New install quote, what do you reckon?

[Spit]

Hi Guys,

I am fortunate to have 2 houses to install solar onto. One is south facing and the other south east. One house is mine and the other is the mother in laws. She will benefit from free electricity and I keep the profit. Both houses are a couple of streets from each other.

Been quoted by a local firm £22,000 all in for 2 x 3.84kw systems with Fronious invertors. They have also included the Fronious extended warranty on both.

The solar panels are Canadian solar 240w mono. 16 on each property.

Does this sound a good deal considering they get 2 installs?

Do you think a £3500 return over both is feasible?

Thanks.

 

[cjapeterborough]

Depending where you are in the UK and there are no shading issues then the two systems should give around 6500Kwh per annum total ie about £2900
(FIT+export)plus some additional saving if you can use the generated electricity during say 9am to 4pm.
Its still a much better investement than the stockmarket,bank accounts,housing or taking a punt on the horses
I purchased a system in June this year for around the £10k and have just received my first BACS payment from Scottish Power for around £700 and to date
have generated about 1650kwh since install...the weather has to the most part been crap and I am SE facing too...

Hope this helps

Take a look at uksolarcasestudy -half a dozen or so real systems of various flavours across the uk ...I think all are ahead of projections and certainly seem to meet
expectations.

I cant really comment on the deal other than competition continually means better value for the end consumer and prices still seem to be falling.
I paid £10K for my system in June but would probably get it for £9K now.......
There will probably be a real rush for systems in Q1 next year with the changing FIT tarriffs so this could be a good timing for your purchase.

Regards

Chris

 

[Spit]

Thanks Chris. I keep hearing of people paying 10k and so it makes me wary paying 22k for 2! Seems a good company and been around since 1995, roofing. Had a tour of there facility and a current working solar installation.

 

[russgibb]

All I can suggest is consider it as a financial investment. Cost should not be your major driver. Quality is paramount for high Return On Investment. We distribute Mitsubishi, which is the Maserati of the PV world (which you pay for, inevitably).

It'll be a sad time for the industry when the cheap stuff starts failing and people have to replace entire arrays because they've tried to save a few quid up front.

 

[SolarCity]

Mitsubishi and Maserati - I have to ask, how do you arrive at that analogy?

 

[Spit]

I have just given the go ahead this afternoon. They will be installing at the end of next week. Both systems. Fingers crossed.

 

[cjapeterborough]

All I can suggest is consider it as a financial investment. Cost should not be your major driver. Quality is paramount for high Return On Investment. We distribute Mitsubishi, which is the Maserati of the PV world (which you pay for, inevitably).

It'll be a sad time for the industry when the cheap stuff starts failing and people have to replace entire arrays because they've tried to save a few quid up front.

You are absolutley right it is a financial investment and the lower the initial cost the quicker the pay back and the better the return.
As for quality who really knows if any of the systems will be working in 10 or 25 years time?
The panels are MCS approved and there is plenty of data available (historical) that will enable an informed decision by the buyer if the homework is done.
I myself have worked in high end technical instrument sales for many years in a competitve market place and the only real difference apart from the price
is the marketing spin and brand image that is created which leads to high price differentials.
Poor quality products are soon found out..........
There are a myriad of panels and systems out there and folk are making a living selling them for profit

 

[JulianC]

Knew someone with a Maserati once - kept breaking down.

 

[cjapeterborough]

Knew someone with a Maserati once - kept breaking down.

Could they not get it to stay on the roof or did it just "spend most of its time" on the garage

 

[powervan]

all got diff opions!!

 

[JohnBoyZ]

I might be wrong but Isn't there a problem with one person registering two installations for FIT payments?

 

[hp4020]

I believe you pay income tax on an installation that is not your main address, may be wise to register second FIT to your mother to avoid this.

 

[russgibb]

I thought Maserati was a good analogy because of the build quality and looks - having never owned one, should I be thinking about changing my analogy
Volkswagen?! Expensive, but good quality and very reliable

 

[Worcester]

Any installation will not be tax free if not on the same house as that you live in.

If you live in two houses, (like an MP )theoretically you could get two sets of FIT tax free depending upon your generation and consumoption at each place - it could spin round and both be taxable!

Domestic installations are NOT nescessarily tax free income even if you are resident / the owner.

20 Income tax exemption for domestic microgeneration
(1) In ITTOIA 2005, after section 782 insert—
“782A Domestic microgeneration
(1) No liability to income tax arises in respect of income arising to an individual from the sale of electricity generated by a microgeneration system if—
(a) the system is installed at or near domestic premises occupied by the individual, and
(b) the individual intends that the amount of electricity generated by it will not significantly exceed the amount of electricity consumed in those premises.
(2) In subsection (1)—
“domestic premises” means premises used wholly or mainly as a separate private dwelling, and
“microgeneration system” has the same meaning as in section 4 of
the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006.”
(2) The amendment made by subsection (1) has effect for the tax year 2007-08 and
subsequent tax years