Solar companies and options

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mir2001

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Hi all, I have two quotes lined up for solar at present, one from Renewables-Ireland, other from Churchfields Home Services. The latter have completed a full energy upgrade in the past and I was very happy with their work. But the solar options are for a relatively unknown inverter and battery from Solplanet while Renewables-Ireland are offering Huawei. Wondering if anyone has any experience with Renewables-Ireland? Their online reviews are excellent but I realise this isn’t always a reliable way to make a decision. Also any info/ thoughts on Huawei vs Solplanet would also be welcomed.
Going for a 5kw inverter and hopefully a 10kw battery.
Also this work will involve placing wiring through the external insulation so want to insure whoever does it, doesn’t cause any insulation gaps.
Thanks
 
Thanks @ClubMan I was looking there and have posted some questions with varying success. I feel it is populated by both vendors and buyers. As a result, I don’t feel hugely comfortable that the two companies I’m comparing might see that I’m comparing them. It’s my real name on FB :-)
 
mir2001 said:
any info/ thoughts on Huawei vs Solplanet would also be welcomed.
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I'm familiar with Huawei, they're great systems but they're some trade offs.
They're more expensive and can only use their own brand of batteries etc.

Two companies which I can wholeheartedly recommend are ASEI and Mitros.
My installation was done by Mitros in October and I can't fault them in anyway. Likewise ASEI is after completing multiple installation in my area and I haven't heard a single complaint.
I'm in no way associated with the two companies, just a happy customer.
I would recommend to quote with a few providers so you can comprehend the differences across different brands and setups.
Also look into Dyness g2 batteries and Solis S6 inverters as they're practically as good as Huawei but are significantly cheaper.
I second Clubman on his recommendation to join the Facebook group it helped me a lot on my solar journey.
 
Thanks @Pawel Nowak - really appreciate your detailed response. Will take a look at those companies. I suppose I liked the fact that Huawei are a big company and likely to be around for a while. It’s hard to get info on Solplanet outside of some Australian reviews from about 4 years ago.
 
mir2001 said:
Will take a look at those companies. I suppose I liked the fact that Huawei are a big company and likely to be around for a while
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I would be taking any assumptions associated with size of the company with a grain of salt.
My first solar array came with the house it was a well regarded German brand (Solon) within 5 years they disappeared from the market you couldn't get any parts or service afterwards.
Whilst Huawei are a brilliant company in my case the price difference for the same battery and system size was 4k.
I suppose that's an individual buying decision more than anything else.

A word to the wise the Chinese government is removing any subsidies which they were giving to solar panel/battery producers without a doubt this will have a negative impact on pricing.
 
Just be very careful, a few companies were recommending GivEnergy battery systems with backup support from the uk. They went into liquidation and all staff were let go.
I went with Lennons, a company with a 40 year history. So far so good
 
Asei and mitros have a great reputation - I'll add Caldor to this too.

Just had an installation completed and found them excellent and got a great price without any major haggling.
 
Thanks to everyone for the various considerations. @Pawel Nowak - wasn’t aware of the subsidy so that is a consideration. Presume you mean the price of replacing Huawei components will be more expensive in the future?

I did get a very rough quote from Caldor a few years ago but decided to go for insulation and heap pump first in the end.
 
mir2001 said:
Presume you mean the price of replacing Huawei components will be more expensive in the future?
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It means anything which is not already in Europe or Ireland will increase in price. As far as I'm aware some of the installers have longer lead times due to procuring equipment only when the first payment is processed.
 
I contacted mitros. Sent in everything they requested. Then had an email from one of their reps who was calling to my area within days, so I agreed to meet him at in my home. Then everything went silent. Nothing from the main email or reps email. That's been about a month ago. I've contacted them again, but nothing..

I've been ghosted by them. ;)
 
givecredit said:
I've been ghosted
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I'm surprised in my experience they were the fastest to respond to my initial email and follow up.
From my understanding the number of enquiries about solar tripled since March hence it may affect the level of customer service across all the installers.
Prices are going up, China no longer gives solar producers any preferential treatment such as tax incentives.
 
Just my tuppence, took me nearly 5 months to choose an installer (oct to feb) so before the increase in enquiries in March of this year..

Was on the FB group, and as you say some good advice but can be difficult to tell professional advice from not, whether installers or not, some ppl seem to think they know it all even tho they've only had solar for a few months :)

Be careful with installer, I had alot of quotes and site visits, went from installer advising no point in getting solar installed (due to roof layout) to maybe 5 or 6 panels (could not guarantee 6), to being told after a site visit I would have to measure my own roof to see if the 6 would fit (from a recommended installer above, plus also taking weeks to reply to any of my email).. Was told on the FB page to call installer, but I want everything in writing, no comeback if they say something on the phone and then dont deliver, been stung with that before..

You could also see some of the questions asked on the FB page about what some installers advised, which was completely wrong!

Finally went for an installer that seems to be very good, getting 9 panels (way more than previously advised) at least were very helpful and speedy replying to any questions I had. Actually getting the solar installer over the past few days and so far very tidy and neat job..

I get the feeling that installers pick and choose their jobs, my roof is a tad awkward due to dormers and some other obstructions, but instead of telling me this they just gave bad advise and runaround which I found very very frustrating, nearly gave up a few times due to this.

If you have a straightforward roof / install you should find it alot easier than me...
 
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givecredit said:
China no longer giving tax incentives is no excuse for bad manners.
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It certainly isn't an excuse, I was ghosted by three companies myself when doing initial quotes last year, suffice to say I haven't bothered with them.
Another three were far more expensive for exactly the same components.
 
Pawel Nowak said:
It certainly isn't an excuse, I was ghosted by three companies myself when doing initial quotes last year, suffice to say I haven't bothered with them.
Another three were far more expensive for exactly the same components.
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Ghosting, bad advise, and runaround seem to be the modus operandi of alot of installers..
I would walk away if installer is not helpful and upfront with you about everything, cause even after install you need them to maintain the system, and work out any issues.. so if they dont get back to new business imagine what they would be like when they already have your money :)
 
One other thing OP, my installer advised is very difficult to source Jinko panels in Ireland now (dont know whether this is true or not), but they tried to pass off an inferior panel - TW, which I refused, finally offered Sunpower which seem to be a better panel than the Jinko.
I found ChatGTP very good for this, but careful about it aswell - was looking up the IP rating of dyness battery and they insisted its IP66, which its not, its IP65.. I questioned ChatGTP further and finally it said I was right, Dyness marketing has panel down as IP66, but the product spec says IP 65!!
 
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