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Paulh_Boats
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« on: October 15, 2010, 01:14:55 PM » |
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In HomePower magazine (volume 139 Oct&Nov 2010) there are adverts for a pallet of 30 panels as low as $1.50 per Watt. That suggests production prices are a lot lower than I expected. Are retail prices that low because the recession has hit the USA very hard? Their website is here, I subscribed on-line but reading cover to cover was difficult so I upgraded to a printed copy. www.homepower.comYes a surface-mail subscription burns more carbon  , but if I pass the magazine around to workers and friends it can only do good.  -Paul |
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zeus
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« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2010, 01:54:27 PM » |
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Hi Replace the $ for £ and you're probably looking at similar prices for multiple pallet quantities in the UK ..... but isn't that usually the case for most things between $/£  ? |
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Clearview 8kW helped by an 8lb splitting maul and loads of insulation  ....... (with mains gas for the odd cold period !!!  ) 4kWp of roof glazing : SMA inverter / 50 x EV tubes |
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stephendv
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« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2010, 03:36:15 PM » |
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Got 3 quotes for 3kW from suppliers in Spain:
- 1.53 Euro/Watt for Yingli poli
- 1.57 for Suntech Power
- 1.69 Trina
- 1.1 Nexpower thin film
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DaveSnafu
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« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2010, 04:53:00 PM » |
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Payed £1.29.7 per watt for mine.
As I have said before......this is'nt cheap its the correct price........
Just people are used to being stiffed in the UK.
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Proven wt2500,24v batteries,running house,navitron solar thermal integrated tank, 10 x 210w eclipse italia pv, wbs,
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MikeD
Jr. Member
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« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2010, 06:03:46 PM » |
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That's more like it!
So a 4KWp system comes out at £5200 for the panels, plus about £3K (I'm guessing here) for the inverter, brackets, wiring etc. Bung on a bit for installation and Bob's your wossname.
Any MCS installers want to quote me for a system on that sort of basis, just get in touch. I'm near Coventry.
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billi
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« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2010, 07:19:01 PM » |
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Payed £1.29.7 per watt for mine.
As I have said before......this is'nt cheap its the correct price........
Just people are used to being stiffed in the UK. I wouldnot shout too loud , cause you get stuffed with an extraordinary FIT tariff and conditions Billi |
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Guinness no Grid comes near
1.6 kw and 2.4 kw PV array , Outback MX 60 and FM80 charge controller ,24 volt 1600 AH Battery ,6 Kw Victron inverter charger, 1.1 kw high head hydro turbine as a back up generator , 5 kw woodburner, 36 solar tubes with 360 l water tank, 1.6 kw windturbine
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DaveSnafu
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« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2010, 07:47:42 PM » |
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No tariffs for me billie, we're off grid.
I don't mean no wires attached to the house I mean OFF GRID.
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Proven wt2500,24v batteries,running house,navitron solar thermal integrated tank, 10 x 210w eclipse italia pv, wbs,
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billi
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« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2010, 07:55:47 PM » |
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Guinness no Grid comes near
1.6 kw and 2.4 kw PV array , Outback MX 60 and FM80 charge controller ,24 volt 1600 AH Battery ,6 Kw Victron inverter charger, 1.1 kw high head hydro turbine as a back up generator , 5 kw woodburner, 36 solar tubes with 360 l water tank, 1.6 kw windturbine
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MikeD
Jr. Member
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« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2010, 07:24:05 PM » |
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Payed £1.29.7 per watt for mine.
As I have said before......this is'nt cheap its the correct price........
Just people are used to being stiffed in the UK.
But can you get MCS certified panels for that sort of money ? I can go direct to China and get a similar sort of price but they're not MCS and therefore no use for getting the FITs payments. |
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stephendv
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« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2010, 08:36:22 PM » |
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The first 3 panels I listed above are all MCS certified. The MCS certification scheme only exists in the minds of some UK bureaucrats, it has no effect on a global commodity like PV.
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MikeD
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« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2010, 12:50:52 PM » |
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The first 3 panels I listed above are all MCS certified. The MCS certification scheme only exists in the minds of some UK bureaucrats, it has no effect on a global commodity like PV.
Sure, but it has a huge effect on me and most of the rest of the UK solar customers, as we want the FITs money. But that's worth knowing Stephen, thanks. If I can get MCS certified kit for that sort of (very sensible) price, I'm far more likely to go ahead with solar PV on my roof. All I need now is somebody to fit it   |
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GavinA
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« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2010, 01:27:45 PM » |
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The first 3 panels I listed above are all MCS certified. The MCS certification scheme only exists in the minds of some UK bureaucrats, it has no effect on a global commodity like PV.
actually, I'd suggest that it has a major bearing on the increased price paid by UK customers compared to other countries without such silly regimes, as gaining the MCS certification for each product represents a big upfront investment of both money and staff time by the manufacturers, which they will all look to recoup from UK customers. as I understand it, each panel type has to be individually certified, even if it's based on the exact same manufacturing method and pv cells as other panels in the series, at a direct cost of thousands per panel type, and including staff and development time, that'd be more like tens of thousands per panel type, with a several month backlog meaning that this upfront investment can't even generate any return for months or longer. IMO the anticipated price drop in equipment in advance of the reduction in fit rates in 2012 will come about mostly because the manufacturers will have paid off their MCs certification investment costs by then, and will feel able to drop their prices to what they charge in non-MCS countries. Economies of scale do also obviously apply in countries like Germany and Spain where the market is far far bigger than it is here, and stuff like transport and storage costs per panel can be minimised. |
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at home | 80 tubes, 2 tanks direct PV powered SWH + 5 x Yingli 185Wp solar PV panels.
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stephendv
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« Reply #13 on: October 27, 2010, 02:32:37 PM » |
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Granted there is an additional cost of certifying panels which is paid for by the manufacturer, and it's a drop in the ocean compared to their other expenses. But, the manufacturer doesn't control the prices in a country. Manufacturers would charge the same for a container full of panels whether they're delivered to Portsmouth or Rotterdam.
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