440W Bifacial Panels + Hybrid Inverter: Game Changing Energy Solution?

In this episode we head to Essex for a slightly different install of 440W solar panels with a Hybrid inverter...
Check out ‪@ElectricVehicleMan‬'s channel to see his side of the install...
If you're looking for a solar or battery install, you can use our tool to get an instant quote:
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[@AllenHart999]

Who is doing the editing. Do they want to come and work for me lol, Another good video. Thanks.

[@Heatable]

😃

[@iainbusbridge9585]

Could them panels be used vertically to replace a garden fence?

[@Heatable]

Yes, we can't see why not. Although the latest versions are "ACM's" meaning the microinverter is affixed to the panel from factory.

[@grahamcook9289]

Yes, they could. There's a video about vertical panels on KZbin.

[@markyates5744]

The REA panel has a rated efficiency of 23% that's the same as JA solars 23% also double glass black panel. Several others have 23% panels. You're slightly over stating the uniqueness of REA. Also every one of them has a +0-5w positive tolerance on their leaflet. None I've seen state +/-5w

[@singlendhot8628]

JA is low end Chinese rubbish. No comparison to REA / REC etc.

[@serraios1989]

@@singlendhot8628 REC not comparable to REA

[@rogerthomas7040]

You can find a number of vendors who make statements about their products such as "Module efficiency up to" or for one vendor their warranty states "During the first year, {The company} warrants the actual power output of the Products will be no less than 97.5% of the labeled power output." which is stated on a 575W panel for 2.5% possible drop is a fair amount. Both are ways to not have to state a firm +- value. As long as you find the fine print it is easy to work out the real 'value' of a panel.

[@StefanHolmes]

@@singlendhot8628and how do they perform as the temperature of the panel increases? Better or worse than REA?

[@singlendhot8628]

@@StefanHolmes REA = Rolls Royce JA Solar = MG That is the best way to describe the two. There is no comparison.

[@chandreshvarsani2190]

Is it really wise to install the invertor in the loft as I'm sure GivEnergy advise against due to summer high temps and if they add insulation, it will get 60 degree plus and the invertor will shutdown when you need it the most 😕

[@rogerthomas7040]

Would that not depend on if you place the insulation on the floor of the loft or the underside of the roof? My 13 year old system in the loft has no problems as the loft is configured to be cool even during the summer - air in via the eaves and out via vents installed in the roof. As for insulation there is 200mm on the loft floor.

[@Heatable]

Hi, thanks for your comment. GivEnergy don't advise against this. They recently released statement relating to the PAS 63100: 2024 advisory.

[@rogerthomas7040]

Can you address one question - what is the value of using bi-facial panels on a roof install where the amount of reflected light onto the back is likely to be limited?

[@TheRonskiman]

The benefits will be minimal. Bifacial are designed to be used where light can be reflected on to the back of them, ideally installed meters above the surface, not on a roof.

[@rogerthomas7040]

@@TheRonskiman The question was aimed at Heatable as they are the ones who installed the panels.

[@TheRonskiman]

@@rogerthomas7040 I know, but do you really think they are going to answer the question? If answered honestly it would undermine / contradict their advertising, other option is to lie.

[@Heatable]

Hi Roger, thanks for your question. This gets asked a lot so we're putting a comparison test video together at the moment. All will be revealed. Importantly though, we only ever quote the front sheet power rating when sizing systems for our clients. Any upside is a bonus 😀

[@Heatable]

@@TheRonskiman Hi, thanks for your comment. We've answered the question above, we'll be uploading the comparison test in the coming month. All our proposals use the front sheet KWp ratings, which in this case is 440w.

[@markyates5744]

The REA panels sound good. But at one point you say 8 new approx 430w panels outperform 14x 4 year old physically smaller presumably approx 300w panels. It's not new apples with new apples. The 4 year old panels would have dropped 5%. Also it was based on a few days of low sun Vs good sun apparently

[@TheRonskiman]

Anybody who understands solar can see these videos for what they are, misleading marketing.

[@Heatable]

Hi Mark, thanks for your comment. We have a side by side comparison coming to the channel in the coming months.

[@xXAbdulBaqiXx]

bifacial works better if you have a gap of 4 meters. Or perhaps you can paint the roof white so it reflects more light to the back of panel.

[@tangent2658]

I was wondering this myself, stands to reason it would work but to quicken the instal I'd probably use some kind of plastic or vinyl strips that adhere to the roof tiles just behind the solar units. I'd love to see some real-world testing on a system like that to see what kind of gaines are possible.

[@grahamcook9289]

A gap of 4 metres? Some light does reach the underside, but the main use is to capture the light passes through the top panel.

[@xXAbdulBaqiXx]

@@grahamcook9289 yes I read that on some bifacial solar panel manual.

[@xXAbdulBaqiXx]

@@tangent2658 this is not made for roof. Bifacial are for solar farms, structure mounted systems and carports.

[@trisknight9430]

Thought the latest advice was not installing in loft spaces

[@edc1569]

It’s best practice to not put them in the loft. But these guys are selling you bi-facial on a roof system which is pointless. They’re meant for ground-mount, car ports, areas with reflected light.

[@alanc1406]

Just battery not to be installed in lift space.

[@Heatable]

Hi, thanks for your comment, the recent PAS 63100: 2024 update specifically related to recommendations around battery installations in lofts. Ideally, we'd install inverters in cooler locations however, space was limited here

[@Jakdaw]

You're installing a hybrid inverter in the loft in 2024? Aren't wiring regs changing to make batteries in the loft verboten? How far away could you install a battery, in the future, without huge losses from the DC run?

[@Heatable]

Hi, thanks for your comment. PAS 63100: 2024 related to recommendations around siting of batteries. GivEnergy have released their own guidance on this following the PAS 63100: 2024 release. Ideally, where space allows we would avoid loft spaces.

[@dadreview9984]

I don't like EV man sorry.