LG300 vs SP327 Pricing Data

[Poway]

Given approx. 11kW of panels


LG300 panels with solar edge optimizer/inverter costs about $3.25/Watt +/-

What would a "good" price be for

SunPower327 panels with solar edge optimizer/inverter


I guess "good" to me means that the installer makes a similar %profit.. VS. says since money is no object since the customer is going for a cadallic.

From what little data i have found I thought the delta would be about $0.50/Watt but it appears to be >$0.75 and for some installers >$1.50.

Thanks for any insight

[SoCalsolar]

SunPower Vs. LG Pricing

Several factors are going to play into the delta. Some are dependent on SP and some are dependent on the individual dealers. Here's a couple of nuggets. SP offers lower pricing from time to time on specific batches of panels. Could be abundance of inventory, QC issues at the factory, etc. Some dealers have the capital to to take advantage of these opportunities others do not. Sometimes its 250 watt panels, 245 watt panels, 327 watt panels. If a particular dealer was able to participate in these special bulk buys than it is likely that in your system size the delta would be closer to 75 cents. If not than you get something higher. A second scenario is that some dealers price their margins as a number of cents per watt while others may use a percentage of cost. Another factor in your situation is the specific equipment requested is not available through SP and would require a dealer to source it through a third party distributor. Now volume with 3rd party distributor may dictate the cost for the additional components required by your specific equipment. Some dealers may just want to sell you one product instead of the other. Lots of answers out there.

[J.P.M.]

Given approx. 11kW of panels


LG300 panels with solar edge optimizer/inverter costs about $3.25/Watt +/-

What would a "good" price be for

SunPower327 panels with solar edge optimizer/inverter


I guess "good" to me means that the installer makes a similar %profit.. VS. says since money is no object since the customer is going for a cadallic.

From what little data i have found I thought the delta would be about $0.50/Watt but it appears to be >$0.75 and for some installers >$1.50.

Thanks for any insight

The lowest price I've seen on a quote for 327's is $4.50/Watt. Other posters have seen sub $4.00/Watt. I had a vendor tell me their system price for a S.P. equipted system is about $3.25-$3.40/Watt +/- some depending on a lot. I'd take that with a big grain of salt and a jaded eye, but it seems possible.

[Poway]

Thanks Probably Clear Choice (for my groundmount) it LG

The lowest price I've seen on a quote for 327's is $4.50/Watt. Other posters have seen sub $4.00/Watt. I had a vendor tell me their system price for a S.P. equipted system is about $3.25-$3.40/Watt +/- some depending on a lot. I'd take that with a big grain of salt and a jaded eye, but it seems possible.

When I compare the the spec sheets and marketing material of LG300 with SP E20/327 i can only justify 7% (and that is a strech) based on rated power (not power density where SunPower has a clear advantage for rooftop).

Throwing in another 7% for being nice to USA vendor. Total of 14%.

This would mean that for my 11KW groundmount, if I can get LG300 for $3.50/W then would need SP327 for $4.00/W MAX. Only $0.50/W diff

Thanks Again
This Site is Great

[J.P.M.]

When I compare the the spec sheets and marketing material of LG300 with SP E20/327 i can only justify 7% (and that is a strech) based on rated power (not power density where SunPower has a clear advantage for rooftop).

Throwing in another 7% for being nice to USA vendor. Total of 14%.

This would mean that for my 11KW groundmount, if I can get LG300 for $3.50/W then would need SP327 for $4.00/W MAX. Only $0.50/W diff

Thanks Again
This Site is Great

S.P. does a slick job of bending reality - probably better than the competition.

If you value roof real estate more than the bigger hole S.P. will put in your pocket, the power/area density might count.

You might find 327's for $4.00/Watt, but IMO, that's a stretch. I wish it were so. Maybe it is.

S.P. 327's are made mostly in the Philippines.

Using SAM , a comparison of 327's and LG 300's for zip 92026 shows mostly a dead heat for the two, or maybe a slight advantage to the LG 300 on the basis of annual output per nameplate kW.

Even at $.50*.7 = $.35/Watt after tax credit, 10% is still a big premium. In your case about $3,800+ on an 11 kW system.

Pay your money, take your choice.

[Poway]

SAM is showing 3.1% advantage for LG over SP based on Nameplate KW

S.P. does a slick job of bending reality - probably better than the competition.

If you value roof real estate more than the bigger hole S.P. will put in your pocket, the power/area density might count.

You might find 327's for $4.00/Watt, but IMO, that's a stretch. I wish it were so. Maybe it is.

S.P. 327's are made mostly in the Philippines.

Using SAM , a comparison of 327's and LG 300's for zip 92026 shows mostly a dead heat for the two, or maybe a slight advantage to the LG 300 on the basis of annual output per nameplate kW.

Even at $.50*.7 = $.35/Watt after tax credit, 10% is still a big premium. In your case about $3,800+ on an 11 kW system.

Pay your money, take your choice.

Thanks for linking me up with SAM. I had previously only used PVWatts.
You're correct SAM is showing about a 3.1% advantage per Nameplate KW for all 25 years
If they are getting good data then it is a slam dunk for the LG300 system.

Thanks

[silversaver]

Thanks for linking me up with SAM. I had previously only used PVWatts.
You're correct SAM is showing about a 3.1% advantage per Nameplate KW for all 25 years
If they are getting good data then it is a slam dunk for the LG300 system.

Thanks

The few LG systems I monitoring have above average performance. I meant better output in the same area.

[KUK]

Given approx. 11kW of panels
LG300 panels with solar edge optimizer/inverter costs about $3.25/Watt +/-

Hi Poway,
Would you mind Pm the installer which quoted you $3.25/W for the LG set-up? I was quoted $ 4.10/W for a 6kW LG system with Enphase Microinverters (and $4.55 from the same installer for a similar sized Sunpower system, so a ~10% premium).
Thanks,
Kay

[J.P.M.]

Hi Poway,
Would you mind Pm the installer which quoted you $3.25/W for the LG set-up? I was quoted $ 4.10/W for a 6kW LG system with Enphase Microinverters (and $4.55 from the same installer for a similar sized Sunpower system, so a ~10% premium).
Thanks,
Kay

That LG price seems high. You might check using LG 280's. The price seems to be a bit less.

On a related matter, prices may be creeping up a bit in San Diego with one possible reason being as vendors begin to spread the fear mongering half truths about the "imminent" end of net metering spelling doom and gloom to solar as another poster showed recently. The usual tactics apply to solar customers in this case and leverage customer ignorance as a tool to hussle up rash decisions and also increase prices by creating a labor shortage in a shorter (and somewhat artificially manipulated shorter time frame).

[KUK]

[QUOTE=J.P.M.;142641]That LG price seems high. You might check using LG 280's. The price seems to be a bit less.[QUOTE=J.P.M.;142641]

Yes, I found an almost a $100 price difference between the two. I would need 2 panels more for the same production (1.4 actually), so subtracting the price difference and adding 2 inverters (not counting additional labor and hardware) bring the price down to $3.9/W (from $4.1/W). A step in the right direction but still quite a bit higher than the quotes I have seen here just a few month ago.

On a related matter, prices may be creeping up a bit in San Diego with one possible reason being as vendors begin to spread the fear mongering half truths about the "imminent" end of net metering spelling doom and gloom to solar as another poster showed recently.

Good point. Only 1 installer mentioned this specifically though.
Thanks,
Kay

[Poway]

Hi Poway,
Would you mind Pm the installer which quoted you $3.25/W for the LG set-up? I was quoted $ 4.10/W for a 6kW LG system with Enphase Microinverters (and $4.55 from the same installer for a similar sized Sunpower system, so a ~10% premium).
Thanks,
Kay

I just signed a contract last night waiting for installer to send signed contract back.

Have four installers, all with good ratings all between 3.03$/W and 3.47$/W (this is before fed credit... lower cost after fed credit).
My system is slightly different than yours.
1) Mine has increased expense because ground mount
2) Mine has decreased expense as subpanel is available
3) Mine has decreased expense because larger 11KW (economies of scale)

If it were not for the last item I would say your quotes should be better (installers just add cost for ground mounts).
Not sure how much size will effect the bid.

I'll plan on PMing later in the week... weekend at the latest... once my deal is locked...and I verify that installers don't mind.

Good luck

[J.P.M.]

[QUOTE=KUK;142654][QUOTE=J.P.M.;142641]That LG price seems high. You might check using LG 280's. The price seems to be a bit less.

Yes, I found an almost a $100 price difference between the two. I would need 2 panels more for the same production (1.4 actually), so subtracting the price difference and adding 2 inverters (not counting additional labor and hardware) bring the price down to $3.9/W (from $4.1/W). A step in the right direction but still quite a bit higher than the quotes I have seen here just a few month ago.



Good point. Only 1 installer mentioned this specifically though.
Thanks,
Kay

Was that the one that sent the fear mongering B.S. flyer around ?

[KUK]

Have four installers, all with good ratings all between 3.03$/W and 3.47$/W (this is before fed credit... lower cost after fed credit).
My system is slightly different than yours.
1) Mine has increased expense because ground mount
2) Mine has decreased expense as subpanel is available
3) Mine has decreased expense because larger 11KW (economies of scale)

If it were not for the last item I would say your quotes should be better (installers just add cost for ground mounts).
Not sure how much size will effect the bid.

Thanks Poway,
I upgraded my panel a few years ago - it's ready for solar. Your system is almost twice as big as mine, so perhaps part of it is indeed the economies of scale (although I would think a ground mount should be some expensive than a roof mount), but I found $3.4-3.6 quotes for LG for 5kW systems in San Diego on this forum. I wonder if I should haggle?
Thanks,
Kay

[lkstaack]

I just signed a contract last night waiting for installer to send signed contract back.

Have four installers, all with good ratings all between 3.03$/W and 3.47$/W (this is before fed credit... lower cost after fed credit).
My system is slightly different than yours.
1) Mine has increased expense because ground mount
2) Mine has decreased expense as subpanel is available
3) Mine has decreased expense because larger 11KW (economies of scale)

If it were not for the last item I would say your quotes should be better (installers just add cost for ground mounts).
Not sure how much size will effect the bid.

I'll plan on PMing later in the week... weekend at the latest... once my deal is locked...and I verify that installers don't mind.

Good luck

You're getting a deal. I'm paying over $4/w for a ground mount. I couldn't find many who would even do a ground mount, and those that did weren't cheap. Having to trench 45' up a slope by hand probably didn't help much.

[TimNvc]

price premium for ground mount?

Poway, what would you say is the added cost % for ground mount vs roof? Aside from the added variable cost of trenching and wire due to distance, is there really that much more cost in the supports for ground mounting? You would think some of that might be offset by lower labor cost due to easier and faster install on the ground vs roof. I am weighing both options right now like you probably did; roof mount SP vs ground mount LG. I have lots of ground space in Valley Center but don't want it right next to the house either. I think the trenching is whats going to kill me cost wise. Would you mind sending me your short list of the four installers? I am just getting started and it would save a lot of time narrowing the them down. How far out is your install?