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

jackieblack

Doc_N wrote: »

Excellent results, Jackie. Rather better than ours, bearing in mind the difference between system sizes (2.22/3.96) - I'm guessing you're a bit further south and east than we are.

For comparison, if it's of interest, our 3.96 kWp system produced 3660 kWh in its first year, roughly 10% ahead of the 3300 kWh installer projections.

Our electricity usage over the year dropped by around 1900 kWh, suggesting we used around 50% of what we generated.

Estimated break-even point around the 8 year mark, I'd guess.

We're north east Essex (Suffolk border).
Of course I should add that although generation looks like approaching 86% of the total kWh we used in the 12 months prior to installation I cannot accurately judge how much of that we have used.

jackieblack

keith_r59 wrote: »

I too am coming up to the first anniversary of my system this Friday. It's a very small system - only 1.32 kWp - and has so far produced 1326 kWh which is 32.6% above the installer's 1000 kWh projection. It will be interesting to see whether we have the same above average sunshine for the next twelve months which we have experienced this year.

Fingers crossed!

rondurrans

Help with MSc Thesis please……..
I am a mature student - 46 years old - and I am currently studying for MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies run through the Centre for Alternative Technology.
I have nearly concluded discussions with my tutor RE: Thesis and agreed that it will be related to incentives associated with micro-generation and more specifically the Feed in Tariff (FiT) introduced in April 2010. It was also agreed in order to keep the dissertation manageable I should focus in on one of the technologies and therefore photovoltaic (PV) was chosen.
The main hypothesis/suggestion is related to the amount of return on investment (ROI) small investors like me are gaining in the first year of installation – for example July 16th 2010 to July 15th 2011 = 3,511 kWh and an approximate return of £1,750/£15,500 = 11.3% (reduction required for whole life costs such as replacing the inverter ‘say’ every 10 years).
To ensure this study is factual and robust I am hoping to find likeminded people to supply me with their 12-month ROI (confidentially) to ensure I can build up an accurate primary data sample based on ‘actual’ generation details and installation cost and not just assumed cost of installation with forecast generation.
If you have a PV installation that is 12-months old or will be by the 31st March 2012 I would really appreciate your help with this study.
Information required:-
1. Size of system and installation cost
2. 12-months generation please

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Ron Durrans
[EMAIL="rondurrans@aol.com"]rondurrans@aol.com[/EMAIL]

Anonwelder

Hi all, first post but long time follower of MSE.

I have been reading this thread, initially starting from the first page, getting halfway or so through the thread and then starting from the last page and working forwards, to try and find more answers to the OP question regarding getting the most out of a PV system.

It is quite surprising that no-one has mentioned allowing electric 'night storage' heaters to be heating during the day and allowing the heat gain to warm the home during the night (I have seen mention of storage cookers).

I guess there will be pros and cons to this proposal but would just like everyone's opinion if this would be a viable solution to using free daytime electricity. Also, my thoughts would be to use an aircon unit in the home during summer in the same manner.

Any thoughts on this please?

penrhyn

Storage heater would typically provide a load of 3Kw or more, and are designed to take up to 7 hours to charge, you are not going to to get many sunny days of that length during the heating season.

thenudeone

penrhyn wrote: »

Storage heater would typically provide a load of 3Kw or more, and are designed to take up to 7 hours to charge, you are not going to to get many sunny days of that length during the heating season.

And with a 4kW system that's twice the average rate of generation, so you would be paying day rate electricity for about half of the heat.

Also, when it's that sunny, who needs heaters?;)

zeupater

thenudeone wrote: »

And with a 4kW system that's twice the average rate of generation, so you would be paying day rate electricity for about half of the heat.

Also, when it's that sunny, who needs heaters?;)

.... it's actually far more than twice the average rate . More importantly though, with the average daytime energy costs being over three times the E7 rate the hourly comparison would be ....

(X*3) v (3X*1.5) .... so 50% more cost utilising pv than E7 (at least & on a good day)

HTH
Z

mickyduck

Hi Have a 10 Kw Shower and standard quite large water tank, have read most threads re "using up" excess Solar PV using a small immersion heater when the sun shines.

I shower in morning and evening so little or no Solar "assistance" and at 10Kw shower usage never going to be much to offset costs. Can anyone suggest if it would be less expensive to heat water with gas and use my standard shower or continue to use the electric one for two quickish busts a day. I live on my own and out most days so rarely have my gas heating the water. Dishwasher and washing machine both are cold fill.

digitaltoast

mickyduck: Do what we've done in similar circumstances - turn the gas off in the summer, get a twinheat off-peak tarrif, shower between 4am and 8am or 2:30pm-5:30pm (BST, shift back one hour in winter), set dishwasher/washing machine to run at those times, and watch those bills plummet. 10kW is a BIG electric shower, so...

Let's assume you only get the morning on the cheap (someone correct my sums below if I'm wrong - rounding to nearest p)

5 mins = 1/12 hour

Using a Twinheat A tarrif

Peak: 14p/kWh. Shower for 5 mins @ 10kW/12 = 0.83kWh*14p=12p * 30days = £3.60/month.

Offpeak: 6p/kWh. Shower for 5 mins @ 10kW/12 = 0.83kWh*6p=5p * 30days = £1.50/month.

Total cheap morning plus peak evening: £5.10 per month

Or... all on standard flat rate of 12p:

12p/kWh. Shower for 5 mins @ 10kW/12 = 0.83kWh*12p=10p * 30days * twice a day = £5.98

Twinheat over a year of showering: £61.20
Standard over a year of showering: £71.76

So, you only save a tenner which will offset the slightly higher daily charge BUT ... ALL your immersion heating, laundry, dishwashing etc will be half price. We've taken our summer bills from £80/month gas/electric last year, to £45 electric only. Just gave daily charge to pay.

It's not for everyone, but worth a look. If you can do ALL your showing off-peak, or use an immersion heater to provide the hot water for the shower, then there's no question - you're onto a winner.

So basically I'm saying that all this stuff about "soaking up" excess PV by staying at home to turn on x appliance every time the sun shines will only soak up time!

Cardew

.

someone correct my sums below if I'm wrong - rounding to nearest p

You have stated(but not used) 14p/min for for all rates!!!!!