So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

Cornish_Pixie

We are new to solar energy, and still feeling our way. Does anyone know exactly what happens to energy being generated if its not being used. Yes, we know it is exported but how can this happen and what indication do we have that this is happening. Also how can the supplier measure this.:j

grahamc2003

Cornish_Pixie wrote: »

We are new to solar energy, and still feeling our way. Does anyone know exactly what happens to energy being generated if its not being used. Yes, we know it is exported but how can this happen and what indication do we have that this is happening. Also how can the supplier measure this.:j

Everything you generate is used, by either yourself or yourself and other close to where you live (on the same supply phase as you).

You may get an indication you are exporting depending on what consumption meter (the one which was there before your system was installed, not your geeration meter) you have fitted. Mine displays a constant red led when exporting (originally to signify a fault) - the same led which usually flashes once per 1/1000th of a kWh used.

As to how to measure the export - that's a tricky one! An owl is useless up to about 200 or 250W (either exporting or importing) - but will be useful if when you are exporting > 250W.

Also useful is a known largeish load (I use a 400W element from a halogen heater). If your owl reads 100W (which doesn't mean a great deal, and doesn't show whether importing or exporting) and you turn the 400w load on and the owl then reads 250W, you know you were exporting about 150W, but if it reads 600W, you know you weren't exporting but using 200W. (Of course the fridge clicking on - or many other factors - could affect the indication.

RobHew

Efergy (manufacturers of the 'Elite' energy monitor which I have used and appreciated for a couple of years) tell me that they will soon be marketing an energy monitor specially designed to monitor import/export for microgeneration (solar, wind, whatever) installations. It's not on their website yet, but you can register for their newsletter which will, I'm told, bring news of the new product soon - probably in March.

davidanddeirdre

Don't know if anyone else has commented on this, looked back a couple of pages, but I am a bit paranoid about shading on my Solar PV panels after experience of effects of scaffolding immediately after installation.
Recently, we've had two heavy falls of snow the last two weekends- the first was dry snow and left the panels completely clear but the second settled on them. The next morning, I noticed despite bright sun output from our 1.75KW nominal system was less than 100W. By dint of stepladder and long brush, we cleared the snow and the output shot up to just under 1000W in minutes.
On the topic of snow in general, has anyone else noticed how snow on the ground makes such a difference to cloudy day output? I put this down to the extra amount of light reflected on to the clouds. I estimate we got between 2 and 3 X normal expected output on the cloudy days since the snowfalls and before the thaw (all snow gone today). A nice bonus.

ViksB

Davidanddeirdre,
We had the same effect, it was brilliant when snow was on the ground (but not on the panels) even on a really foggy day we managed to generate a really decent amount. It some ways it is a shame it has melted.

Rosterbees

While the sun is up boil a kettle and keep the water in a flask till later.
Rosterbees

davidanddeirdre

Rosterbees wrote: »

While the sun is up boil a kettle and keep the water in a flask till later.
Rosterbees

Wish we could also put electric light and oven heat for evening meal in a flask! There's a fortune for the first one to do it economically....

sambody

Saw this post and thought to remind all us new to solar panels, that if any one of the panels is shaded, they all can fall in output, even to zero.
So as spring growth begins watch out for shading trees and bushes. No, not the neighbours without permission, not his chimney etc.

grahamc2003

sambody wrote: »

Saw this post and thought to remind all us new to solar panels, that if any one of the panels is shaded, they all can fall in output, even to zero.
So as spring growth begins watch out for shading trees and bushes. No, not the neighbours without permission, not his chimney etc.

Yeah - figures I've seen for typical systems (i.e. single inverter with one or two strings with mppt) are that 10% shading causes a 50% loss in power.

There are a couple of solutions - meaning 10% shading gives a 10% reduction, and those are microinverters (one inverter per panel), or power optimisers like Solar Edge systems (where the voltage of each panel is optimised, and sent to a single inverter). If I lose enough power due to shading, I may retrofit a solar edge system (think it's about £200 per panel) - so it's a long payback time!

teggyboymoll

Firstly change to a cheaper supplier of Electricity I am with OVO who do not pay the FIT but no problem there are several independent companies who will pay your FIT . we also buy our gas from OVO must be one of the cheapest duel fuel suppliers.