I bought an old little house in the countryside and now I'm wondering if solar is worth it. All the installer quotes are different, and I just can't make sense of it. What do I need to factor in - the battery storage and the whole installation too?
That's honestly really hard to say, because it totally depends on your roof's condition, the size of the system, and whether you want a battery - roughly speaking, most people budget around 8,000 to 15,000 euros for a small system without storage, and with a battery it can easily double. My tip: get at least three quotes, and check what's actually included - some installers charge differently for installation, grid connection, and permits, so it's definitely worth comparing.
The most important thing: Get at least 3-4 quotes from different installers and compare not just the total price, but also what's actually included - the system's kWp, module type, inverter, battery size, and warranty terms. Prices vary pretty wildly sometimes, and often you get better components or longer warranties for more money.
For a small country house, you're looking at roughly €6,000 - €15,000 for a complete system with battery, depending on how much roof space you have and what your power consumption is like. A small 5-6 kWp system without a battery runs around €6,000 - €8,000, and with a decent 10 kWh battery more like €12,000 - €15,000. Installation, grid registration, and electrical work are usually already included, but ask about that specifically. Some installers want extra money for roof work if your roof needs renovation - that's a classic hidden cost. Also factor in costs for registering with the tax authority and your grid operator, though installers usually handle that for you.
Whether it's worth it depends on your power consumption, how much sun hits your location, and whether you can finance the system through loans or KfW funding. With a decent battery you'll quickly become pretty independent from the grid at a small country house, which is nice psychologically too. Look at the quotes with a clear head, and have the installers calculate your expected output for you - way too many of them promise fairy tales. Don't rush into it.
Out in the countryside where I live, a smaller 5-kWp system without storage cost just under 9,000 euros, including installation and everything else - that was a couple of years ago. With a battery back then I would've had to reckon on more like 15,000-18,000 euros, but prices have come down since then, especially for batteries. The important thing is that you really look closely at what the different offers include, because some contractors charge for scaffolding separately, others don't.
The thing with the different prices is there are genuinely a lot of factors - your roof condition, orientation, load-bearing capacity, whether work on the roof is needed. For me the installation was more complicated because the old roof had to be reinforced, and that had a massive impact on the price. Some installers like to calculate generously, others are cheaper and cut corners in the wrong places. I wouldn't just look at the total price, but also at the details - how long the warranty is, what module quality, inverter type, whether the wiring is included. And watch out for hidden costs like grid connection fees or permits from the authorities.
One more tip from my experience: ask the installers specifically for references nearby, if possible. And this is important - check beforehand whether you'd already be happy with just the system on its own without storage. A lot of people pay significantly more for a battery but don't actually use it optimally, because they're not at home during the day anyway. For a country house it could be different, but definitely do the math on whether a battery really makes sense for you.
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