Solar Power

Old Aug 8th 2022, 5:38 pm
  #16  
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by Jack_Russells4ever
In my village usually once a year EON schedules (2) days of scheduled power shutdowns to repair and upgrade the power lines which means about 8 hours per day of no power and ocassionally during a bad thunder storm the power has been off a few times for 2 or 3 hours due to a fallen tree branch etc. So, by itself power cuts would not justify the outlay for solar.

I think if prices skyrocket the investment in an offgrid solar system would be worth considering.

I have 3 phase power already and would install a 3 phase offgrid system were I to go down that route.

True the payback time for the equipment and batteries would probably be a long time. But given the state of things in our current world it would be worth it to me if prices for power escalate.
If you have a grid tied system properly sized then you are insulated from the price increases. If you ask EON for more capacity than you currently need then you have some expansion for the future (e.g. charging an electric car or/and changing the heating system to a heat pump) You don't have to install all the capacity from the beginning so you can add more panels later. What makes the change is the inverter connected to the grid, a higher output inverter causes a new contract to be needed but you can add more panels downstream without the involvement of EON.

Of course if EON changed their business model, tore up the existing contracts and demanded everyone did monthly reconciliation then the figures for off grid might change. But even then IMO over sizing the panels and limiting the output to the grid to get more power in the winter / spring / autumn (for me) would make more sense than gong off grid and buying batteries. As far as I can see the pay back time for batteries will be longer than the expected life of the batteries.

One advantage of being grid tied is if there is a fault with the PV system you still have grid power to fall back on. Off grid means any fault you are on your own. This can be a problem - I have no mains water connection, if water stops coming out of the tap I can't just phone the water co. I have to get what ever is wrong fixed myself which means I get the tool box out because I can't wait days for some sort of trades person to turn up who doesn't know the system anyway. And yes I keep a selection of spares on the shelf to cover off likely failures.

I am just about to install PV and my inverter will be 3 phase 10kva and I have been told that I must install at least 8 panels but I will need more than that to cover my current needs. I plan to install enough panels to cover my annual usage based on the annual panel output calculated by PVGIS and I will be reconciling annually so my annual electric bill should be just about zero plus the standing charge. That's the plan anyway.........
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Old Aug 8th 2022, 7:21 pm
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Default Re: Solar Power

Peter, once again thanks for your comments. Much appreciated..
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Old Aug 9th 2022, 6:38 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

I have read this thread with interest but there's no mention of costs involved.
I am totally ignorant when it comes to inverters and how the whole system works. Obviously, there are many factors involved in the cost of a solar set up but a ball park figure for starting out would be helpful.
Also, what about maintenance? Does it need an annual check up, clean etc?
Thank you
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Old Aug 9th 2022, 6:57 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Paul, there are so many variables in solar equipment and the needs asociated with each location it is difficult to even guess as to the cost. As from the previous comments on the thread their are grid tied and off grid systems, there are where allowed also on grid/off grid capable systems.

If you go with a grid tied system you will not need any batteries. You will just need the solar panels, the rack to hold the panels either on your house or ground mount type depending on your situation and the power inverter plus associated cabling and electrical components to connect a system to the grid.

If you do a total off grid system you need the solar panels and rack to mount them, you will need the inverter and batteries. Then you must decide how much storage capability you need for your requirements and what your budget will allow, there are traditional lead acid batteries, gel cel batteries and Lithium batteries. Some users may even add a LPG capable generator or diesel model to charge the batteries in the event they are not getting enough charge from the sun.

Maintenance would be cleaning the solar panels to keep them working at top capability plus maintaining the system batteries if an off grid system plus keeping an eye on the electrical connections of the system. Bear in mind of your panels are roof mounted someone has to climb on the roof to clean them or repair them in the event of trouble. Ground mounted systems are much easier for a DIYer to take care of.

If you were allowed to grid tie a system that can also run when the grid goes down you will also need a transfer switch set up.

Last edited by Jack_Russells4ever; Aug 9th 2022 at 7:02 am. Reason: added thought
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Old Aug 9th 2022, 9:17 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by PaulinEger
I have read this thread with interest but there's no mention of costs involved.
I am totally ignorant when it comes to inverters and how the whole system works. Obviously, there are many factors involved in the cost of a solar set up but a ball park figure for starting out would be helpful.
Also, what about maintenance? Does it need an annual check up, clean etc?
Thank you
Wot Jack said above +1
A quick dip into Google showed a 3 kWp system for between 1.2 and 1.7 Mft. plus some EON work which depending upon your current consumer unit could be around 250,000 ft.
Maintenance is low - almost fit and forget. If the panels get very dusty then a hose down will help but usually people just let the rain do it. Most panels come with a 25 year guarantee which guarantees 80% of rated output after 25 years. Inverters have a shorter guarantee (about 10 years I think)
As said above a single phase supply is now limited to 2.5 kWp which I would suggest that 2,000,000 ft. should see it done but there is a bucket full of variables that could make a mess of that price. A couple of years ago the payback time of a grid tied solar panel set up was estimated to be between 8 - 11 years but now that is probably (a bit) out of date.
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Old Aug 9th 2022, 6:56 pm
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Default Re: Solar Power

Thank you both for your replies. They pretty much answer my initial questions.
I was always concerned whether it would be worth it.
If we ever go down the route of solar, it will probably be grid tied, although I do I've the idea of being completely independent and not relying on outside influences.
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Old Sep 1st 2022, 9:53 pm
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Default Re: Solar Power

Just installed an off grid system which has 5 panels 1.2kw with lifepo4 battery bank total cost £2200, if you work out based on current prices then it doesn't make financial sense, it does allow 3 days back up power for critical items and to keep below average energy usage cap. if thinking of batteries they can not be charged below 0 degrees so a shed is not good a cob outbuilding is a good choice.
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Old Oct 14th 2022, 10:26 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Interesting news from the government yesterday. The rules for home solar systems are changing so that no new systems that sell back to the grid (feed in) will be allowed. Existing systems will continue as is and anyone who is in the middle of installation (and has approval) will be allowed to complete. But no new approvals will be allowed.
Off grid system will still be allowed.

Last edited by ecurb; Oct 14th 2022 at 10:29 am.
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Old Oct 14th 2022, 10:40 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by PaulinEger
Thank you both for your replies. They pretty much answer my initial questions.
I was always concerned whether it would be worth it.
If we ever go down the route of solar, it will probably be grid tied, although I do I've the idea of being completely independent and not relying on outside influences.
I'd prefer the option of not relying of outside influences.
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Old Oct 14th 2022, 10:52 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by ecurb
Interesting news from the government yesterday. The rules for home solar systems are changing so that no new systems that sell back to the grid (feed in) will be allowed. Existing systems will continue as is and anyone who is in the middle of installation (and has approval) will be allowed to complete. But no new approvals will be allowed.
Off grid system will still be allowed.
I heard this as well. Apparently the usual systems can still be installed with smart meters etc. but no feed in will be allowed until the grid has been upgraded to cope whereupon feed in will be allowed. An EU loan has been negotiated to fund the grid upgrade which will start when the funds arrive.

However when you ask for more power - beyond 32A you are charged 5000 Fts / A to support the additional system loads. Question - what has happened to all these 5000 fts that have been paid - (several of which were mine !!) that were supposed to go towards maintaining the system load increases.

We just managed to sneak in. We have a 6.8 kWp system (18 panels) that came on line last week.
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Old Oct 14th 2022, 10:59 am
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I'm following this thread with interest. Brother-in-law planning install solar power. Sister-in-law has explained their reasons but hey, they need to replace all electrical appliances because they are so old, they even took mother-in-law very old deep freezer. No way would they benefit from solar power unless they replaced all electrical appliances.
On top their windows need replacing! Doesn't make sense, very adhoc.
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Old Oct 14th 2022, 2:50 pm
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by FenTiger
I'm following this thread with interest. Brother-in-law planning install solar power. Sister-in-law has explained their reasons but hey, they need to replace all electrical appliances because they are so old, they even took mother-in-law very old deep freezer. No way would they benefit from solar power unless they replaced all electrical appliances.
On top their windows need replacing! Doesn't make sense, very adhoc.
IMO they would benefit from solar power but they would also benefit from replacing old appliances. They should go around with a plug-in consumption meter to see how much each appliance is using and then do the sums about replacement. Then do the big wins first.

For the windows, if they are on gas central heating and below the cut-off for the cheap gas then IMO theres not much urgency (other than comfort) in changing the windows. If they are above the gas cut-off price then that a different matter, but there is more to do than windows I suspect e.g. loft insulation.
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Old Oct 15th 2022, 5:04 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by Peter_in_Hungary
IMO they would benefit from solar power but they would also benefit from replacing old appliances. They should go around with a plug-in consumption meter to see how much each appliance is using and then do the sums about replacement. Then do the big wins first.

For the windows, if they are on gas central heating and below the cut-off for the cheap gas then IMO theres not much urgency (other than comfort) in changing the windows. If they are above the gas cut-off price then that a different matter, but there is more to do than windows I suspect e.g. loft insulation.
Sister-in-law when she visited here recently she commented our house felt warm and asked if the CH was on and it wasn't. She looked perplexed because they had new radiators installed a few years ago. Most of their windows are small except the lounge which with the door covers the full width of the room. Their house has always felt cold even with their tiled stove on full blast. It might be because they have yet to fill the gaps for the thinner radiator pipes in the floor! I'm certain it's their windows which need replacing. They're planning to replace all electrical appliances. No idea if that includes their very old induction hob.
I'm not sure how thick our exterior insulation is. Might be 10cm but the builders said it's only 2cm!
Sister-in-law house is one of those which uses the loft area as the upper floor with three bedrooms, bathroom and toilet.
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Old Oct 15th 2022, 8:36 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

This time of the year the orientation of windows and surrounding trees, building etc can make a big difference to the internal temperature of a house. So maybe you are lucky and you are getting good solar gain as well as having better windows, insulation and air tightness.
One of our houses has a wall of south facing windows, it is an older house with no real insulation, yet the bedroom is still maintaining 20c overnight (with no heating), and during a sunny day the temperature of the room with the windows can be 30c, very pleasent if it is only 16c outside.
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Old Oct 15th 2022, 8:57 am
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Default Re: Solar Power

Originally Posted by ecurb
This time of the year the orientation of windows and surrounding trees, building etc can make a big difference to the internal temperature of a house. So maybe you are lucky and you are getting good solar gain as well as having better windows, insulation and air tightness.
One of our houses has a wall of south facing windows, it is an older house with no real insulation, yet the bedroom is still maintaining 20c overnight (with no heating), and during a sunny day the temperature of the room with the windows can be 30c, very pleasent if it is only 16c outside.
Our two bedroom windows are east facing, the lounge has both south and west facing windows, kitchen door west facing, bathroom and toilet north facing.

Our CH programmer is wireless and can be moved around.

Currently all rooms around 21C and CH not on. Our bedrooms are usually around 20C overnight but think once it gets colder the temperature will drop below 20C and CH kick in unless we set the CH programmer at a lower temperature.

Good point we'd get good solar gain if we installed solar panels. Will see how sister-in-law and friends get on with their installation.


Last edited by FenTiger; Oct 15th 2022 at 9:01 am.
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