PV Solar Panel installation

[McT]

Hi all

I am considering a 5kW PV system without batteries, with panels on an easily accessible roof and short cable runs to the distribution panel. Various suppliers will deliver all the hardware required (panels, support structure, inverter, power meter, cable, etc.) for around 4,000€ including IVA, which doesn't seem unreasonable. However, once you add installation and the paperwork to legalise everything, the price jumps to 7,500€ or more.

3,500€ for installation is somewhat of a rip-off. I'm sure it could be fitted by two people in two days. Has anyone had solar panels installed recently? I would be interested in hearing your experiences and any recommendation of an installer in Málaga province.

[Enrique]

Hi McT,

Have a Search on A.com ..........solar,....... author spanish_lad ,as he fitted some recently.

Brings up this Thread............

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41420&hilit=Solar

If you can get a Battery for a reasonable price would recomend this.........not done this in Spain as Installer wanted silly price.

Works great on our UK setup............

[olive]

You might be eligible for a grant but dont hold your breath. The good news is there is 70 billion of our EU money. The bad is that there are an awful lot of people in front of you with bigger begging bowls.

Don’t forget the instal includes support.

[spanish_lad]

Hi McT,

Have a Search on A.com ..........solar,....... author spanish_lad ,as he fitted some recently.

Brings up this Thread............

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=41420&hilit=Solar

If you can get a Battery for a reasonable price would recomend this.........not done this in Spain as Installer wanted silly price.

As Enrique said - we are fully off grid, and i fitted it all myself in an afternoon. It might not be the prettiest, but its safe and works - I´ve got some electrical back ground so i sorta knew what i was doing, and i´ve had a 12v solar shed for years. This is my first delve into running my house from it.

We have two litium pylontec batteries and 4x 455w panels which runs our house. We´ve gas hot water, gas cooker and a wood burner.

You can get everything you need from bricomart in malaga (now obramart). For 3k you could get everything. Panels are €165 ish, batteries are €950. Inverter is €500 ish. Then you need cable, some breakers.. bits and bobs.

I ordered everything from https://www.rebacas.com/kit-solar-con-b ... 48kwh.html

- it was a grand cheaper at the time, and came with a different inverter (the Axpert2, i belive - which has a lovely round touch screen on the front full of information too) They delivered it by courior.

[spanish_lad]

You might be eligible for a grant but dont hold your breath.

As with everything - the grant is only avaliable if its installed by an accredited supplier. And theres a fair bit of paperwork involved too. Licences from the town hall, certificates etc.

We decided against it cos the quotes we were getting were ridiculous.

[McT]

Update.

Eventually found a Málaga company that supplied and installed a 5.4kWp system, including the paperwork, for 6,000€. It was all done in a day - two guys did the grunt work and later in the day a different two guys did all the electrical connections.

I had imagined that a 5.4kWp system would only produce this output in theoretical ideal conditions, but even with our less than ideal 16 degree roof pitch we are getting 5kW when the sun is highest in the sky.

PM me if you want to know the name of the company.

McT

[Enrique]

Hi McT,

"for 6,000€"............sounds a good price , did this include a Battery.......

What is your current Potencia ............. this can be issue regarding the ' setup ' of the system.

Have you setup Exporting to the Grid with your energy supplier..........if so which one.........

This last bit can be problamatic with some suppliers.

Which App are you using to Monitor your Installation......

Thanks

[McT]

Hi Enrique

No battery, I don't think they are worth it unless you want to go off grid.

My potencia is 5.5kW.

As for exporting - yes and no. I am exporting, but not yet getting paid for it. Just yesterday I switched to Octopus Solar. Most suppliers pay 10c / kWh, but only against energy bought from them during the same billing period. Octopus have what they call a Solar Wallet - they pay 11c and this can be used against all aspects of the bill, including standing charges and tax. It doesn't expire and can be used for the current bill or future bills. I've see this kind of deal referred to as a "virtual battery".

The inverter is from SAJ and their monitoring app is called eSolar Air. It gives all the info I need, with graphs showing solar production and solar production with load, import, export, and self consumption. On a typical day last week the panels generated 37kWh of which 10kWh were used and 27kWh were exported. Total consumption was 14kWh, so I imported 4kWh during the evening and night. We don't have aircon or use electricity for cooking (apart from the oven), but we do have electric water heating. At the moment we only switch that on when the sun is shining and I will fit a timer soon.

[spanish_lad]

On a typical day last week the panels generated 37kWh of which 10kWh were used and 27kWh were exported. Total consumption was 14kWh, so I imported 4kWh during the evening and night. We don't have aircon or use electricity for cooking (apart from the oven), but we do have electric water heating. At the moment we only switch that on when the sun is shining and I will fit a timer soon.

well there you go, welcome to the future ! you´ll see a massive difference in your bills.