"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

badmemory

Yes but when you are exporting 60 my very best day over the year has been only 26, I don't think I can even generate 60 a day.  I had weeks last winter when I didn't even generate 1 kWh a week.  I am thinking swings & roundabouts with this.  I am never going to use less than 1.5 a day no matter how much I generate because my batteries cannot throw out enough for my sons 8.5 kWh 30 min shower.

Being brutally honest here, the solar was pretty much an impulse buy.  For once it is one I have not regretted.  But I really should know better at my age especially as I don't want people to think I am going senile just yet.  A friend of mine was quite annoyed with me & said I probably wouldn't live to get payback, so what!

edinburgher

I have a fairly old solar setup in Scotland, so perhaps a more sober view of what some people are achieving! We will have had our 3.13 kW setup for a decade come the start of December, and have averaged approximately 2,500 kWh a year generation (no battery, orientation probably not the best). We do, however, receive FIT payments, so I think we've more than broken even on our initial costs. 

Considering how cheap panels are now, I'd consider replacing the system if we're still here in a decade when the FIT expires. We have 11x 285W panels, think we would do 17x 400W+ (6 on the back for the afternoon sun).

Eco considerations came first, money saved has no doubt been a net positive, too

No idea about export, we get a "deemed export"? contribution through the FIT, can't tell more as we don't have a smart meter.

redofromstart

No view at all on solar (can't have it here) but absolutely would get a hot tub if I had the option of running it economically. 

badmemory

The really daft thing about our solar is since I have had it I am doing things like - instead of putting the tumbledrier hose out of the window I use it to defrost the meat for tea instead of the microwave.  Absolutely crazy but it has in a way become a challenge.

edinburgher

Is that safe badmemory? 😅

greenbee

I have 29 450W panels Badmemory, so rather more than you! The original south-facing ones are shaded in the morning by the house. The new south-facing ones get a lot of tree shade in the summer but will actually do better in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees. The west-facing ones are probably making the biggest difference (and TBH in the summer I could get good generation off the north-facing roof of the garage!). I do have another south-facing roof on a cart shed, and an east-facing shed roof, but I'm not sure they're worth doing. The cart shed roof might be worth it if I convert the cart shed into an indoor heated pool... 

Baileys_Babe

I'm loving all this talk about solar panels and I am keen to improve my knowledge.

We would so love to have them fitted to our south facing roof and we would of fitted them 20 years ago but we live in a listed building, so it is a big no no from our council 😭 

I think all new builds should have to built with solar panels and the roofs should be orientated to make the most of them. Both for the benefit of the household and the country as a whole.

greenbee

Agree with you re. new builds. My electricians (and builder friends) get really annoyed by the token half dozen panels fitted on new builds round here rather that maxing out the capacity (particularly when heat pumps are being put in but not enough solar/battery to make them really effective). And commercial buildings - there are masses of huge warehouses not that far from here - they should all be covered in panels. 

badmemory

edinburgher said:

Is that safe badmemory? 😅

The only problem was the first time I did it when I forgot about the fluff a td created.  The food has always been covered & the hot air just goes over it.  Part of the cook once eat twice way.