Solar Quote in Victoria - Yes or No?

johnno1987 on 25/07/2019 - 13:41
Last edited 25/07/2019 - 16:02

With the introduction of the interest free loan on top of the Vic rebate, I am considering getting solar put on my house. I have very limited (read: none) knowledge in this area. However I have been told good things about Sunpower panels.

Quotes received(prices after Vic state government rebate of $2225)
20x Canadian Solar 295w (5.9kw)+ Fronius 5kw inverter - $5065.
20x Sunpower P19 320w (6.4kw)+ Fronius 5kw inverter - $5465.
20x Risen 315w (6.3kw) + Sungrow 5kw Inverter - $3965.

I do have quite a small house and was considering going a smaller system which would be 12x 320w (3.8kw) Sunpower P19 with 3kw inverter for $3315.

Is this an ok price?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • oscargamer on 25/07/2019 - 13:48

    Read

    https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar101.html

    And

    Solar.Vic.gov.au

  • brad1-8tsi on 25/07/2019 - 15:07

    https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar101.html

    If you put 3.8kw of panels on the roof then you only need a 3kw inverter. You can over-supply by 30% of the inverter capacity. Under-supplying is not a good thing.

    I'd be trying to get a full 6.5kw of panels up there. It's a no brainer.

    For our badly positioned 6.5kw system we are getting enough generation to pay our bills and also get a few hundred $$$ in credit after only 6 months.

    The place we just did was only 60sqm in roof area and we fitted 20 panels with room for 10 more.

    • johnno1987 on 25/07/2019 - 16:03

      Sorry that was a typo. It’s a 3kw inverter. His quote did say 5kw, but makes sense to only be 3.

      I think the Sunpower 6.4 looks the way to go.

      • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 08:13

        Those after rebate prices are really high. It's like they put the prices up $1500 before taking off the $2.2k rebate.

        We paid $3.9k for 6.5kw Jinko panels and 5kw ZeverSolar inverter with no rebate. That's an entry level "good" system on par with your Risen/Sungrow quote.

        • johnno1987 on 26/07/2019 - 09:55

          Thanks mate, that’s the answer I was looking for.

          The Sunpower quote seems competitive but it’s a lot of money still!

          • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 10:30

            @johnno1987: I'd be really happy with the sunpower/fronius combo. Now you know what you want shop around. They should be able to quote without visiting site. 2 of the 3 quotes we got were done without a site visit.

            • johnno1987 on 26/07/2019 - 12:22

              @brad1-8tsi: What price should I be looking to get the Sunpower/Fronius down to?

              The quote as it stands:
              Total System Price: $10,700
              STC Rebate: -$3010.
              Total Cost: $7690.

              Then Vic Gov rebate makes it $5465, and then the interest free loan over 4 years would mean $3240 out of pocket upfront.

              • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 13:28

                @johnno1987: I think ~$6k before the rebate. ~$4k after the rebate.

                The Fronius is ~$500 more than the Zever
                The better panels are also about $500 more.
                Plus another $1k for gouging due to government program being in place as this brings out all the short term "chancers"

            • johnno1987 on 26/07/2019 - 13:19

              @brad1-8tsi: Asked if there was any wiggle room, came down to $5165 if I go ahead in August.

              • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 13:44

                @johnno1987: There has to be some other options in your area.

                Try the solarquotes service. It's obligation free and he doesn't hassle you with excessive marketing.

                • johnno1987 on 26/07/2019 - 14:41

                  @brad1-8tsi: I can get cheaper. But for Sunpower and Fronius, this is bar far the cheapest I have been quoted.

                  • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 14:51

                    @johnno1987: Oh well.
                    Pull the trigger and get in before summer and generating 35kWh/day.

  • poboy on 25/07/2019 - 16:23

    In general you should try and get as many panels up as you can. This prepares you for surplus generation for a home battery in the next 5-10 years. It's a lot cheaper to add panels now, than add them later on.

    • lostn on 30/07/2019 - 12:58

      You would need a bigger inverter wouldn't you?

  • bloom on 25/07/2019 - 18:06

    This guys been popular here
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/433944

    Excludes rebate so you'd be better off

  • timthetoolman on 25/07/2019 - 20:35

    Get a system that suits your size and needs. It is not worth putting on as many as possible. The thousands extra you pay for the panels won't have their money made by your 10c kWh you get back sending power to the grid.
    Sunpower and froinius are very good. Can't comment on risen, but I'd pay that bit extra for Sunpower.

    Most importantly, make sure it is installed by a good team that have been around for a while and will stay around.

    • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 08:00

      It isn't "thousands extra" and you can get 20c feed-in.

      • timthetoolman on 26/07/2019 - 08:03

        Comparing a 3kw system that is ample compared to a 6kw system to pack out the roof, it would be.

        • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 08:20

          Nope.
          When I got my solar PV last year the difference between a 3kw inverter/3.9kw panel system and an 5kw inverter/6.6kw panel system was $800 using the same brands.

          Pick a decent power retailer & modify your own usage patterns to make the most of your power production. Do the sums and the payback is within a month of each other.

          • timthetoolman on 26/07/2019 - 09:03

            @brad1-8tsi: Who was that with? Installer and brands if you will?

            • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 10:01

              @timthetoolman: Captain Green
              Jinko Mono Perc Black series panels
              ZeverSolar inverter

              Both "entry level" good products.

              Happy with the quality of install and the system is reliable. No drop outs or system errors in 9months unlike the first system I got at another house through Origin Energy.

              My original calcs were payback in <5 years but that's been revised to <4 years.

              In hindsight we should have covered the roof and gone 10kw.

              About the only negative is the roof aspect is E/W with an 12/8 split so we only peak at 4.7kw in the height of summer. On the plus side generation is from sunup to sunset so even today we start at 6.40 (10 mins before official sunrise) and stop 17.20 (10 mins after official sunrise). For half of July we'll generate 12-15kw/day

            • brad1-8tsi on 26/07/2019 - 13:48

              @timthetoolman: My work colleague got 6300kw Jinko with Goodwe for $3750 same installer

    • lgacb08 on 31/07/2019 - 21:47

      brad is right, upsize the system as much as your roof allow and your distributor limit (aka 5kw single phase). Economy of scale means if you go any lower, the extra saving is not worth it, for most installer price difference between 6.6kw system and 4kw is only in a few hundred for same type of panel and inverter.

  • donkcat on 25/07/2019 - 22:05

    Sunpower are the pick of the bunch, how long do you think you might stay your current home? 25 year warranty is great if you plan on staying long term otherwise you're just paying extra for panels that you won't see the benefit from.

  • lgacb08 on 31/07/2019 - 21:53

    that price with sunpower is really tempting, to give you perspective I got quote from solargain last year just after the rebate was announced and similar gear (lg neon 2) was about $800 higher than yours, considering price difference between these 2 top tier panels is around $700 and the price gouging that's happening right now, if you haggle down further $500 off then it's well worth it, just make sure installer are quality one.

    • johnno1987 on 01/08/2019 - 07:03

      $4965 is best I could get it. Compared to what else I’m seeing on the forums lately it seems pretty reasonable.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join