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

John_Pierpoint

Just an after thought, what are you allowed to do to an existing installation and still preserve your existing grandfather contract ?

Within 25 years we will have the "Grand Father's Axe" effect [It is on its 3rd head and 5th shaft but it is still my grandfather's axe] as we have to replace panels and inverters.

For the moment I am in the "If it ain't broke don't fix it"

Martyn1981

Hiya John. You can replace panels if they fail, but you probably need to notify the FiT provider as your MCS cert will have serial numbers on it(?). If you can't get a match and have to install a more powerful panel then you'll need to let them know, so that they can proportionalise generation to take account of any increase. So if you replaced a 250Wp panel with a 270Wp panel, then you'd be paid based on generation x 4020/4000 (for example).

[Edit: As a side issue, I assume any such move taking an old system over 4kWp would not matter, as the original system would still receive FiTs, whilst the tiny extension is unsubsidised. M.]

You can replace inverters and other components, that's fine, so long as you keep it all legal and correct. It's pretty much all down to the panels and the system size when registered.

BTW, no extensions are allowed under the new rules, so in the above example you could no longer apply for a 20Wp system.

Sudden thought, some panels claim better low light efficiency, I'm thinking of low efficiency thin film, and high efficiency hybrids. So I wonder what would happen in the future if you replaced (for example) a 250Wp panel with another 250Wp panel, but it was much more efficient than the old ones in low light conditions. Hmmm?

Mart.

theboylard

Hi Mart,

as long as the panel is MCS approved, and if the same wattage as in your example, then I can't see what difference it would make?
Don't see many FiT providers checking panel efficiencies? As long as the panel model is approved, and you provide the serial with possibly a receipt from an MCS registered installer for fitting the replacement panel, then you should be golden?

If however, in say 5 years time all of your panels failed and were replaced with the latest funky all singing, 43.2% efficient panels that will cost £1.60 each and come in pink with spangly bits, then they may question it?!

michaels

I don't have an export meter so have been trying to estimate usage.

We have gas DHW/cental heating and an EV

Deember 800 units imported, 50 units generated, 10 units to DHW
May 450 units imported, 500 units generated, 110 units to DHW

If our usage is constant year round it suggests that of the 500 units generated, 350 are replacing 10p/unit purchased units and 110 are going into the DHW replacing gas so worth say 4p/unit depending on efficiencies.

Don't know about usage, most of our bulbs are led, a few cf. I guess the gas bioler draws some power and perhaps we cook more oven meals in the winter so exporting only 40 units is best case but it looks like even in a peak month we are probably using more than 50% of generation to replace imported units and a fair whack to replace gas. The peak months are no doubt the least effiicient in terms of own usage.

This obviosuly makes the investment return even better than estimated before install - combining with peak hours ev charging seems to be what makes all the difference.

johnnybgoode

Hi, I had free solar panels installed by a shade greener and they have given me a link to see how much energy my system is generating. However, when I asked them how I find out how much of what I generated I have actually used I was met with no response. Is there a way I can check? Should the solar panel company provide me with a summary? Is there any risk that they are pocketing all the energy and I'm not benefitting? Am I simply paranoid?! :beer:

EricMears

johnnybgoode wrote: »

Hi, I had free solar panels installed by a shade greener and they have given me a link to see how much energy my system is generating. However, when I asked them how I find out how much of what I generated I have actually used I was met with no response. Is there a way I can check? Should the solar panel company provide me with a summary? Is there any risk that they are pocketing all the energy and I'm not benefitting? Am I simply paranoid?! :beer:

You'd really need some accurate monitoring equipment to find that out and I doubt that ASG would consider it their responsibility to provide it. plenty of threads on these pages describing the kit that has been tried.

Without such equipment, it's unlikely that you'd use much more than a third of any power generated from your roof - but that's really not ASG 'cheating' you - their income stream is based on total generation and it's of no advantage to them whether you use all or none of that.

Martyn1981

johnnybgoode wrote: »

Hi, I had free solar panels installed by a shade greener and they have given me a link to see how much energy my system is generating. However, when I asked them how I find out how much of what I generated I have actually used I was met with no response. Is there a way I can check? Should the solar panel company provide me with a summary? Is there any risk that they are pocketing all the energy and I'm not benefitting? Am I simply paranoid?! :beer:

If you compare your bills, you should see a change in the amount of kWh's you buy.

As Eric says you'll probably manage to consume about 1/3 (let's say 25% to 40%) of what is generated, which you can find out by looking at the TGM (the meter that records generation) assuming you are able to see it.

Mart.

johnnybgoode

Thanks both. I have a login to see how much has been generated on their website.

michaels

johnnybgoode wrote: »

Hi, I had free solar panels installed by a shade greener and they have given me a link to see how much energy my system is generating. However, when I asked them how I find out how much of what I generated I have actually used I was met with no response. Is there a way I can check? Should the solar panel company provide me with a summary? Is there any risk that they are pocketing all the energy and I'm not benefitting? Am I simply paranoid?! :beer:

For a rough estimate see my post above yours about comparing winter and summer metered usage against generation. Of course the unknown is how much different your winter and summar usage of electricity is - do you have records going back to before the panels were installed? We have gas CH and HW so ours is probably fairly constant but if you have any electric heating then it is obviosuly much harder to tell.

carbry

i have a sunny boy invertor in the loft and it seems to be getting very hot , it is reading 59 today it this ok.