Anyone like to help with 150KW system?

infinity · Jan 30, 2012

Hi All,

Been contacted today, asked to look at a 150KW roof mounted system on marina.

All solar side will be provided by client. They want price for installing etc using micro inverters.

This is a little more than ive installed as only installed on domestic, so was wondering if anyone had any interest in quoting with me and splitting profits.

I am a commercial industrial trained spark so that side of things are simple enough. But having no experience in installing systems this size id love to have a go with someone who has experience so i can learn something and its some work you may not otherwise have had.

Im in Southampton and need to look at it Wednesday so anyone interested PM me!

Thanks
Dan

Earthstore · Jan 30, 2012

You will never fit 150KW on the roof of a Morris Marina...

screwdriver · Jan 30, 2012

150kw with micro inverters, has anyone done the sums on that! sounds a bit strange cost wise, that must triple the install cost?! surely a few central inverters would work out far better all round?

SolarCity · Jan 31, 2012

Have to admit that I was surprised that they have gone for micro-inverters. May be worth asking Enecsys about it. They may be willing to help with design or even do you a good price - I can't imagine many 150kWp (any?) systems have been installed with micro inverters.

It would be very interested to see what the DNO makes of it also.

You're going to need a pretty impressive G59 panel too!

BruceB · Jan 31, 2012

150kW on microinverters seems astonishing. If you can fit 150kW of panels, it seems unlikely that the whole array will be troubled by shading unles it is immediately behind a big chimney or similar

dansk · Jan 31, 2012

I think its an excellent idea, would use SolarEdge though, brilliant way to protect the investment right down to panel level, and if you get a duff panel its not going to affect the rest of the string.

SolarCity · Jan 31, 2012

The idea of 500-750 odd micro-inverters on an install fills me with dread. Imagine how many will need changing over the life of the system.

dansk · Jan 31, 2012

well it will be easy to locate them, and dam site easier than looking for a loose connection! SE give a 25 year warranty, obviously i haven't stood the test of time.

SolarCity · Jan 31, 2012

The warranty is appealing but they replace the unit only - scaffold and labour, which could be substantial, must be provided by installer of customer. That is a huge negative in my opinion.

dansk · Jan 31, 2012

were just going to have to move over this one, in my eyes i think its a good thing, through the online portal you can see down to panel level which ones are good, or maybe this case on there way out, easy job, get a lift onto the roof and walk straight to the faulty panel - and its in my eyes it wouldn't even need changing in a rush because the rest of the string is unaffected, not like string inverters were lets say a panel went down you wouldn't nessecerliy know right away and that would pull down that string, which is bad for the investment.

Its only my take on it ;-)

SolarCity · Jan 31, 2012

Fair points.

I'd love to see the monitoring on the system that size. Would be fascinating to see the differences between so many panels.

Gavin A · Jan 31, 2012

micro inverters = 50-60p per watt, Sunny Tripower 17000TL = 16p per watt and has around 4% better efficiency.

34p per watt price difference x 150000 watts = £52,500 price difference, not including the additional labour.

I can virtually guarantee no client will pay £50k extra for a worse performing system just so they can see pretty pictures of the panel outputs changing as a cloud goes over it. My advice, offer a price for both options if you want to stand a chance of winning the contract.

screwdriver · Jan 31, 2012

Or the tripower 20000tl with 99% efficiency!!!!!!!!!!! when it comes to payback periods there is no way you can talk anyone into a microinverter system that large unless they want to locate the panels in randomly shaded areas where it may start to outperform the central inverter systems, even then there are DC optimisers that can be run on strings with shading if you need to!