petect, Frank S is correct.
However, my information is from several sources and from folk who know about PV Panels, But, these are still my general opinions.
Pv Panels
I have various assortment of Pv Panels from 1987, Amorphous, Mono, Poly etc .
My recent 3kw of panels I collected at the end of 2011, at the time they were best quality and very well made but were classed as SECONDS as they all had manufacturing faults when assembled in the UK.
These were 17off SHARP 185w, 995mm x 45mm x 1400mm at £1700 or 0.54GBP per watt. The majority of these seconds had scratches on the rear and just needed some good silicone squeezed on them.
My recent search was for 2Kw for my latest Tracker design, (a stretched version of my successful 1.5Kw, And No, I am not comerciall).
http://www.echorenovate.com/solar-energy.phpI started searching/asking friends in the PV industry, forum members etc. in Sept 2012.
Now I had seen some Canadian Solar 250w panels in 2011, (made in China) but the price was 0.72GBP per watt I asked an installer/importer about them, “yes the price is now good but the quality is bad with very obvious faults and our company will not use them†this in Oct 2012.
Panasonic and Sharp have seen their prices come down to 1.00GBP per watt, but still far too expensive for me. Especially on a new design of tracker where if they are blown away in a storm I do not lose too much money.
Comments and prices from friends.
1.
"Panel prices have come down very significantly since the PV market has collapsed in the UK - as you can probably imagine!
New, 1st quality Kinve 250W panels are £150+vat ie 0.60GBP/watt +vat. These are probably the best on the market, and as they come from China, very good prices. They're also fully certified ISO, TUV, MCS etc. The slightly smaller 235W Kinve panels are better value at 0.48GBP/watt+vat (also certified)
Sharp Seconds, the biggest I can get is 235W, which are 95GBP each - and of course there's no vat to add to the prices of the seconds. If you can't claim vat back, then these prices are pretty attractive. If you can claim vat back, then the Kinve 235s are the best option".
2.
"I'd not normally do this, but seeing as you're experimenting with self-designed trackers etc. I'd not mind if you wanted to order the panels through us from our suppliers/importers at our trade rates (which I believe to be around the best going) and I'd simply get them delivered straight to you on pallet from our supplier. 124GBP 0.496GBP per panel Yingli Panda 250 mono.
120GBP per panel Upsolar 250Wp mono. 115GBP per panel Renesola 250Wp poly. 105GBP per panel Jetion 245Wp poly."3. Prices direct from a UK Importer who mostly supplies Grid Tied Installers.
"ET Solar P660250 now only 0.44GBP/W
ET Solar M660250BB now only 0.49pGBP/W (Black on Black)
ET Solar P660230 now only 0.39GBP/W
Canadian Solar CS6P250 now only 0.46GBP/W
Panasonic HIT 235W now only 0.80GBP/W"These prices are good but I was just not willing to trust the quality that they would ship me, as they come direct out of the shipping container from China.
Note, I was actually at an Importers warehouse, for another reason, when a China shipping container arrived, in one batch they were awfull with wrong sizes and seconds just thrown in to get the manefest numbers up.
So in the end I bought 9 panels of YINGLI PANDA 250 Mono at 0.496GBP/watt, 2.25KW for 1116GBP, 990mm x 40mm x 1650mm 19kg each.
http://www.yinglisolar.com/assets/uploads/products/downloads/PANDA_60_Cell_Series_EN.pdfTrust this helps, but please remember this is now and in another Month os so, the stuff could again change.
