understanding solar panels and feed in tarriff

khampson

Hello I have had a 3.5kw system installed on my roof and I am wanting help with understanding the tarriff system.

Am I better off using the generated electricity or selling it back to the grid? I pay 12.4p per kw including tax for my electricity but I get 14.6p a kw I sell back to the grid and another 4.3p I get regardless.

So I pay 12.4p but get 14.6p for exporting it. Does this mean I will be 2.2p better off selling it rather than using it?

Keith

aleph_0

If I understand correctly, at the moment, usually the amount you export isn't directly metered, but is assumed to be 50% of what you generate.

Hence, you're better off trying to use as much as possible of what you've generated, because it will be assumed that you're exporting 50% of it.

Cardew

You need to go to the Green and Ethical section of MSE for the experts.


However basically you get the FIT(at whatever rate applies to you) for all electricity you generate i.e. if you generate, say, 3000kWh pa you get FIT for all of that 3,000kWh regardless of how much you use in the house. i.e. if you could use all 3,000kWh in the house - and exported none - you will still get the FIT for 3,000kWh.


At the moment it is assumed that you export 50% of your generated electricity so you get the 4.3p for each kWh - 1500kWh if you generate 3,000kWh.

khampson

Ok in that case how can I tell if I am using more than what is being generated? I have a box telling me how much in total I has been generated with a little led light (faster it flashes the more energy is being generated by the solar panels) and thats it.

Keith

DarkHorse

You need to get a Wattson Solar Plus

http://www.diykyoto.com/uk/aboutus/wattson-solar-plus

It tells you when you are generating more than you are using ect.

I have one and it is an excellent investment if you have solar PV.

Really easy to install in about 5 minutes, with no tools required.

khampson

Eon sent me a monitor that I connect to a main wire that tells me how much I am using, if I get another and connect it to my solar system will this give me the same information?

Keith

lstar337

If you connect it to your generation meter it will tell you what you are generating.

It will not work out what you are importing/exporting.

khampson

Does anyone know if the wattson solar plus are easy to install?

Smiley_Dan

See http://www.diykyoto.com/uk/aboutus/wattson-solar-plus "Can I install it myself".

I've got one of these, they're pretty good. Only annoyance is they only store 28 days of data so you have to download every so often.

khampson

I dont own a computer only a tablet so can I still use it after 28 days? I want to used it so I can use as much free electric as possible. Do they come with the smart plugs or are they separate to buy.

Thanks Keith