Solar roof: What should a rooftop photovoltaic system cost?

Anyone who has ever looked into this question will receive many different answers.

Every quote that arrives in a customer's mailbox upon request is like a surprise egg. They are usually quite different in content and, above all, hardly comparable. There's no malicious intent behind this; every installer and/or solar panel specialist has their own philosophy and idea of ​​the ideal rooftop PV system.

Unfortunately, this often leads to a situation where customer needs and requirements have to be "bent and adapted" to fit the supplier's philosophy and sales approach. This is not a smooth process and is usually not in the customer's best interest.

And because the market is currently booming, it's also attracting providers who work on the side or part-time and, due to a lack of experience and knowledge, can only offer what the solar company they're actually working for currently has in stock. Ultimately, it's always about the commission, what they can earn. That's legitimate, but not always in the customer's best interest.

Even though the respective offers are difficult to compare, there are a few points to consider that explain why these price differences exist.

Every offer has its merits. Problems always arise when you later realize you weren't aware of something and had assumed something different. Therefore, objective and independent advice with a comprehensive perspective is always recommended. Open communication is key to gaining new insights – for both parties.

We're talking about projects starting at €10,000 and going far beyond that. That's a lot of money. Competence, as well as trust, plays a crucial role here.

Currently, I can identify four (approximate) price levels on the market. This refers to a 10 kWp rooftop PV system with battery storage: €10,000, €26,000, €32,000, and €42,000. All prices are net prices, i.e., excluding VAT.

With such large price differences, everyone needs to critically examine what exactly is behind them. Can this be true?

Let me put it simply: Given the current market situation, there are no bargain prices. €10,000 might seem affordable and cheap at first glance. Others, however, suspect there's a catch. Both sides have a point.

A direct comparison of the systems is generally difficult. Nevertheless, they can serve as a guideline to determine whether someone is completely overpriced or something too cheap, where the devil is in the details.

We regularly scan the market and constantly gather the latest offers. You are also welcome to send us your offers for a free, no-obligation review.

Here are the currently available offers:

• €36,000 for a 10 kWp system with a suitable electricity storage system
• €30,000 for an 8.0 kWp system with a suitable electricity storage system
• €24,000 for a 6.6 kWp system with a suitable electricity storage system

Here is a rough overview of the respective price ranges for a 10 kWp rooftop PV system with battery storage as an example. This overview is only approximate and not exhaustive. The purpose of this list is to raise awareness and help customers understand their own ideas and requirements, and to help them determine which price segment they are looking at.

A) €10,000 PV system

Systems priced around €10,000 are usually package deals, excluding installation and energy storage. The substructure and inverter are typically included. Generally, the products are of acceptable quality. They are quite suitable for self-installation projects, provided that building regulations are met and a certified electrician is present for final inspection.

➡️ Most of these offers are handled via online retail.

B) €26,000 PV system

For PV system offers around €26,000, everything seems to be included: solar modules, hybrid inverter, energy storage, and installation. The difference to the offers below lies in the details. In most cases, the legally required scaffolding is missing, which must be provided by the client. The term "provided by the client" is often mistakenly understood by laypeople to mean that the construction company will handle this work. However, the opposite is true. The client (the customer) must arrange this themselves.

➡️ Most of these services are offered by smaller companies with one to five employees. Generally, accessibility, order processing, technical support, and after-sales service should be carefully examined.

With after-sales service..

• Customer service and communication after the sale,
• Maintenance, repair and spare parts management,
• Complaints handling and warranties

This is what's meant. Generally speaking, after-sales service, even in larger companies, needs to be critically examined. How a company deals with its customers in the future is one thing. But how a company manages support due to limited staffing is quite another.

C) €32,000 PV system

Essentially, everything is as described in point B). What's interesting here is that these are mostly products with longer or extended warranty periods. Scaffolding is also included in the offer. This includes project planning, pre-registration with the relevant network operator, network management, and registration with the low-voltage network as standard practice.

➡️ Such similar offers largely come from companies with a larger staff density that offer dedicated customer support.

D) €42,000 PV system

Indeed, there's even more! Generally "Made in Germany," maximum security with minimal risk: investment protection, product and installation warranty. All for 20 years! No upfront payment required. Payment only after contractual performance. High-quality glass-glass modules with excellent low-light performance are used, not glass-foil modules – just one more important quality feature. In-house battery production offers additional added value.

➡️ Large company with over 1,800 regional consultants and individual contacts at the highest level.

What are the advantages of investing more in photovoltaic systems compared to cheaper systems?

The significantly longer warranty periods and extended warranty services are intended not only to minimize investment risk, but also to reflect the high quality of the service and products.

The use of high-performance double-glass modules slows down the aging process compared to conventional glass-foil modules, because glass is known to hardly age.

This longevity of the modules means that the photovoltaic system can be used for solar power generation for a longer period. The return on investment increases.

In contrast, glass-foil modules only have a glass pane on the front. The back has a very thin film, which makes the modules more susceptible to aging.

Generally, modules differ in their performance. Modules with higher efficiency and excellent low-light performance are more expensive, but over time they deliver more performance and therefore a higher return on investment.

We are independent and not focused, limited, or contractually bound to specific manufacturers, products, or module substructures/fasteners for a planned solar power system.

Our goal is to offer the best and most efficient solution for every project and requirement . Our focus is not on the products for the solution, but on the challenge to be solved.

Xpert.Solar is Konrad Wolfenstein and his team. We advise, plan and build with our partners.

Whether it's €10,000, €26,000, €32,000, or €42,000 for a 10 kWp rooftop photovoltaic system, for example, we'll align that with your needs and requirements. We offer comprehensive advice.

We can also independently provide additions and alternatives

✅ with translucent and semi-transparent solar modules,

✅ for patio roofs with solar panels,

✅ the solar carport,

✅ Solar railings or

✅Offer solar facades.

Xpert , or Wolfenstein, is 100% owner-managed and therefore has been independent for over 30 years, with extensive know-how:

• Xpert.Digital (over 30 years in total)
• Xpert.Plus (a Structure Service Provider for over 15 years )
• Xpert.Solar (for over 10 years)

Other strengths:

✅ Expert advice, planning and implementation for rooftop solar systems, optionally with electricity storage.

✅ Locally available for you.

✅ Own blog with over 1,000 specialist articles and over 400 PDFs for download.

➡️ With numerous article publications in pv magazine, the largest photovoltaic magazine in the German-speaking world.

➡️ Also listed in Google News .

The different prices in the photovoltaic sector are mainly due to the different sales and business models as well as the planned margins.

In recent years, in addition to pure electrical companies and solar installers, supra-regional photovoltaic sales agencies have emerged in the private customer sector, specializing in marketing and digital acquisition.

✅ Expert and Partner

➡️ We can offer a classic 10 kWp system for €18,960 net ^{*all inclusive} .

➡️ We can offer a classic system with German modules and a total output of 10 kWp for approximately €19,950 net ^{*all inclusive} .

➡️ We can offer a classic system with 10 kWp and 10 kWh storage for approximately €26,160 net ^{*all inclusive} .

*all inclusive

✅ You don't have to worry about a thing. We take care of everything for you, from installation to network registration.

✅ Installation of the system.

✅ Registration of the facility.

✅ All necessary hardware components are included.