Solar Panels in 2024

Ok, so i can help you out a little here as Im in the middle of installing a hybrid system myself. Costings wise its cost me around £3.5k, this included:-

12x545w panels £1202.00

7kw invertor £319.62

2x5kw lipo4 batteries £1413.00

24m of mounting rails £149.55

Various fittings, cables etc £430.00

I calculate this will be enough to run my whole house which is all electric heating (invertors), 3 x fridges /freezers and normal other electric itemson all but the dimmest of days. Where it is particularly overcast the batteries will top up from the grid on cheaper off peak electricity to run during the day.

I calculate it should pay for itself easily within 4 years.

Graham,

Many thanks, that really is the starter for ten that I was looking for.

And much lower costs than I was anticipating, so I might up my aspirations.

Certainly have some reading to do.

Cheers

Stuart

@Erm1ntrude

No worries if you need help with suppliers of the kit let me know. Battery cost was low as we did a group purchase direct from the Chinese factory.

@grahamstark1

Would be interested in your suppliers. I'm looking for a battery / solar setup.

I'm going to get the batteries first.

£1400 is pretty good price for a 10KWh bank!

Also, your 7 Kw inverter at that price is very good!

Thanks for any info you can share.

Regards.

hi, yes could you pm me the suppliers as also thinking of doing the same.

How did you deal with letting the electric co. know which i gather you have to but am unsure re this aspect.

Thanks Ozzy

@Ozzy183a

There is no requirement in Bulgaria.

Will collate a list and send to all those interested. Batteries were done on a group purchase through a solar self installation group on Facebook that we have here in BG, not allowed to post the link on here.

@grahamstark1 please could you include me in the recipients list.  Cheers James.

I have sent those that asked a list of suppliers I used.

Graham

@grahamstark1 hey mate can you fire over the list?

@grahamstark1 Many thanks kind sir.

Gives me a great head start. 

Regards James.

@mickeyhart

Sent, sorry its a copy and paste to everyone, not being impersonal 😂

Thank mate

@grahamstark1

Hi Graham

Sorry to come in late?, but can you send me a list please? Electric supply so dodgy.

Many thanks

I saw Praktiker also have solar electric systems reduced in price this week. Not sure they can match @grahamstark1's supplier's prices, but may be worth checking.

@Rosebub

Just a quick note to give you some help with various companies and sites that I used for the solar setup Im installing.

For my Risen 545w panels, mounting rails and cableI used Global Solar Bulgaria

https://solarbulgaria.eu/

The bigger panels are around 35kg each  so need to be on a good solid roof or ground mount. The rails are sold in 6.40m lengths but can be precut for you.

I will be stringing 8 panels in series to the invertor and another 4 in 2p2s to a mppt.

Batteries were bought on a group order through our DIY solar group direct from the factory, these take around 3 months for delivery.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630218 … ?ref=share

The 7.2kw invertor came from AliExpress.

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! ￡308.37  32%OFF | EASUN POWER Hybrid Solar Inverter 48V 230V 7KVA/6200W 110A MPPT Charger Controller Max PV 450V Pure Sine Wave Inverter With WIFI

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EHgUAsz

Rail fittings etc were cheap and reliable on Amazon de

delivered through ggbg.bg

Ground Rod Cruiser Ground Spike... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002ZSJH22?ref … b_ap_share

STOFFTEX Solar Rail Mounting... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CG4MP82F?ref … b_ap_share

Solar Panel Grounding Clips,... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BKWF54QR?ref … b_ap_share

End Clamps Solar Panel Mount Set... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CB36HVG1?ref … b_ap_share

Centre Clamp 30 mm Black, Esteopt... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0C374LX75?ref … b_ap_share

This list isnt exhaustive as you will need solar connectors, fuse boxes, possibly heat mats for your batteries depending on where your installation will be.

Sorry its a bit longwinded

Graham

@janemulberry

Hi yes the price of their panels is very good but theres a glut of panels in European warehouses at the moment so the prices are falling everywhere, so quality becomes the factors to consider.

Praktiker certainly cant match invertor and battery prices at the moment because of the lead time I guess on their stock. Lipo4 batteries are probably the cheapest they've been at the moment from China as are good quality invertors.

@grahamstark1

Many thanks

@grahamstark1

Please, send it to me too.

Appreciate you in advance

@Marharyta

Its up the page in my reply to Rosebub.

Good luck.

Thanks, I got it

I've recently installed a solar panel system and can share some insights. For your setup, you'll need to calculate your energy needs first. Start by estimating the power consumption of your borehole pump and the devices you plan to run. A 5 kW system might be a good fit for your requirements.

In my case, I checked the kit panouri fotovoltaice 5 kw pret which was reasonably priced and sufficient for my needs. They installed it quickly and professionally. This system powers my essential appliances and garden equipment, ensuring I have backup power during outages.

For your project, consider the number of panels you can fit on your shed roof and whether you need battery storage for nighttime use. Talking to a specialist can help fine-tune these details, but having a rough idea of your power needs will ensure you don’t get oversold.

Cost?

@nettv2120

What was the cost for your system and installation

    @Rosebub
Just a quick note to give you some help with various companies and sites that I used for the solar setup Im installing.
For my Risen 545w panels, mounting rails and cableI used Global Solar Bulgaria
https://solarbulgaria.eu/
The bigger panels are around 35kg each  so need to be on a good solid roof or ground mount. The rails are sold in 6.40m lengths but can be precut for you.
I will be stringing 8 panels in series to the invertor and another 4 in 2p2s to a mppt.
Batteries were bought on a group order through our DIY solar group direct from the factory, these take around 3 months for delivery.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630218 … ?ref=share
The 7.2kw invertor came from AliExpress.
Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! ￡308.37  32%OFF | EASUN POWER Hybrid Solar Inverter 48V 230V 7KVA/6200W 110A MPPT Charger Controller Max PV 450V Pure Sine Wave Inverter With WIFI
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EHgUAsz
Rail fittings etc were cheap and reliable on Amazon de
delivered through ggbg.bg
Ground Rod Cruiser Ground Spike... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002ZSJH22?ref … b_ap_share
STOFFTEX Solar Rail Mounting... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CG4MP82F?ref … b_ap_share
Solar Panel Grounding Clips,... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BKWF54QR?ref … b_ap_share
End Clamps Solar Panel Mount Set... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CB36HVG1?ref … b_ap_share
Centre Clamp 30 mm Black, Esteopt... https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0C374LX75?ref … b_ap_share
This list isnt exhaustive as you will need solar connectors, fuse boxes, possibly heat mats for your batteries depending on where your installation will be.
Sorry its a bit longwinded
Graham
   

    -@grahamstark1

I'm curious of how your system is working, do you have any information you are willing to share, real world performance compared to the theoretical performance you were expecting, how's the MTTP and inverter holding up? Any issues with the rails, clips etc? Any info would be appreciated, My property is currently off grid due to it being unlived in for a long time, so I'm working out if it would be better just having an off grid system or paying to reconnect to the grid, I also need to do a 100% require as there is nothing in at the moment, so I have the opportunity to build a proper system from the ground up rather than adapting what I have to fit what I need.

Can I also request a link to the DIY Solar Facebook group you were mentioning, I would like to read up as much as I can. The link you posted dosent work for me.

Cheers

Carl

@CarlS1986

I'm a member of this group (it's a Bulgarian language one): there are a lot of professional installers among the members, as well as DIY-ers.  I used to run a solar system when I lived in France but, after a lot of consideration, decided against installing one here...

www(dot)facebook(dot)com/groups/570613463577943/

@JimJ

Mind if I ask what the considerations were? Are we talking security? Or something else?

@grahamstark1

What is the rough energy harvested daily on your system?

Funny enough, I just got my bill  through today, and I'm using on average of 22Kwh a Day over the last month (includes an electric car 41kwh charged every couple of days) but I'm planning on building a 100% electric house so will use that as a start point for designing a system.

@CarlS1986

It was a combination of things:  we do our best to conserve electricity, but we still use a lot.  That means we need a lot of solar panels, which would have to go on the roof.  The roof is big, but not big enough to generate enough for all our needs, especially as we'd like to have a solar water heating system up there as well. We're knocking on a bit, which makes clambering about on the roof keeping panels working well something of an "adventure": our "pottering on the roof man" fell off someone else's roof and the clients (I also have other words for people like that) drove him home (he lived alone) and just left him there; he was dead by the morning.  I only heard about it some time later, or I'd have got the police involved...  The attic space is already completely in use, so we haven't got anywhere to put the batteries and other gear, and we didn't really fancy digging into four storeys-worth of walls - especially as we have 3-phase in the house, split into two main circuits, and a subsidiary back-up gennie supply with wiring going who knows where..

After a lot of thought (and my wife reminding me that she'd already said "Never again!" after other renovations) it was decided that we'd just forget the whole thing, especially as we'd likely not be around to see pay-back time.