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

themaverick1953

I had solar pv 4 kwp installed in the early days so was on full tarrif. We moved a week ago so left 6 or 7 k in debit.
I know things have changed a lot, but on our old system we had a digital electricity import meter whereas here its a whirling disc. I seem to remember that this meant it went backwards when you exported and you effectively then used 100% of your generation. Is that correct? Does the existence of the old meter make solar pv more worthwhile that if a modern digital meter is installed?

lstar337

themaverick1953 wrote: »

I had solar pv 4 kwp installed in the early days so was on full tarrif. We moved a week ago so left 6 or 7 k in debit.
I know things have changed a lot, but on our old system we had a digital electricity import meter whereas here its a whirling disc. I seem to remember that this meant it went backwards when you exported and you effectively then used 100% of your generation. Is that correct? Does the existence of the old meter make solar pv more worthwhile that if a modern digital meter is installed?

Pretty sure that meter will get swapped out when the install is done. But yes, they do go backwards.

Martyn1981

themaverick1953 wrote: »

I had solar pv 4 kwp installed in the early days so was on full tarrif. We moved a week ago so left 6 or 7 k in debit.
I know things have changed a lot, but on our old system we had a digital electricity import meter whereas here its a whirling disc. I seem to remember that this meant it went backwards when you exported and you effectively then used 100% of your generation. Is that correct? Does the existence of the old meter make solar pv more worthwhile that if a modern digital meter is installed?

Not all spinny discs go backwards, and some will only allow the units to go backwards, so if you start the day on 9, it might wipe out upto 9kWh, but start the day on 0 and it may not go back at all.

Regardless, if a meter does goes backwards you need to tell your supplier so it can be swapped out. As the FiT scheme already pays for export, and the main subsidy is the FiT, we don't (in the UK) also support a net metering scheme (where export wipes out import units), so a backwards meter is double funding, and could even be described as fraud, if you know it's happening.


Regarding PV and viability in general, then a full value net metering scheme (such as a full backwards meter), does improve the economics massively. If you generate 4,000kWh and that reduces import/wipes of import fully, then at 10p to 15p a kWh, you'd be saving £400 to £600 pa, giving returns of 8%, 10% even 15% perhaps. Some countries that went down the net metering route, rather than the FiT route, are now measuring export and crediting it at a lower rate than import, in much the same way that the UK subsidy has been reduced over time.

Mart.

zeupater

themaverick1953 wrote: »

I had solar pv 4 kwp installed in the early days so was on full tarrif. We moved a week ago so left 6 or 7 k in debit.
I know things have changed a lot, but on our old system we had a digital electricity import meter whereas here its a whirling disc. I seem to remember that this meant it went backwards when you exported and you effectively then used 100% of your generation. Is that correct? Does the existence of the old meter make solar pv more worthwhile that if a modern digital meter is installed?

Hi

Check your meter for an anti-reverse ratchet symbol, it looks a little like a four blade propeller ... if it's got one it can't reverse (unless it's broken) ....

Just found an example of what they look like in a REUK article about LED pulse lights on meters - it's above '2010' ....



HTH
Z

Happy0643

I have had my SSE panels for 4 years now and just started getting pigeon nesting problem over the last few months - the 'cooing' is driving us mad. As these are effectively not my panels who is responsible for this to prevent the birds nesting underneath the panels - there is nothing in the T's and C's that I can see that covers this.

Beware if you are getting retrofit panels that stand proud of the roof ensure you get spikes put around to prevent this happening to you.

Any help on where I stand with SSE would be much appreciated.

Cardew

There is a thread about bird 'infestation' currently running:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5269312

Doc_N

Happy0643 wrote: »

I have had my SSE panels for 4 years now and just started getting pigeon nesting problem over the last few months - the 'cooing' is driving us mad. As these are effectively not my panels who is responsible for this to prevent the birds nesting underneath the panels - there is nothing in the T's and C's that I can see that covers this.

Beware if you are getting retrofit panels that stand proud of the roof ensure you get spikes put around to prevent this happening to you.

Any help on where I stand with SSE would be much appreciated.

Not a problem here, and the panels have been in place for 6 years. We have a lot of pigeons too, but there are easier places, probably, for them to nest. Are you perhaps in an urban or semi-urban area with fewer trees?

As to the legal position, it's going to depend entirely on the wording of the contract. SSE is a responsible company, though, and as you could certainly mount an argument that they should reasonably have foreseen the problem, I imagine that they will deal with it for you - if only to protect their panels.

clareybear

New to this thread but have had our solar panels for about 4 years (which along with biomass boiler work very nicely for us). I have often thought about battery storage, but have been told that it was not worth it. With today's announcement of changes in the energy market and specific mention of batteries to store PV generated electricity, wonder if anyone has any experience of the pros and cons of batteries, which are good and which are not etc?

ASavvyBuyer

clareybear wrote: »

New to this thread but have had our solar panels for about 4 years (which along with biomass boiler work very nicely for us). I have often thought about battery storage, but have been told that it was not worth it. With today's announcement of changes in the energy market and specific mention of batteries to store PV generated electricity, wonder if anyone has any experience of the pros and cons of batteries, which are good and which are not etc?

Take a look at this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5568536

Frenchie67

There is definitely a product out there that diverts from the inverter to heat the water in the immersion. It's called i boost and we are having it installed tomorrow with our 4Kw PV system. Probably wasn't around when you posted 7 years ago but it's all different now. It's all about battery storage and immersion diversion.