Premium Solar PV Install Vs Budget Off The Shelf (Initial Data)

No one asked Harry his fav glove box??

Glad you did the video, thanks

This is a particularly interesting vid, good on Harry doing the research for his scheme.

TLDR: "Do your homework"

Thanks for this one

There's a lot of discussion in this video regarding Heatable putting huge amounts of effort into designing thing for specific locations & setups.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't their current strategy to install the same REA panels and Enphase IQ8AC on every install they do everywhere across the UK?

They were doing IQ7 and a particular wattage of panel and they've naturally upgraded as time ha gone on and their stock has been updated with the newer stuff, but really, I got the impression they just stock huge amounts of the same kit and put it on all the installs.

Sometimes that's done with subcontractors who haven't really got a clue what they're doing (as was in my own personal case).

6 years in and the technology has changed a lot. Going back in time I would have changed to a different manufacturer. Having said that the install does produce a good yield.

everyone with solar needs more on less sunny days, or at night etc... because no one can store the excess on those extreamly sunny days. Over panel by 10% and install a bit more of the cheap panels, and I think you'd beat still the expensive setup.

Yorkshire tea ☕️ only for Yorkshire folk 🫖☕️

So can't the micro inverters be more closely matched to the panel max output wattage?

Is this comparing the same technology type, i.e. is it a type n panel which works better in lower light levels which wouldn't be considered a premium panel and assuming the other panel is not bifacial?

Just so i know what are comparing as i am looking into solar but not sure on bifacial as of yet

I’ve been waiting for this update, cheers

This is quite similar to what my parents have. They've got 375W panels that are better at lower light with 290W Enphase micro inverters. They've got 12 so 4.5kW of panels and 3.48kW inverter max.

2024 has been rubbish for 'sunny' days . I've had my install since Aug 2018 . And this Feb March April May have been the lowest monthly totals since 2019- June 517kWh was the 2nd worst since 2020 (474kWh) best (2021 644kWh).
Absolutely I would favour a more efficient panel that would make best use of less sun ( Rochdale) .
Annually we average 3.8MWh - 4.01MWh . 15 300w Perlight mono black+ 4.5KW through a 3.86mkwh Solar edge inverter. SSW facing.
Look forward to the regular updates.

Does one of the other videos show the cost to purchase difference.

From my understanding they seem to be solar panels geared towards overcast countries. Which makes absolute sense for Britain.

In-your-end-o

@Solarwatt TOPCON ~ excellent panels my system generated >1.1MWh last month on a 8.7kWp with 2 x 3.68kW inverters ~ so pleased with Eco Energy Environment Ltd

Price of panels has halved in 3 years .

So when I buy a 5 seater car instead of a 4 seater car, I'm designing the car? I wouldn't say so, I'm selecting or specifying an off-the-shelf product. In my view, calling it a design, or bespoke, is incorrect. To my knowledge heatable only use one type of panel. They're just installing their default product which happens to be different to other panels

Theres deals on pw3 and 8 panels installed for 10k currently. Likely poor budget panels but less capital outlay. Budget wins in that deal

As a comparison, my 3.25 KWp east-west array (3.5 KW inverter and 10 x 325 Watt Solar Edge optimisers on type N panels) located in wet central Scotland has achieved either side of 2,400 units per year.
Typical March and June production is 175 and 390 units respectively, but this varies wildly as it never seems to stop raining and when it does we have thick low cloud that blocks out the sky!

I don’t understand the micro inverter part. So Harry had a lower number. Which seemed to mean he’d be expected to yield less solar? Is there not an inverter that can operate at lower light AND have a higher maximum? If Harry is winning at low light why can’t he have had a “better” inverter and win on very sunny days too?

Do you think you could ask the other guy not to keep talking across you? Usually if I see he's involved I just don't watch, but this one I was particularly interested in…

A different angle pitch on your roofs could explain the swing from winter to summer. Also if a panel is rated at 430w it does not mean that 430w is it's maximum. Simply 430w is what it will produce under standard test conditions. I have seen my 430w panels regularly kick out over 460w and I live in Cheshire.

As a solar expert with 15 years of experience in installations, I have a 10.8kW system composed of 47 south-facing 13 year old panels with an efficiency of 15%. Here are some performance metrics:
- In March, the highest yield was on the 9th with 43kWh, compared to 24kWh on the 30th.
- In June, the peak yield was on the 29th with 56kWh, closely followed by 55kWh on the 22nd.
- The total yield for June was 1140kWh.
9.473 kWh per Watt for the Month of June.
At that time, I believe the panels were approximately £2.20 per watt for wholesale, in contrast to around 10p per watt today.

Thank you. I have been waiting for this video/ data

Really wondering what winter performance will be like.

Are there any companies selling 2nd hand panels i want to make a shed system before i commit to the price of a house system