Calling on Solar Experts to Help Me Pick a Deal for Panels on The Roof

LRatjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 13:24
Last edited 09/10/2024 - 15:09

Hi all, living in Tassie and want to get some panels on the roof as I am mainly after cheaper power bills. My budget was 8 to 10k for an 8kw system. I've had 4 local companies do up some quotes. The two that appear to be the best ones we received back are that of below.

Hoping someone from here has some knowledge of these panels or inverters and can give me a heads up of which one may be the better option to go with?

Option 1:
System Size: 8.93kW
Price: $9,150.00
Estimated annual production:11,252 kWh

Panels: 19 × AIKO Solar Neostar 2P 470W
Inverter: 1 × Sungrow SG8.0RS-ADA

Option 2:
System Size: 8.8kW
Price: $8,561.38
Estimated annual production: 11 MWh

Panels: 20 × 440W Jinko Solar Tiger Neo - JKM440N-54HL4R-V
Inverter: 1 × GoodWe GW8500-MS-30 (AS4777-2 2020) · 8500W

Edit: My daily usuage is approx: 37.32 kWh

General Discussion Solar Energy System

Comments

  • jv on 09/10/2024 - 13:29
    -1

    Will you be charging a Tesla with them?

    • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 13:39
      +1

      No Tesla. Just everyday house hold stuff.

      • HeWhoKnows on 10/10/2024 - 13:51
        -5

        Wont be long before more people will be buying an EV

        Hence whilst not an expensive Tesla on the cards right now, maybe a cheaper, Hi-tech Chinese EV down the track instead. This mostly likely should be taken into consideration.
        And Chris Bowen would be proud of you :)

        So dont rule that possibility out of the equation.

        • 2025 on 10/10/2024 - 15:08
          +1

          Level 0.01 - Comment under the first comment ✅

          Level 6a - Personal Opinion ✅

    • JIMB0 on 09/10/2024 - 15:03
      +7

      If they drove a Tesla we'd be sure to know about it by now.

  • geekcohen on 09/10/2024 - 13:40

    What is your current average daily usage?

    • jv on 09/10/2024 - 13:43

      Just everyday house hold stuff.

      • geekcohen on 09/10/2024 - 13:46

        Yeah, apparently. I have everyday household stuff and I use 30kWh a day.

        I guess everyone's reference to "everyday household" stuff could be different. Just like transmission towers.

        • jv on 09/10/2024 - 13:46
          +1

          I have everyday household stuff and I use 30kWh a day.

          Brush your teeth less…

    • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 13:47
      +1

      37.32 kWh

      • geekcohen on 09/10/2024 - 13:48
        +1

        Okay, so solar would save you a bit for sure. I use 30kWh a day with Solar. So you would probably save 50% of that on a good day.

        I would go Option 2.

        • apple2016 on 09/10/2024 - 15:23

          No. It would depend on when that usage is.
          If most of it is for heating in evening/night/early morning then no point in going for solar.
          If most of the usage is between 10 am - 5 pm , then sure there will be savings.

      • jv on 09/10/2024 - 13:50

        My July avg per day was 37.2kWh… August was 26.9kWh

        • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 13:53

          Ours has spiked to above 50kWh on some of the colder days. We have a large heatpump and a newborn to keep warm. Hoping the summer months it may reduce a bit more.

          • jv on 09/10/2024 - 13:55
            +1

            @Ratjacksruffnecks:

            Hoping the summer months it may reduce a bit more.

            Ours goes down to 16-20 over summer.

          • geekcohen on 09/10/2024 - 14:14

            @Ratjacksruffnecks: Likewise and that is even with Solar. Totally agree with kids, makes it hard because you need to heater on more and costing more.

  • geekcohen on 09/10/2024 - 13:44
    +1

    Since you are in Tassie and there isn't much difference between the two besides hardware, I would go with Option 2.

    I got a cheap system almost four years ago in VIC. It is a 6.6Kw system, and after VIC Gov rebates, I paid about $3.5k out of pocket

    6.6Kw System - 18 x 370W Seraphim SRP-370-6MA & 1 x Solis-1P5K-4G.

    • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 14:00

      Interesting… Our 3rd place option was:

      Seraphim Energy Group Inc.

      7.920 kW Total Solar Power

      18 x 440 Watt Panels (SRP-440-BTD-BG)

      X1-BOOST G3 D(L)
      6 kW of Inverter Power
      SolaX Power

      Cost: $6,800

  • Drakesy on 09/10/2024 - 13:51
    +1

    Both sound incredibly expensive ngl. Payback will also take a while given the lower solar radiation in Tazzy.

    • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 13:55
      +1

      Ever since I have been investigating solar, I have been spammed by facebook ads and have seen the Melbourne and Sydney solar prices are generally a lot cheaper. We certainly pay the Tassie tax for living down here.

      • netjock on 09/10/2024 - 14:19

        There is a $1400 VIC gov subsidy and $1400 interest free loan. So whatever you see online is up front out pocket so add another $1400 on top to get the real price.

  • netjock on 09/10/2024 - 14:18
    +2

    I don't get why they are doing 9Kw of panels and 8Kw inverters.

    I'd go 13Kw of panels and 10Kw inverter if the grid allows you to export 10Kw back into the grid.

    STCs on panels should take care of 80% - 90% of the panel cost. So you're only up for inverter and labour (racking is cheap). You might be pleasantly surprised asking them to quote 13kw panels on a 10kw inverter.

    Read up on why you should have 1.3x the panels to inverter ratio (any more you won't get STCs to subsidise the panels). Also note at the end of Dec every year STC price goes down which makes panels more expensive. So you get it quoted and done before.

    • Ratjacksruffnecks on 09/10/2024 - 14:21

      Thank you, I shall ask the question

      • ShortyX on 09/10/2024 - 14:55

        FWIW… in SEQ, we paid $6,250 for:

        28 x 475W Jinko Tiger Neo panels - 13.3kW
        Sungrow 10kW inverter
        S100 energy meter
        Hot water timer

        Cost was $11,229.20 less STC of $4,979.20 (128 @ $38.90).

    • apple2016 on 09/10/2024 - 15:25

      I don't get why they are doing 9Kw of panels and 8Kw inverters.

      space for panels could be limiting.

    • mattmel96 on 10/10/2024 - 16:24

      The 130% panel to inverter is as per the Aust standard. This way you maximise generation on days when sunlight is less than optimal.

      Also means that you will hit the trigger level a little earlier each day and won't stop until a little latter S the string of panels is still above the threshold.

  • apple2016 on 09/10/2024 - 15:20
    +1

    Estimated annual production:11,252 kWh

    This is about 25% over. Realistically you should be able to get about 8.5-9Mw

  • May4th on 09/10/2024 - 15:51

    are you getting a battery with that?

  • Clickbait on 09/10/2024 - 16:11
    +1

    Have a look https://www.solarquotes.com.au/quote/index.php?postcode=7000
    He operates in Tassie.
    Some Victorian operators are offering 8.5c per Kwh off peak, (no idea if simiar is available in Tas) and depending on your heating profile, and the Sun's heating profile in Tassie, you may have a line ball decision.
    Just put timers on some of your appliances, so they only operate in Off-peak hours.
    I am still working on what I want/need. There are variables, so do your own thing.

  • The General on 09/10/2024 - 17:11

    Most of the companies have quite good margins. If you push them, you will find that will generally take 10% off.

  • tgpraveen on 09/10/2024 - 21:22
    +2

    Get better quotes from solarquotes.com.au and haggle like crazy! These quotes are too pricey. I got 8.5 KWh panels in VIC - basic quality like your current quotes for $5.5K in VIC last year after rebates.

  • STAVE on 11/10/2024 - 18:45

    So, disclaimer, I'm no expert on solar.

    Consider the quality of the inverter on both systems. The solar panels are generally cheap and replaceable, whereas the inverter is the heart of the system and you don't want to skimp on it.

    When I was looking a few years back, Sungrow was notoriously known as the cheap and dirty option, compared to some of the European manufacturers (eg Fronius). That said, I've never heard of GoodWe - sounds like another cheap Chinese brand?

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