Immersion Diversion - add to existing Solar Panel Installation

cheeky-peach

Not sure if this is a question for our solar panel company but could we add an immersion diversion to our existing solar panel installation?

djglover

There are a few solutions iBoost and Eddi, but gas is around 2.8p per kWh and electricity can be exported for 5.7p per kWh it doesn't make financial sense does it?  

tim_p

Assuming you’ve got a hot water tank with an immersion heater (or two) then yes, device simply fits between the immersion and its switch. A wireless unit sits on the main feed at the meter. Whether it’s worth the expense is another matter. Ours has been fitted for coming up 7 years and I reckon it’s paid for itself in that time. 

Solarchaser

If your existing installation is on a feed in tarrif where you have a deemed 50%export,  then its surely worth it. 
But as the others have said if it's a new install and so metered export its likely it will cost you money rather than save.

cheeky-peach

Thanks all. I took some time to call up the company and the answer is "no" as the system is in place, it cannot be modified or amended. 

This was a question that came from an interested buyer of my property.

EricMears

cheeky-peach said:

Thanks all. I took some time to call up the company and the answer is "no" as the system is in place, it cannot be modified or amended. 

This was a question that came from an interested buyer of my property.

That's nonsense !

It's perfectly feasible to install an immersion diverter from a 13A plug (though a fused spur would be preferable) and the sensors it needs to check how much solar energy is 'spare' are simple clamp on devices that really can't be described as modifying or amending the system !

EricMears

cheeky-peach said:

Not sure if this is a question for our solar panel company but could we add an immersion diversion to our existing solar panel installation?

Not really sure why you feel the need to ask original suppliers ?  Unless of course it's a 'Rent a Roof' scheme - in which case whether or not a prospective buyer could fit an immersion diverter is probably the least of their concerns about purchasing !

Assuming that the panels are your property,  you shouldn't need anyone's consent to adapt the use of their output - apart of course from not getting extra FIT payments if extra panels were fitted.

If original suppliers are unable or unwilling to make such mods,  any competent electrician should be able to do the work.

theboylard

I paid £185 for my SolarImmersion unit 7 years ago, Mk2 model.

Had it fitted a month after the panels were installed.

As Solarchaser points out - if you're export is deemed (ie. it's assumed you'll export 50% of your generation), and you have a hot water tank with immersion heater, then it's a no brainer.

Or any device that needs a constant draw for that matter (underfloor heating etc).

From about now through to end of September/ early October, our gas bill is basically our daily standing charge and we get loads of free hot water.

Any sparky can fit, takes less than an hour.

QrizB

EricMears said:

cheeky-peach said:

Not sure if this is a question for our solar panel company but could we add an immersion diversion to our existing solar panel installation?

Not really sure why you feel the need to ask original suppliers ?  Unless of course it's a 'Rent a Roof' scheme - in which case whether or not a prospective buyer could fit an immersion diverter is probably the least of their concerns about purchasing !

From cheeky-peach's previous thread it looks like they have leased their panels, possibly on a rent-a-roof scheme or similar, hence the need to check with the company that owns the system.

EricMears

QrizB said:

From cheeky-peach's previous thread it looks like they have leased their panels, possibly on a rent-a-roof scheme or similar, hence the need to check with the company that owns the system.

I see what you mean !   In which case my original suggestion that an immersion heater circuit could be fitted without any 'amendment' to original circuit(s) remains a way forward.

[Deleted User]

It would seem from a post on the Energy forum that some rent a roof schemes come with a no storage clause. It could be argued that diverting solar to a HW cylinder is a form of storage. The only plausible reason for such a clause that I can think of is that the owner might be hit for the cost of an export meter along with a drop in deemed export payments.