How much does a photovoltaic installation cost?
One of the first questions that a potential owner of a photovoltaic installation asks when he calls us is: How much will it cost me to install solar panels?
This is a really difficult question and depends on a lot of factors. However, I will try to answer them as best as possible - so that you are aware of what and to what extent affects the price of a PV installation.
The purchase of a photovoltaic installation can best be compared to the purchase of a passenger car. The price largely depends on the brand (Skoda, VW, BMW, Mercedes) or size (Coupe, Sedan, Kombi, SUV), but even a single model can come in many price variants.
For example, the new Skoda Octavia, in the basic version, can cost around PLN 86,000. However, in the SportLine version, the same car with a different engine, gearbox, audio system or leather upholstery already reaches over 158,000. That's almost twice as much!
Considering that, on average, a car stays in the owner's possession for 5 years, why do people choose these types of upgrades and additional equipment options? The answer to this question is quite simple. Most people understand that if they decide to do something they really want, they won't regret it. A statistical Pole spends from 15 minutes to an hour a day on the wheel. People understand that a good car will provide them with safety, comfort, quality of travel, reliability and economy.
The same principle can be applied when choosing a photovoltaic installation.
The installation will work in your home for about 25 years. It must consist of failure-free elements and generate maximum savings - preferably maintenance-free. Unfortunately, some investors focus too much on the price of the installation and look for the cheapest contractor - sacrificing quality, warranty, aesthetics and accuracy along the way. Most often, it ends with them regretting the purchase and negatively commenting on the PV installations themselves. What's more - the photovoltaic installation cannot be resold, unlike the previously mentioned Skoda Octavi.
Below you will find elements that will have a key impact on the installation price:
• The size of the installation - usually matched to the current electricity consumption during the year,
• Location of the installation - will the installation be on the roof or on the ground?
• Roofing - trapezoidal sheet or ceramic tile,
• World side of the roof plane,
• The number of slopes on which the modules are to be located,
• Location of the modules - vertically or horizontally?
• Module manufacturing technology - MBB or, for example, MWT or FullBlack,
• Brand of modules, - guarantees
• The length of the cable route from the roof to the inverter,
• Diameter of AC/DC cables,
• Make and power of the inverter,
• The use of optimizers,
• Brand and type of AC/DC overvoltage protection,
• Type of assembly structure,
• The number of pins needed for proper grounding of the structure,
• Wifi signal strength - do you need to strengthen it?,
• Possibility of expansion in the future,
• Cooperation with an energy storage.
If we were to indicate the price range for photovoltaic installations, the lower limit would be PLN 15,000 (a small 3kWp installation on the cheapest components) and the upper PLN 45,000 (a large 10kWp installation on good components). In addition, it is necessary to take into account the applicable subsidies and tax reliefs. Currently, we have the third edition of the "My Electricity" program providing funding in the amount of PLN 3,000. It is also possible to take advantage of the thermomodernisation relief both in the case of flat tax and progressive tax (17/19/32%).
Installation price examples
For example, we will show you how the price of a 5 kWp installation will differ depending on the selected components. The assumption of this calculation is the installation on a gable roof facing south, made of metal roofing tiles.
We will use the three most popular SunLink, TrinaSolar and SunPower modules and the Three SofarSolar, Huawei and SolarEgde inverters. The order matters here - they are listed in ascending order in terms of price.
PV Module / Inverter | SunLink | TrinaSolar | SunPower |
SofaSolar | 24000 | 24700 | 25800 |
Huawei | 25100 | 25800 | 26800 |
SolarEgde | 28000 | 28700 | 30500 |
It can therefore be said that the average cost of a 5 kWp installation is about PLN 26,400. It must be taken into account that the calculations are given for constant power, and each household may need an installation with a different power.
The influence of factors on the installation price
Installation on the roof or on the ground?
Solar installation on the roof will usually be cheaper than the one on the ground. This is mainly due to the price of the ground structure, which is much higher. The installation method alone increases the price - heavy equipment is often required, and the long distance of the installation from the main switchboard requires the digging of a large-diameter earth cable, eg 4x10mm2.
Roof covering and angle of inclination.
The roof covering and the angle of its inclination have a very large impact on the price. If the installation is to be made on a roof covered with trapezoidal sheet metal or on a flat roof, it is worth asking whether these factors have been included in the installation price. Installation on a roof covered with trapezoidal sheet is very simple and the construction is cheap, which saves a lot of time. For a 4-person assembly team, the installation of the installation in 1 day instead of 3 can be even PLN 2-3 thousand difference. It is therefore a good starting point when negotiating the price.
Side of the world and number of slopes
Modules installed in a southerly direction will produce more energy per year than, for example, an east-west installation. This difference is even 20%. Therefore, with an unfavorably located roof, a larger installation will be needed, which will directly affect its cost. The same applies to the number of slopes - if fitters will work on 3-4 different roof slopes instead of one, the installation time may be extended by a day or two. The same is true for the direction of the modules. Modules are mounted on expensive aluminum profiles, for horizontal installation the number of profiles increases by 70%, which has a direct impact on the price.
Optimizers
The use of optimizers is a controversial topic. To the best of our knowledge and the tests we have carried out, photovoltaic modules cope very well with temporary shading of one plane without the need to use optimizers. However, they are useful when there is a need to place several modules (e.g. 3 pcs.) on a slope with a different geographical direction. Three modules are too small to plug them into a separate tracking system, then by assembling 3 optimizers we connect them to the main series to maximize production.
Expansion of the installation
If we plan to add modules in the future (e.g. this year there is a subsidy for micro-installations, but the budget allows only for the purchase of an installation with a capacity that covers only 50% of the demand), a good solution will be, for example, the installation of 5 kWp modules and the installation of a 10 kWp inverter. In the near future, we can add the remaining 5 kWp modules and plug them into the existing inverter.
Security
Protection is probably one of the most important elements in a photovoltaic installation. Of course, it's best that they never have to work, but when, for example, in 10 years there is an overvoltage, they have a 100% warranty to fulfill their task. That is why in our installations we use certified protections from companies that have their own test laboratories. DEHN or Noark. It is always worth asking the installer what protections he uses and whether he offers top-shelf ones.
Strengthening the Wifi signal
In most cases, the inverter is installed in the garage or on the outside wall of the building where the wifi signal can easily reach. Many inverters also have their own antennas that can find a signal in places where a mobile phone can't. But sometimes it happens that the use of an amplifier is unavoidable and can affect the cost of installation (about PLN 300). It is worth installing it then, because both the owner and the installation company should have access to the operating parameters of the installation at all times, so that in case of errors or problems they can react quickly.
Ground
According to the Polish standard, the earth resistance should be below 10 ohms. It is needed for the correct discharge of the surge current during an atmospheric discharge and for the proper operation of overvoltage protections. If the building is on sand and clay ground, there may be a problem with the correct resistance value. Instead of the standard 2-3 pins, we used to stick a dozen or so to get below the 10 ohm level. This can increase the installation cost by up to PLN 1,000, but it is a safety issue that cannot be skipped.
Summary
There are many factors that affect the installation price. It is best to ask us for a pre-executive audit and valuation. We also invite you to our calculator, where you will be able to check how much - more or less – is your energy demand and how much a photovoltaic installation can cost you. We hope that thanks to this study, the differences in prices and the price itself, which you will see on the offers of photovoltaic installations, will gain context. We are always happy to explain what makes up the price we offer.
Find out how to calculate the thermomodernization relief: https://enerp.pl/jak-rozliczyc-ulge-termo/
Are you ready to check how much your installation costs?
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