40kw install

[Earthstore]

I was thinking the same here, 16% efficiency is for a given area of the panel, so if installation space is not a problem, then you use a decent less efficient panel which would take up more space to produce the same power and then your financial numbers would stack up better.

 

[SpitfireW'sale]

Gavin, I'm in work now doing some night cover, looked up a lot of our costings etc...the price we paid for the SunPower panels, due to volume and using the same supplier for the Inverters etc meant that we paid the same price as we would have for the BP Solar branded and I found in the quote that originally they did a spec using REC panels, but they were rejected as the original spec called for a minimum of 16% efficiency from the panels.

Now I appreciate that a domestic user is never going to be able to compete with that level of generation unless they have a substantial home to mount the number of panels on we have, and it would need to be something like a small stately home too...and clearly a domestic user is not going to be able to negotiate the kind of discount our client's buyers did. Apparently we paid (well our client) £278.34+vat for each of the SunPower panels
QUOTE]

I'm a bit puzzled by this, as how can you have used the "same supplier as the inverters", unless Sunpower have started selling inverters? The price you mentioned for Sunpower is about right, (although prices are best kept private IMO) but if your company is paying that same price for a Chinese panel like BP (called Sunoasis now I think?) then you are not buying well. If the return calculations have been presented with both modules costing the same then your customer has been given inaccurate information from which to base their decision.

 

[Outspoken]

We get that kind of nonsense spec'd all the time. I doubt very much that the guy doing the spec had any idea what that actually means.

Funnily enough that conversation was had in the office originally, but when the 20% panels were selected we stopped talking about it!

 

[Outspoken]

Gavin, I'm in work now doing some night cover, looked up a lot of our costings etc...the price we paid for the SunPower panels, due to volume and using the same supplier for the Inverters etc meant that we paid the same price as we would have for the BP Solar branded and I found in the quote that originally they did a spec using REC panels, but they were rejected as the original spec called for a minimum of 16% efficiency from the panels.

Now I appreciate that a domestic user is never going to be able to compete with that level of generation unless they have a substantial home to mount the number of panels on we have, and it would need to be something like a small stately home too...and clearly a domestic user is not going to be able to negotiate the kind of discount our client's buyers did. Apparently we paid (well our client) £278.34+vat for each of the SunPower panels

I'm a bit puzzled by this, as how can you have used the "same supplier as the inverters", unless Sunpower have started selling inverters? The price you mentioned for Sunpower is about right, (although prices are best kept private IMO) but if your company is paying that same price for a Chinese panel like BP (called Sunoasis now I think?) then you are not buying well. If the return calculations have been presented with both modules costing the same then your customer has been given inaccurate information from which to base their decision.

I can't comment, the panels and the rest of the kit was bought direct by the client, all I know is that they used a wholesale importer to buy the kit because no-one else could supply the Sun panels in the time frame needed, they decided on the solar option after the build on the new modules had begun, so it was all rushed. We just do as they pay us to be honest!

 

[SpitfireW'sale]

That's interesting, I've heard Sunpower have no stock until June/July so perhaps they managed to get something from a European wholesaler. Sunpower are not (officially at least) available on the wholesale market in the UK, but I don't know if those same trading terms apply to the European market as a whole. Good job to get, there are not that many large installs for Sunpower.

 

[Outspoken]

That's interesting, I've heard Sunpower have no stock until June/July so perhaps they managed to get something from a European wholesaler. Sunpower are not (officially at least) available on the wholesale market in the UK, but I don't know if those same trading terms apply to the European market as a whole. Good job to get, there are not that many large installs for Sunpower.

I'll see if I can find out the name of the supplier tonight when in and PM it to you, might be a handy contact for you.

 

[markl180]

hi new to this,but have installed on these type of roofs.you will have to check if the roof is fibreboard or asbestos the latter is more probable.i suggest hanger bolts into the cross members as a fixing system but drilling into asbestos needs to be contained and supervised by the correct bodies.

 

[IronLiver]

Hi All

Am also currently looking at a job of this size and another potentially much larger. Any recommendations/opinions on other panels to use for this size of project. I note from the above that REC are a good choice though my current suppliers do not stock these panels.

I am competent with PV design and installation for small scale projects (up to 15kW) and we specialise in commercial and industrial electrical installation work, but we have never tackled anything this big on the PV front before.

I would welcome any recommendations for good people to speak to regarding sourcing kit, advice on system spec (DC side for multiple strings/fuses etc,), G59, structural integrity, mounting solutions. The current PV wholesalers we use are not much use on this front.

We are Somerset based, PM me if you prefer.

Thanks

 

[Worcester]

Andy at Sibert for all the Electrical Stuff. Lots of wholesalers such as Spitfire who regulalry contributes here for the Panels.

 

[polydecking]

at least 25mm

 

[SpitfireW'sale]

Thanks Worcester. We can also help with your design work and specifying equipment. Have a look at the link below for what we offer for commercial system design that is tailored to your company and project. It's FOC if you buy the equipment from us if you win the job. We can also recommend mounting systems for specific roof / ground mount and we have stock in the warehouse that you are welcome to visit and discuss in detail how your system will be put together (bit of a drive from Somerset though!). If your usual wholesaler is not much good on tech support and design you should speak to us instead.

Spitfire Projects