago and paid just under Ј6k. A standard 4kw system with a normal inverter should cost around Ј5-5.5k. Adding micro inverters would be an additional cost in the region of Ј1000.
  As Hengus says, there are a lot of fellow posters on the Green section who can give you some good advice.
• Micro inverters only really necessary if you have shading.
  You should be looking around Ј5.5k for a 4kw installation then if you want any surplus electricity to go to the immersion this is roughly an additional Ј500-Ј600
  This should get you all black panels with 25 year performance guarantee and 10 year pets guarantee on the kit