Little things that are immensely satisfying

[Observer]

Did they cost much to buy/get installed?

Did you get 6, or 8??

They cost €12,000. Got a 2 year loan so will really see the benefits after that is paid off. I have an 8kwh battery and 16 South facing panels.

 

[Happyhonkaman]

They cost €12,000. Got a 2 year loan so will really see the benefits after that is paid off. I have an 8kwh battery and 16 South facing panels.

This is my issue

Even allowing no cost against borrowing the €12,000, you are looking at a 12 year payback based on my back of a cigarette box calc. Assuming you do not have a heat pump then your electricity costs were probably €1,500 a year? So if you have a really efficient system and get 2/3 of the load generated then you will save €1000 per year. You will be 12 years before you are in the black, and that's assuming no maintenance costs. If you have a heat pump then your electricity load will be higher and the payback period will reduce

I have looked at my own house a few times and it's coming back at an 8 year payback which wouldn't stack up in my head as much as I like the idea of them. They are getting more efficient every year though so the scales will surely tip at some point, but you'd want to be looking at a 5 year payback IMO

 

[Observer]

This is my issue

Even allowing no cost against borrowing the €12,000, you are looking at a 12 year payback based on my back of a cigarette box calc. Assuming you do not have a heat pump then your electricity costs were probably €1,500 a year? So if you have a really efficient system and get 2/3 of the load generated then you will save €1000 per year. You will be 12 years before you are in the black, and that's assuming no maintenance costs. If you have a heat pump then your electricity load will be higher and the payback period will reduce

I have looked at my own house a few times and it's coming back at an 8 year payback which wouldn't stack up in my head as much as I like the idea of them. They are getting more efficient every year though so the scales will surely tip at some point, but you'd want to be looking at a 5 year payback IMO

I see where you're coming from, I suppose I just took a different approach. Once the loan for them is paid off I'm happy with that. Looking at it from the payback perspective it definitely would not be for everyone.

I have a new house so everything is electric. I also have a heat pump. Bills so far are between €1,500-€1,700 pa. I'm new to panels so my experience is limited. I was just making the point that now we are in to the spring I am finding them very efficient. Summer is yet to come. What surprises me is that even on a cloudy day at this time of year they still work.

I had no bill in April. My projected usage for the June bill is covered already. So now on to the August bill. It's nice for a change to be able to reduce a bill in the house. Also not worrying about price increases. I'm very happy with that.

 

[Happyhonkaman]

I see where you're coming from, I suppose I just took a different approach. Once the loan for them is paid off I'm happy with that. Looking at it from the payback perspective it definitely would not be for everyone.

I have a new house so everything is electric. I also have a heat pump. Bills so far are between €1,500-€1,700 pa. I'm new to panels so my experience is limited. I was just making the point that now we are in to the spring I am finding them very efficient. Summer is yet to come. What surprises me is that even on a cloudy day at this time of year they still work.

I had no bill in April. My projected usage for the June bill is covered already. So now on to the August bill. It's nice for a change to be able to reduce a bill in the house. Also not worrying about price increases. I'm very happy with that.

All good, Im genuinely interested as opposed to arguing against them. Like I said, I have looked at them for my own house a few times and drawn the conclusion that the payback period is too extended for me, but would love it not to be the case. From an environmental perspective its a no brainer

 

[Observer]

All good, Im genuinely interested as opposed to arguing against them. Like I said, I have looked at them for my own house a few times and drawn the conclusion that the payback period is too extended for me, but would love it not to be the case. From an environmental perspective its a no brainer

Totally agree about the environment. I really like that aspect too. I think with everything happening in the world at the moment there will be more incentives for people to move to renewables. There's not enough right now.

Hopefully that will happen and it might be worth your while then. They are very costly so people will always be cautious. I understand that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the panels generate during the summer. As I said in an earlier post, I'm very impressed after a cynical start.

You'd be like a child at Christmas looking at the app on a sunny day, it's quite addictive! I genuinely don't think I'll have any ESB bills for the rest of the year. I'll have to report back in December!

 

[Happyhonkaman]

Totally agree about the environment. I really like that aspect too. I think with everything happening in the world at the moment there will be more incentives for people to move to renewables. There's not enough right now.

Hopefully that will happen and it might be worth your while then. They are very costly so people will always be cautious. I understand that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the panels generate during the summer. As I said in an earlier post, I'm very impressed after a cynical start.

You'd be like a child at Christmas looking at the app on a sunny day, it's quite addictive! I genuinely don't think I'll have any ESB bills for the rest of the year. I'll have to report back in December!

Do that please if you don't mind

 

[Matlock]

Totally agree about the environment. I really like that aspect too. I think with everything happening in the world at the moment there will be more incentives for people to move to renewables. There's not enough right now.

Hopefully that will happen and it might be worth your while then. They are very costly so people will always be cautious. I understand that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the panels generate during the summer. As I said in an earlier post, I'm very impressed after a cynical start.

You'd be like a child at Christmas looking at the app on a sunny day, it's quite addictive! I genuinely don't think I'll have any ESB bills for the rest of the year. I'll have to report back in December!

I bet you're a boy!! My husband and is obsessed with that fecking app. I have never ever looked at it, except under duress ;-)

 

[Observer]

I bet you're a boy!! My husband and is obsessed with that fecking app. I have never ever looked at it, except under duress ;-)

Hahaha, I'm actually female! I'm not a bit technically minded but made it my business to figure out how it all works. You should have a look at it, it's hard not to get obsessed!

Especially when you're exporting to the grid, I think I'm on Wall Street selling stocks and shares

 

[HRN]

Solar panels. I got them installed in September and got a look at how good they could be. We had a crap winter then so I was a bit cynical.

Since Spring set in I've changed my mind. Great investment and it's nice to do your bit for the environment.

I put mine in on the summer of 2021.
Got bumped up to B1 BER because of them so took the 5 year 2.15% fixed from AIB saving me a nice bit of money over the past few years.
Russia decided to fully invade Ukraine, and then Man-Baby Trump does his thing. Fuel prices go up and up.

14 panels, battery, 5.4kW inverter, and an eddi. €6,500 paid and it is well paid back at this stage.

So, are they shit in winter, but great in the summer??

Seems like you'd need them more in the winter, or am I wrong?

No, I work from home and, even in winter, I cover my energy costs for the day and (generally) have power in the battery in all but the height of winter. Yeah we pull from the grid in winter evenings but get all the clothes washed/dried and dishes done during the day.
When the fuel credits were being given out I was in negative balance on my bills during the winter months.

You really learn to HATE the standing charge once you put them in and you can see the companies already targeting that for sneaky increases

 

[Great-Bit-O-Stuff]

Miles in, steroid injection in and still alive