Free solar panel discussion

beedydad

Reading the last few pages it does seem that division of opinions are greater than just the mere fact of "free" solar and whether we should have solar at all!

I am not an advocate of "free" or "rent a roof" for well documented reasons but am willing to accept solar PV (and indeed solar thermal - now that the Renewable Heat Incentive- RHI - has been officially announced lat on the 10th by the Govt!) has its place in the overall provison of energy within the UK. I bow to those with greater brain power (maybe we should tap the brain power and energy expoused back onto the grid!!) who understand down to the minutia of power, however there is no harm at all in the development of this proposition and see where it takes us all.

It is not going to make a difference to the overall paower requirements to the UK - but it does possibly make a differnce to individual households.

however, the overall take up of soler PV is miniscule - something like 21,000 application/acceptance for FIT's (commercial and domestic) have gone thru in first 6 months April - October 2010 which is absolutely nothing given that potentially something like 5 million homes, premises etc could be eligible out of a total 25 million ie they are facing south (ish) and have suitable size etc.

Do not also forget that the FIT will be increased for all to 43.3p pkwh from April. so it shows it is being a good protection against inflation and i am sure installation companies, especially "rent a roofers" will be rubbing their hands!! singing we're in the money!!!

Regards

juliusceasor

RHI and FIT are not the answer lashing out pence per kW is not viable long term. But this is not the point. The point is, it is and and they are part of the solution. We need to change our energy demand and usage. We need to change our housing stock. We need to train people to install, firms to supply, design, build and invest, encourage people to innovate and design better systems, we need to stimulate interest and debate. We all need to change our energy consumption and expectations of instant on instant heat unlimited supply.

All this and more Renewable energy and FIT and RHI is delivering. It is not the answer but it is part of the solution.

Nang

Cardew wrote: »

How big is your battery room? Well ventilated I hope.

How big is your wallet?

In terms of ventallation, garage? In terms of size, even 8 car batteries wouldn't take up much space (42 AH x 12 volts), and lithium ion are loads smaller.

I think these are fairly small show stoppers if the idea had legs.

This is just hypothetical you understand I don't intend to try this out tomorrow.:)

I am just trying to explore the possibilities, of what we could do with the system we are likely to have for the next 25 years.

broke_mother_of_students

Cardew wrote: »

There are a lot of threads in the 'Green and Ethical' section of MSE.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=100



A photo will be just fine;)

Thanks, Cardew.

beedydad

juliusceasor wrote: »

RHI and FIT are not the answer lashing out pence per kW is not viable long term. But this is not the point. The point is, it is and and they are part of the solution. We need to change our energy demand and usage. We need to change our housing stock. We need to train people to install, firms to supply, design, build and invest, encourage people to innovate and design better systems, we need to stimulate interest and debate. We all need to change our energy consumption and expectations of instant on instant heat unlimited supply.

All this and more Renewable energy and FIT and RHI is delivering. It is not the answer but it is part of the solution.

Good intentions however, the big problem is that there is no way that you can rebuild 25 million dewellings to make them energy efficient.

Therefore you just have to do with the bulk of the existing housing stock.

What can be done? The best solution is to find ways to better insulate and make them better energy efficient.

However, a lot of the industry is just looking at new build solutions, (just take a look at Ecobuild for example) they perhaps are easier to quantify as they are built with all the effiencies such as required under the Code for sustainable Homes - now at Code 3 and upowards - albeit the Code 6 level - zero carbon seems to be put on hold.

It is much harder for the same companies etc to try and replicate and retro fit into exisitng houses due to the vast variance of building types - hence part of the problem in even getting RHI quantified!

Regards

juliusceasor

beedydad wrote: »

Good intentions however, the big problem is that there is no way that you can rebuild 25 million dewellings to make them energy efficient.

There is a way and it is radical, that's the problem. It would however provide full employment, send planners apoplectic as well as house builders who want to sell the cheapest rubbish they can at the most profit to themselves.

Establish all properties of architectural merit subsidise their energy needs having performed all practical energy reduction and efficiency measures possible, establish all homes that are of sound construction, can have external insulation for example, etc. fitted to bring them up to specification, then simply knock the rest down and rebuild, in phases. Initially voluntary but subject to take up mandatory. Take a street of homes, temporary re house the occupants close by in modern efficient housing, accommodation specifically for transition. Their exisiting homes are knocked down and energy efficient to passive homes rebuilt in their place, retaining existing plots etc but re-orientating the houses for solar gain. Perhaps those with large plots can split the plot for financial reward.

It would be no different to the rebuilding after the war effort thousands of homes had to be rebuilt instead of relying on the luftwaffe it can be managed and without loss of possessions.

Result; Energy efficient homes for all, lower bills and greater prosperity, much improved living standards.

It can be done, after a natural disaster with all housing gone or after a war it has to be done. The effort required is no less, but the manner of achieving it is more planned and dignified., imagine all new infrastructure, fibre optic superfast broadband, interconnected grid for micro distribution of power, heat and water, automated homes, clean modern hygienic. Full employment with all the construction, design, planning , engineering etc involved.

The problem with anything else less radical is we are delaying the inevitable and tinkering at the edges.

We could start tomorrow implement a law, four new houses to code 5/6 can be built in every town village in the UK every year. Providing local work and homes sustainably to a local environment rather than 5000 new homes trebling the size of some towns with people, literally overnight with no connection to the local area, sometimes to the detriment of the local community.

It has to be radical and it will come at a price but that cost and that price will inevitably hit us one way or another unless we are all wiped out by some plague or natural disaster or War.

beedydad wrote: »

hence part of the problem in even getting RHI quantified!

Yes hence the ongoing delay, because there are so many ways to game the RHI system which people will do it's their nature. Plus there are too many vested interests pushing their agenda. It will become a greater bureaucratic nightmare to install and complete the relevant paperwork than it already is.

slacky555

Just a quick question I know this isn't the right thread but I hope you may have come across this.

I have a landis electric meter and now it shows a message "rED" reading up on this has it got a fault? Or is it due to the solar panels and is it a fault that will go?

BrummyGit

slacky555 wrote: »

Just a quick question I know this isn't the right thread but I hope you may have come across this.

I have a landis electric meter and now it shows a message "rED" reading up on this has it got a fault? Or is it due to the solar panels and is it a fault that will go?

I think it means "Reverse Energy Detected" meaning that you are exporting energy to the grid. I think these meters were designed before the concept of exporting to the grid and therefore it's a fraud prevention measure.

slacky555

BrummyGit wrote: »

I think it means "Reverse Energy Detected" meaning that you are exporting energy to the grid. I think these meters were designed before the concept of exporting to the grid and therefore it's a fraud prevention measure.

Do you think it's a fault? Should I contact my supplier? And what do you think will happen a new meter needed possibly I only had this one fitted in October.

BrummyGit

From what I've read it's nothing to worry about if you are now exporting energy from your Solar PV out to the grid. It sounds like its present on recent meters - my understanding is that it simply indicates that you have exported power.

From memory you have a similar system to me. Your supplier will have registered your address for export of power and I understand that that initially they use an estimate of the power you export (if memory serves me correctly they use 50% of generation based on your generation readings). Eventually someone will want to swap your home meter for an import/export meter for more accurate data.

All of this information is based on what I've read online and therefore given in good faith.