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Renewables: "talking 'bout my generation"

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  • Oscargrouch
    Oscargrouch Posts: 4,393 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 May 2014 at 10:40AM
    Dodo0808 wrote: »
    Trust me, I'll never be so happy to be proven wrong

    I can't seem to get close to using more than 60pc of generated, and that with putting tub on max warp speed. I guess it's a case of practice makes perfect...or is that something else?

    Don't beat yourself up over it.....;)

    The powers that be know that it is very difficult for most people to achieve a saving of more than 50%; that's why the deemed rate is set at 50%.
    One of my biggest usage of PV generation was on the 23/03/2013 when I used 100% of my generated leccy. Down side of that day was, I only generated 200 watts......:(

    The bigger the system, the more difficult it is to use all of what you generate. Even more so if you take it over a longer time span. From 24/11/2012 - 30/04/2014 I managed 56.3% used in house; 39.1% of my house usage for those months came from PV. Even with your 'tub' in warp speed, it's not using full power all the time, thermostats click in and out, even an oven that uses over 3kW to clean itself isn't using 3kW constantly for the 90 min programme.

    As long as it always pans out over 50% saved, I'm happy; but always striving for more...coffee.gif

    Edit: My Leccy usage for April amounted to £18.55p + VAT......smileys-drinking-beer.gif
    2.5 kWp PV system, SSW facing, 45 Deg Roof. ABB Inverter, Monitor: 'Wattson'.
    Reg. for FIT Nov 2011. "It's not what you generate; it's how you use it that matters". One very clean Vauxhall Diesel Sri, £30.00 Road Tax: B)

    Definition of 'O's = kWh/kWp (kWh = your daily & accurate Generation figure) (kWp = the rated output of your PV Panels).
  • nigelpm
    nigelpm Posts: 433 Forumite
    Some days I use 10% of generated electricity and others 100% - really doesn't bother me. The majority of the income comes from the FiT.
  • Dodo0808
    Dodo0808 Posts: 130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    My main motivation for getting panels was to be less reliant on power companies. With this in mind, I do like to squeeze as much as I can out of my generation whilst I can.

    A few tweaks to how I use things has made a big difference to the amount of imported electric. There is still room for improvement, and other than keeping panels clean and fully functional, it's the only element I have any control over. I shall continue to to use as much as I can:cool:
    4kw (16X250w Sharp). Samil Solar River 3680 TL inverter.
    E.mids/SSE. 35 degree roof pitch, no shading.
  • Oscargrouch
    Oscargrouch Posts: 4,393 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    nigelpm wrote: »
    Some days I use 10% of generated electricity and others 100% - really doesn't bother me. The majority of the income comes from the FiT.

    Bet it would if you were told that when smart meters roll out you would have your used home generation deducted from your FIT payment.....smiley-laughing021.gif
    2.5 kWp PV system, SSW facing, 45 Deg Roof. ABB Inverter, Monitor: 'Wattson'.
    Reg. for FIT Nov 2011. "It's not what you generate; it's how you use it that matters". One very clean Vauxhall Diesel Sri, £30.00 Road Tax: B)

    Definition of 'O's = kWh/kWp (kWh = your daily & accurate Generation figure) (kWp = the rated output of your PV Panels).
  • nigelpm
    nigelpm Posts: 433 Forumite
    Oscargrouch wrote: »
    Bet it would if you were told that when smart meters roll out you would have your used home generation deducted from your FIT payment.....smiley-laughing021.gif

    Not going to happen but I would obviously switch to using Elec when the panels weren't generating then :)
  • nigelpm
    nigelpm Posts: 433 Forumite
    Dodo0808 wrote: »
    My main motivation for getting panels was to be less reliant on power companies. With this in mind, I do like to squeeze as much as I can out of my generation whilst I can.

    A few tweaks to how I use things has made a big difference to the amount of imported electric. There is still room for improvement, and other than keeping panels clean and fully functional, it's the only element I have any control over. I shall continue to to use as much as I can:cool:


    Interesting. My main motivation was mainly the return on investment and then the eco friendly element.

    Reliance on power companies didn't come into it at all
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    nigelpm wrote: »

    The benefit will certainly be more enhanced for me in the summer as I've got a 25 deg roof and go against me in Winter.

    Hiya Nigel. Yep, I'll have to eat my words, 25d pitch will definitely work in your favour for the summer months, so looks like you may have an O or so up your sleeve. So to speak. :T

    Sounds like your system is a summer specialist then? Mine is very poor in the winter, as the WNW gets no real direct sun, and when the sun is south/westish it's too low. The ESE isn't as bad, but low pitch (average 27d, 2.4kWp at 30d + 1.2kWp at 20d) knocks it hard too.

    Annual generation is fine, but I'd prefer a bit more in the winter and a bit less in the summer. But it is what it is, and lots of fun too! :o

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • Oscargrouch
    Oscargrouch Posts: 4,393 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    nigelpm wrote: »
    Not going to happen but I would obviously switch to using Elec when the panels weren't generating then :)
    Don't be too sure: I wouldn't trust Gov's any further than I can see them; can you still buy gas fridges and PC's...:rotfl:
    2.5 kWp PV system, SSW facing, 45 Deg Roof. ABB Inverter, Monitor: 'Wattson'.
    Reg. for FIT Nov 2011. "It's not what you generate; it's how you use it that matters". One very clean Vauxhall Diesel Sri, £30.00 Road Tax: B)

    Definition of 'O's = kWh/kWp (kWh = your daily & accurate Generation figure) (kWp = the rated output of your PV Panels).
  • nigelpm
    nigelpm Posts: 433 Forumite
    Oscargrouch wrote: »
    Don't be too sure: I wouldn't trust Gov's any further than I can see them; can you still buy gas fridges and PC's...:rotfl:

    Unless we go the way of Spain it won't happen. Such a small amount of money in the grand scheme of things and losing voters would be costly.
  • tunnel
    tunnel Posts: 2,601 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm guessing that the vast amount of NON posters mean your all licking your wounds today...b0201.gif


    Still did over 3 O's today, managed to cook my joint of beef.....just t2002.gif
    2 kWp SEbE , 2kWp SSW & 2.5kWp NWbW.....in sunny North Derbyshire17.7kWh Givenergy battery added(for the power hungry kids)
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