Solar Panels - Why such a large Price Range? « Alternative Technology Assn Forums

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Solar Panels - Why such a large Price Range?

(6 posts) (5 voices)

Started 5 months ago by cyclechui
Latest reply from Russell Moore

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cyclechui
Member

Hi All,
I've recently had a few quotes to put solar panels on my roof in Melbourne's east.
The 3 companies I talked each spoke about 'tiers' - Tier 1 being the most expensive down to Tier 3, which are the cheapest.
To give you an idea of the range, for a 2kW system:
Tier 1 - $8k to $10k
Tier 2 - $5k to $8k
Tier 3 - $3.5k to $4k

Any ideas on what the difference is? One guy said the Tier 1 companies are the ones doing lots of R&D and pushing the boundaries, whereas the other guys are just mass producing panels.
I'm trying to weigh up how much to spend. If I go the cheap option, am I going to regret it later?
Thanks!
Chris

Posted Friday 25 Nov 2011 @ 1:49:50 am from IP #
Bushwalker
Member

Hi Chris,

There is a wealth of info on Whirlpool forums with many examples of systems that work and suppliers to be weary of. I've not heard of this Tier hierarchy before, but you can certainly pay more for higher efficiency panels if you feel the need.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/143

Sticking to known good gear at a good price is a very effective philosophy. Pay extra if there is a tangible benefit. Eg. High output panels are valid when you have limited roof space to achieve your desired kW. In other cases, they simply increase the capital invested and the time to payback with no other benefit, a kW is a kW. Compare quotes based on price per kW of installed panel.

Also worth perusing panel output on pvoutput.org All is laid bare, and you can quickly see that panel placement and shading are far mor important than a few percent of claimed efficiency.

Hope that helps!

Posted Friday 25 Nov 2011 @ 2:47:39 am from IP #
cyclechui
Member

Awesome - yes, there's heaps of info. I'll post something once I've made a decision.

Posted Friday 25 Nov 2011 @ 8:47:59 am from IP #
Lance
Key Master

There's a new solar panel buyers guide coming out in the next ReNew, out in a couple of weeks. I can tell you that panels are now approaching $1 a watt with some direct importers...

Posted Friday 25 Nov 2011 @ 11:08:10 am from IP #
PrimoLED
Member

Seen known name panels down around 88 cents a watt in recent weeks.

Posted Saturday 26 Nov 2011 @ 1:01:04 am from IP #
Russell Moore
Member

Extra panels at a lower price will out perform less panels at a higher price on average, $ for $. By your quotes alone you could get almost twice the size of install using the lower quotes!

I have standard Suntech panels, and a Fronius inverter, going OK, nothing fancy (I payed $27,500 for a 5kW system in early 2010], boy have prices come down since then! Trouble is here in NSW you can't get a decent price for your outputs now if installing a new system.

If I had my time over again, I would go for a Sunnyboy, Xantrax, or an Aurora inverter, and Trina, Upsolar, Astroenergy, or any one of the more established Chinese panels.

Really the most important thing is sun onto the panels, avoid shade at all costs.

Posted Saturday 26 Nov 2011 @ 1:25:10 am from IP #

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