How low can you go...Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Whatever... electricity grid import

QrizB

greyteam1959 said:

@QrizB
How much did your battery setup cost ?
If you don't mind me asking.

See here.

mickyduck55

QrizB said:

michaels said:

WE use about as much in a week as you do in a month and I thought our house was quite electricity efficient so I have no idea how you do it.

It's odd, I look at mickyduck and think the same - how does he do it? Then I see he's got ~4kWp of PV and 10kWh of batteries, vs. my ~2.7kW and (until recently) 1.2kWh of battery.

December will be when we see how much energy we need in the dark and cold

Hi I will post some more figures later now some others are interested.

I am on Octopus Go and as you state I have 10 kWh of battery.  I have a solar diverter for my water and Aircon / heating units along with standard gas boiler and central heating.  I have a 2 kWh kettle and I think this is a good option to keeping loads below 3.5 kWh so only using too many appliances at the same time or using the 10 kWh shower forces grid import.  My usage is generally lower than my generation as you can see from April onwards.  I am also using a Pi and Solcast programmed by a member of this forum to predict my daily requirements over predicted generation so I do not blindly fill my batteries during the Go period.

The Pi has significantly reduced my grid export

Yesterday I used the aircon heating to warm the living room as I started to export to grid.. similarly when it was hot in the summer (a rare occurrence this year) I used the aircon to cool the bedroom thus reducing my grid export.
Daily usage is between 10 - 15 kWh.. depends on my bread making LOL  

QrizB

QrizB said:

I promised to post some monthly figures here, so here's what I've got to hand (going back further is impractical due to missing data).

• May - 105kWh imported, 324kWh generated export N/A (meter not fitted).
• June - 92kWh imported, 272kWh generated, export N/A
• July - 99kWh imported, 319kWh generated, 43kWh exported (from 26/06 smart meter installation).
• August - 62kWh imported, 256kWh generated, 183kWh exported (battery commissioned 16/08).
• September  - 75kWh imported, 238kWh generated, 146kWh exported.

None of those months get close to mickyduck55's <2kWh weeks but I'm pretty happy with them all the same, considering the size of my system and a 4-person household.

Month end, so how was October? Pretty good, all told, considering the shorter days and worse weather.

• October - 130kWh imported, 171kWh generated, 50kWh exported.

I've been looking back at previous years. My records aren't great (I fell out of the habit of regular readings in 2014-ish) and the months don't line up perfectly, but in early September 20 I was billed for 110kWh (vs. 62 in Aug 21), early October 20 was 148kWh (vs 75 in Sep 21) and early November 20 was 229kWh (vs. 130 in Oct 21). I think my battery is making a difference.

mickyduck55

QrizB said:

QrizB said:

I promised to post some monthly figures here, so here's what I've got to hand (going back further is impractical due to missing data).

• May - 105kWh imported, 324kWh generated export N/A (meter not fitted).
• June - 92kWh imported, 272kWh generated, export N/A
• July - 99kWh imported, 319kWh generated, 43kWh exported (from 26/06 smart meter installation).
• August - 62kWh imported, 256kWh generated, 183kWh exported (battery commissioned 16/08).
• September  - 75kWh imported, 238kWh generated, 146kWh exported.

None of those months get close to mickyduck55's <2kWh weeks but I'm pretty happy with them all the same, considering the size of my system and a 4-person household.

Month end, so how was October? Pretty good, all told, considering the shorter days and worse weather.

• October - 130kWh imported, 171kWh generated, 50kWh exported.

I've been looking back at previous years. My records aren't great (I fell out of the habit of regular readings in 2014-ish) and the months don't line up perfectly, but in early September 20 I was billed for 110kWh (vs. 62 in Aug 21), early October 20 was 148kWh (vs 75 in Sep 21) and early November 20 was 229kWh (vs. 130 in Oct 21). I think my battery is making a difference.

My data Oct 106 kWh imported, 231 kWh generated, 19 kWh exported.... a lot of baking LOL

Coastalwatch

October figures for here were:-

Import 269 kWh, Export 177, generated 536(67% consu'd), tot cons'n 628.

So afraid unable to get any where near zero. In my defence no battery, well not one I can link to the house, but it is out there sitting on the drive, 40kWh, just waiting for the opportunity. Oh, and no gas either.

mickyduck55

My data November 

161 kWh imported, 157 kWh generated, 14 kWh exported.... Electric shower is the killer....

QrizB

QrizB said:

• May - 105kWh imported, 324kWh generated export N/A (meter not fitted).
• June - 92kWh imported, 272kWh generated, export N/A
• July - 99kWh imported, 319kWh generated, 43kWh exported (from 26/06 smart meter installation).
• August - 62kWh imported, 256kWh generated, 183kWh exported (battery commissioned 16/08).
• September  - 75kWh imported, 238kWh generated, 146kWh exported.
• October - 130kWh imported, 171kWh generated, 50kWh exported.

And so another month comes to a close.

• November - 200kWh imported, 94kWh generated, 24kWh exported.

The short days and low sun are really hammering my generation, as you might expect. Consumption hasn't increased all that much since October (Oct - 251kWh, Nov - 270kWh) which is a surprise. Also November is only 30 days, which skews it a bit.

Spies

I can't play this game until summer 

My lowest week since getting solar is 70.88kwh

Problem is my results are skewed as if there's no generation we tend to use less power hungry appliances. 

mickyduck55

We can all play... no one is going to scold you if you use more than anyone else... Im using more Electricity than necessary ... but saving on my gas so financially.. I think it makes sense..
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6318615/using-the-ac-to-provide-more-direct-targeted-heating-possibly-lowering-my-expenditure#latest  

Spies

90kwh last week 


No worthwhile solar production all week!