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Here’s my experience fwiw
It’s a minefield
company a, b and c will promise you x, y and z
Local is good
If the quote involves someone coming out and actually doing a proper site survey that’s good.
If they will discuss kit with regard to that vast forum knowledge you think you have that’s good
You can check companies house etc for company status , that’s good
But recommendations are worth a fortune if previous customers are happy then chances are you will be .
Money is important but after a long time of eating rump steak I now prefer fillet.
(You generally get what you pay for ).
Bear in mind with the modern complexities of equipment and tariffs it is not imho a fit and forget consumer appliance
Gotchas
You don’t really want any kit in the loft
You will need to get to it apart from heat , fire risk etc
Also now there are recommendations against batteries in the loft
Batteries – do you want / need ? if its a financial decision between more panels or batteries always go for more panels, if you make sure the inverter is a hybrid ( battery compatible) they can easily be added later
Heres some thoughts –
I have batteries so i can run in the summer , very rarely using grid power
BUT
If you put 10kWh into your battery you will save the difference between export rate and import rate
On octopus tracker import and fixed export this is –
17p – 15p – conversion losses per kWh so your batteries will save you about 15p per day
They are more of a help in the winter if you can load shift ( fill them on cheap rate and use the power in peak rate
Batteries outside – they need to be kept warm , if you are comfortable with the temperature so are they.
Be aware some batteries are 80% depth of discharge and some are 90% ask the question – you want 90% or more batteries
The difference is – you pay for 10kWh and can use 8kWh or 9kWh
Max panels , fill the roof
Panels are cheap – fill the roof
Maximum export – use the grid as a financial battery.
When calculating size don’t use base load use 24h consumption to calculate.
Make sure the company are mcs registered.
Submit DNO (G99) application and modify install to suit .
Solar panels make electricity – more the merrier
Inverter allows you to use it – 5kW min if possible – some installer will tell you you want a 3.68kW , this is so they can install and then notify the DNO
DNO tells you what you can export – more the merrier but out of your hands
Aim for a big inverter minimum 5kW – this will cover home loads supplied from solar or batteries
Don’t forget bird protection on the panels .