Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation"

Martyn1981

tunnel wrote: »

Hi Mart,

I got another TGM,the system on the garage "looses" sunlight about an hour or so earlier than i expected due to shading from next doors house. Can't even compare the 2 systems yet as like i said,plenty of lovely sunny starts but also plenty of cloudy-ish afternoons. After it was installed i read on here about a different inverter that only shuts down per panel,not system(if i read that right) Hindsight hey,never mind. Its in and up and running,done about 90kwp since 22/9.

Tunnel

Ps I've not ruled out the WNW system yet,got to talk the wife round to that one yet,may just wait a while to see how yours performs too.

The WNW system is a SolarEdge system, which is a basic inverter (no MPPT) but each panel is fitted with it's own power optimiser (PO). Effectively, the PO's are linked in series, but each PO is connected in parallel to it's own panel (I think that's right!). Anyway through the companies website you can monitor your system live, and scroll through the day to see how each panel was performing at any given time. 'Slim Shadey' the panel next to the chimney has often shown around 20W (noon to 2pm) whilst the other 7 panels are chucking out around 170W each (+/-5W), with no drag from Shadey. Very cool.

In August, the weather on average was definitely better later in the day than earlier, and the WNW system actually out performed the ESE system on a kWh to kWp basis. September was more inline with expectations.

So for the WNW you'll have to chat up your DNO then, and definitely get a third TGM. Best of luck.

Mart.

tunnel

Thats the one, "solar edge", Any ideas how it'd work when say 3 panels out of 8 become shaded,would the other 5 still work or would they shut down? Would be interested to know for if/when the SMA inverter calls it a day and needs replacing(possibly with a bit of extra wiring)

As for the WNW,i've got room for another 3kwh system so need to look into it to make sure its cost effective(with DNO approval)

Martyn1981

tunnel wrote: »

Thats the one, "solar edge", Any ideas how it'd work when say 3 panels out of 8 become shaded,would the other 5 still work or would they shut down? Would be interested to know for if/when the SMA inverter calls it a day and needs replacing(possibly with a bit of extra wiring)

As for the WNW,i've got room for another 3kwh system so need to look into it to make sure its cost effective(with DNO approval)

Hiya Tunnel. It won't matter how many panels are in shade or partial shade, as they all operate individually. So you'll maximise potential. But beware that sentence, you won't maximise the panels, only their potential in any given situation. So a SolarEdge system 'makes the best of a bad job', but it can't polish a ****. If you've got a south facing roof with little to no shading then you probably wouldn't bother.

Here's an animation of how it works. It leads on to two more parts, but only about 10 mins in total:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsa9rHpDVmQ

The PO's have 25 year warranties (inverter has standard 12 year), but the main concern is having more kit up on the roof, where access may be tricky in future. Inverters are actually quite cheap, but the PO's will add about £40 to £50 per panel.

Another plus side is that the inverter is nearly 98% efficient. Also it has an enormous heat sink, the whole back of the inverter, and is mounted an inch or so off the wall, so loads of cooling, combined with much less heat (waste) in the first place.

The web-site also monitors your system and will report any faults, or concerns. By overlaying daily generation graphs, hard shading such as chimneys, trees etc can be identified and excluded from concerns.

Investment wise, WNW is very tight. I haggled hard for the 2kWp system, but even then it's proportionately expensive, with lowish generation. Also I'm discounting leccy savings down to about £30 to £40, since the more PV you add, the less use you can make of the excess. Including cost of capital, it's only really breakeven, but I wanted to maximise generation, and a wind turbine wasn't possible.

For 3kWp it'll probably work out better economically, but do the maths carefully. In an ideal world you'd do all roofs in one go and get a good package price.

I'll shut up now.

Mart.

John_Pierpoint

Meanwhile other companies are working on the panel cells themselves:
.
Step one is to radically reduce or eliminate those silver connectors on the sunny side of the panel and try to reflect any residual light from the back side of the panel,

Step two is to make the cells with different layers, each layer better at handling a particular wavelength of the sun's emissions.(Just as one can buy double glazing with an almost invisible film in the cavity that blocks (some) infra red from inside the home but lets through UV and daylight coming the other way from the sun).

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Multi-Junction-Solar-Cells.htm

Unfortunately in my case the number one parameter was "Can you install before 03mar12?";)

shafeeq

Hi

5.55kwh yesterday... good news.. since 7th June 2012 I have only used 7 unit's of Electrcity

*edit message*

I have a backward running meter, it's only goes back on the last kwh digit. As long as I don't use more then 10kwh. It will stay zero. Unfortuntely few weeks ago we had few bads in a row where it didn't solar panel didn't generate enough to put it back so the meter ticked overy 10 kwh..

Shafeeq

KevinG

shafeeq wrote: »

since 7th June 2012 I have only used 7 units of Electricity

Maybe you should point out, for the benefit of those that have not read previous posts, that this is because you have a backwards running meter

sly_dog_jonah

KevinG wrote: »

Maybe you should point out, for the benefit of those that have not read previous posts, that this is because you have a backwards running meter

And a timely reminder to anyone with a backwards running meter that you should report it to your electricity supplier, unless you want to have to draw swords with them in future when they try to (over)estimate your usage.

KevinG

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

And a timely reminder to anyone with a backwards running meter that you should report it to your electricity supplier

I wonder how many times you have to report it. At least, on the other thread, shafeeq has received an assurance that he has done everything he could.

sly_dog_jonah

I'd say at least once in writing to the FiT team (assuming FiT supplier is also the electricity supplier) or the electricity provider's customer services if that is different to the FiT supplier.

Even if the FiT application form had a box to tick if the meter was running backwards (and you ticked it), if it hasn't been actioned after 6 months I'd send a follow up email, which I'd print and keep as proof of notification.

Oscargrouch

11.5 kWh today from my system;:T which, you can work out is equal to 18.5 from the big 4's. Saved you the bother:rotfl: