What is "grid-buddy"?

Anyone know anything about “Grid-buddy”, from Renewable Solutions UK, which will (they say) save your generated electricity for use later? (I got a flyer with the post yesterday.)

Sounds potentially interesting, but their style of advertising (see below) doesn't make me confident; some further & technical information would be useful. I could ring the company, but prefer to do a little research first. A search on Google, this site and Navitron brings up no relevant results. The company's own website doesn't mention it either.

Relevant extracts from the flyer: (capitalisation and punctuation is theirs)
“ Imagine if you could ALSO use the electricity you generate AT NIGHT!.. and be able to use your lights,TV and fridge-freezer in a power-cut!! IT IS NOW POSSIBLE WITH OUR GRID-BUDDY TM HYBRID PV SYSTEM
[…...]
Our Grid-buddy TM system allows you to STORE unused electricity from the day (that you would normally export for only 1.5p per unit) and USE IT AT NIGHT (making it worth an average 14p per unit instead)- saving up to an additional £230 on your electricity bill !!
Unlike conventional PV systems, we can enable you to use your system DURING A POWER CUT, and have the luxury of using lights, TV and fridge-freezer for up to 24 hours at a time!!
[…]
** PS – The Grid-buddy TM system is also available for installation to EXISTING PV and WIND TURBINE systems – contact us to arrange an assessment.** ”


Any views?
«1

Comments

  • Presumably some method (humungous set of batteries?) to store your daytime-generated electricity. Also some method of providing a pseudo-grid sine wave to fool your inverter into thinking that there has not been a power cut.

    Sounds possible in theory but I can't persuade Google to find any details.
    Are you for real? - Glass Half Empty??
    :coffee:
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,713
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    My guess would go with Fruit & Nut too. Clever electronics and a big, big battery.

    I posted this on the 'So now I have ......' thread a few weeks ago, check out the 'diddy' battery on page 2, yes, that's it, the box the size of a PV panel!

    http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/japan-combines-solar-storage-to-beat-blackouts/

    Big bucks I expect.

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW)

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • I got the same flyer through Royal Mail's junk delivery service* today, googled grid-buddy and found myself on MSE once again...

    Their website and the flyer use two assumptions which always rile me about PV advertising:

    1. that your import electrcity rate is very high (they quote 14p, 40% more than what we pay)

    2. they calculate PV electricity savings on the basis of 50% consumption of what you generate.

    It's somewhat amusing (and telling) that they have trademarked Grid-Buddy, done a huge Royal Mail campaign, yet not updated their website describe this product.

    * despite opting out months ago and following up again on this.
    Cider Country Solar PV generator: 3.7kWp Enfinity system on unshaded SE (-36deg azimuth) & 45deg roof
  • Martyn1981 wrote: »
    Big bucks I expect.

    Probably right, but big savings possible too. Our PV generation over the course of the year exceeds our total consumption. Of course the majority of generation is in the summer, but even in winter if we could store the daytime generated electricity to use in the evening when we cook we could cut our import down significantly. No matter how much we try to shift electricity consumption to daylight hours, there will always be a significant chunk that has to be used when the sun is down.

    Such a device would make a bit of a mockery of the deemed export element of the FiT tariff though.
    Cider Country Solar PV generator: 3.7kWp Enfinity system on unshaded SE (-36deg azimuth) & 45deg roof
  • 1. that your import electrcity rate is very high (they quote 14p, 40% more than what we pay)
    Furthermore, they have ignored all those on Economy 7 tariffs in calculating (choosing?) that 'average'.

    Is it not true that the battery that can store over its lifetime, more power (in £ terms) than its own cost, has yet to be invented?
  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    Furthermore, they have ignored all those on Economy 7 tariffs in calculating (choosing?) that 'average'.

    Is it not true that the battery that can store over its lifetime, more power (in £ terms) than its own cost, has yet to be invented?

    It's probably borderline, it may be in some cases possible.

    Regrettably, it's not there yet.

    However.
    In order to do this sanely, you need around 5kWh, probably 10kWh of batteries.
    At best, this is going to be a really significant slice of the cost of the panels.

    If you pair this with an economy 7 tariff, and are able to charge it at night too, this can shrink the size of the battery moderately, but has issues of its own.
  • Hi to all,
    We have read the comments posted on the forum with interest and are pleased to have the opportunity to reply...

    <snippity>
    You need to have permission to post as a company representative on the MSE Forums.
    Are you for real? - Glass Half Empty??
    :coffee:
  • sly_dog_jonah
    sly_dog_jonah Posts: 1,003
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    It's somewhat amusing (and telling) that they have trademarked Grid-Buddy, done a huge Royal Mail campaign, yet not updated their website describe this product.

    It seems the website has now been updated with some information about this product:

    http://renewablesolutionsuk.com/which-technology/grid-buddy-3

    Our generation meter is in a discreet location within the house near the CU, so it's unlikely this device could be housed nearby. However it's interesting that the battery bank looks like it can be located somewhere else (e.g. in the loft).
    Cider Country Solar PV generator: 3.7kWp Enfinity system on unshaded SE (-36deg azimuth) & 45deg roof
  • EricMears
    EricMears Posts: 3,230
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    It doesn't sound wildly different to my uninterruptible Power Supply.

    However, mine was exceptionally cheap at just over £300 and still only runs a couple of computers, a Sky+ box , a couple of lights and the central heating system for a couple of hours. To upgrade the batteries to last overnight supporting a useful load would probably involve buying another thousand pounds worth of batteries. That's really not justified by the possible savings.

    I hope the schematic wiring diagram shown is greatly simplified. As shown, it would seem to leave the grid connection live in the event of a power cut. Sharing your reserve supply with a few neighbours is bad enough but electrocuting the repair crew really isn't a good idea.
    NE Derbyshire.4kWp S Facing 17.5deg slope (dormer roof).24kWh of Pylontech batteries with Lux controller BEV : Hyundai Ioniq5
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,713
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    Looking at the web-site, quickly, that looks the same as the article I found post #3.

    Interesting that there are a few companies looking at this issue, and the costs to savings could be interesting.

    Costs: In fairness, shouldn't really think of the spare generation as free, as technically we are getting paid 3.1p for it. And I assume 25% losses in the system, so those units not being exported are actually worth 4p.

    Savings: Tier 2 leccy would be 10p, so 6p savings, or if like me on one single tariff (plus a daily standing charge), about 14p, so 10p savings. Or, if such a device helps you eat into tier 1 leccy too, then maybe 17p, so 13p savings.

    Do any of those assumptions make sense, it's getting late and I'm tired?

    Interesting. So as always in life, I guess it all comes down to 'how much?'

    Oh, and also, how much room is needed for the battery bank, and how long do they last, and ...... ok, so it comes down to a lot more than just 'how much?'

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW)

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
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