On-grid domestic battery storage

frugalfran

we're not at 40, but are almost directly south facing, so generation is brilliant - but this is weather above and beyond normal!

Batteries in the garage.... harder to ventilate - but was just wondering!

Solarchaser

Mine have been fine, not tending to get below 60% for last few weeks though, too much sun

Pulpdiction

Hi all, had solar since 2015, have a 3.5kw system and it's about paid for itself, so looking at next steps, which is about using some of the power I am exporting.  Apologies but there are a few questions here, this is all very technical and I'm not....

So just had a zappi 2 and hub installed as ordered an electric car - which is yet to arrive.  Currently being paid the FIT on an assumed 50% return to the grid basis, don;t have a smart meter although am advised the newer SMETS2 meters are solar compatible...?  

Been looking at lots of Youtube videos and I think the GivEnergy batter storage looks reasonable VFM, with the 3kw AC converter and 8.2kw battery for less than £3k all in plus fitting.  I know this is offered by EON, has anyone had experience of an EON installed and would you recommend?

Not being technical I want someone else to do the install and set up, so any recommendations for someone or company in north Warwickshire to compare against EON would be welcome.

Anyone not think this system is a good idea?

On a related note has anyone with a battery who is not on a smart meter done the comparison of the 50% FIT assumed grid return vs a smart meter?  I essentially want to understand if it would benefit me to have smart meter or would I be better off staying as I am and getting the 50% return as I assume, as people used to do with the solar iboost (I don't have an immersion heater), or maybe still do, you can use up as much of the 50% assumed return as possible and still get paid for it, or have the rules changes on this?

Sorry if this is all a bit random, but still in the research stage and want something as plus and play as possible to add onto the existing system that is going to give me the greatest return on investment, or even pay for itself in the next 4 or 5 years.

Given that I am a pretty high energy user, with 2 teenagers in the house, and so far my solar production is very good for about 8 month of the year I want to try and reduce my grid consumption to as near to zero as possible between April and October down from the circa £900 it is costing me per ear for electric at the moment (yes I change my tariffs regularly to try and get the best deal).

Any advice greatly appreciated.

EVandPV

Not too familiar with the Givenergy kit but 8.2kwh for under £3k sounds pretty reasonable to me.
We paid slightly more for a 7.2kwh Pylontech and Lux system 2 years ago.

That said, we are low leccy consumers, around 9kwh a day and with 7.2kwh batteries we run a bit short in the winter months on darker days so I can imagine 8.2kwh would most likely be lacking for someone with high usage. 

One advantage of Pylontech batteries is you have the option of easily adding extra capacity should you find you need more. They come in 2.4kwh and 3.5kwh modules.

Reed_Richards

Depending on your circumstances and choice of vehicle it might be possible to use the battery in your EV to return power to the house. 

chamelion

Reed_Richards said:

Depending on your circumstances and choice of vehicle it might be possible to use the battery in your EV to return power to the house. 

Not with the Zappi that he installed 

thevilla

Smart meters and  FIT. Unrelated.  Get a smart meter and continue to receive FIT

thevilla

Forgot:  unless your meter is reversing while exporting.   Illegal but don't get a smart meter if you're OK with that.

Solarchaser

Pulpdiction said:

Hi all, had solar since 2015, have a 3.5kw system and it's about paid for itself, so looking at next steps, which is about using some of the power I am exporting.  Apologies but there are a few questions here, this is all very technical and I'm not....

So just had a zappi 2 and hub installed as ordered an electric car - which is yet to arrive.  Currently being paid the FIT on an assumed 50% return to the grid basis, don;t have a smart meter although am advised the newer SMETS2 meters are solar compatible...?  

Been looking at lots of Youtube videos and I think the GivEnergy batter storage looks reasonable VFM, with the 3kw AC converter and 8.2kw battery for less than £3k all in plus fitting.  I know this is offered by EON, has anyone had experience of an EON installed and would you recommend?

Not being technical I want someone else to do the install and set up, so any recommendations for someone or company in north Warwickshire to compare against EON would be welcome.

Anyone not think this system is a good idea?

On a related note has anyone with a battery who is not on a smart meter done the comparison of the 50% FIT assumed grid return vs a smart meter?  I essentially want to understand if it would benefit me to have smart meter or would I be better off staying as I am and getting the 50% return as I assume, as people used to do with the solar iboost (I don't have an immersion heater), or maybe still do, you can use up as much of the 50% assumed return as possible and still get paid for it, or have the rules changes on this?

Sorry if this is all a bit random, but still in the research stage and want something as plus and play as possible to add onto the existing system that is going to give me the greatest return on investment, or even pay for itself in the next 4 or 5 years.

Given that I am a pretty high energy user, with 2 teenagers in the house, and so far my solar production is very good for about 8 month of the year I want to try and reduce my grid consumption to as near to zero as possible between April and October down from the circa £900 it is costing me per ear for electric at the moment (yes I change my tariffs regularly to try and get the best deal).

Any advice greatly appreciated.

There is alot in there.
Could you tell us how many kwh you use in a year rather than the price, it will remove the variability of costs from certain suppliers. 

In general I'd say the GivEnergy proposition sounds pretty good, but they are still a new guy on the block so I don't know how they stack up against the main stay brands.

As regards smart meters, I've had ones since 2017, and am still on deemed 50% export fit.
If you are going to charge the ev with a zappi, then I'd suggest you stay on deemed 50%

QrizB

Pulpdiction said:

Hi all, had solar since 2015, have a 3.5kw system and it's about paid for itself, so looking at next steps, which is about using some of the power I am exporting.

Given that I am a pretty high energy user, with 2 teenagers in the house, and so far my solar production is very good for about 8 month of the year I want to try and reduce my grid consumption to as near to zero as possible between April and October down from the circa £900 it is costing me per ear for electric at the moment (yes I change my tariffs regularly to try and get the best deal).

Any advice greatly appreciated.

How much are you importing from the grid during those 8 months? Do you have monthly meter readings that will let you work this out?

I've just posted my monthly stats over in the "talking bout my generation" thread. I don't have a battery. During Apr/May/Jun/Jul we imported 154/100/93/99kWh, roughly £23/15/14/15 worth of electricity (total £67). There isn't a lot of scope for a battery to save me money during the productive solar months.

Your numbers could of course be quite different to mine!