Should I go off-grid?

HertsLad

I am now very relieved that I started thinking about radical ways to save energy, long before anyone has a 'typical' energy bill of £4000 or more to worry about. My forecast energy cost per year should be around £50 per year, rather than £2500, or £4000. The performance of my 6 PV panels appears good enough to see me through winter but it's a bit early to be sure. Then, in April 2023, if I make it that far, I will contact my energy provider to ask them to stop the standing charge. Is it too good to be true? I will see. If not, my total energy cost will be nearer £250 per year - still low but it would be largely money for nothing.

michaels

I'm thinking that if the plan is for PV to support all your consumption throughout the year then you should orient them rather than for maximum annual generation (35 degrees, S facing) but instead for max December generation (almost vertical S facing? and as high as possible to avoid shading).  Lower total annual generation but max December generation.

Exiled_Tyke

A very interesting thread.  Thanks all.  But the question on my mind is what measures the OP has taken to get to such a fantastically low usage. 

elsien

Try his other thread. It involves no heating, an awful lot of layers and a lifestyle that not many would aspire to. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6334019/how-to-live-without-heating-save-000s#latest

Exiled_Tyke

elsien said:

Try his other thread. It involves no heating, an awful lot of layers and a lifestyle that not many would aspire to. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6334019/how-to-live-without-heating-save-000s#latest

Admittedly I didn't read all of this but it only seems to address the heating issue. What about washing (self, dishes, clothes) which use most of the electricity in our house? 

elsien

@HertsLad ^^^

Krakkkers

Can't help thinking you are concentrating on the wrong things (there are better ways of getting your energy bills to near zero)
But wonder what you do about other bills, water, council tax, Internet, insurance, transport, food, return on investments.

HertsLad

Krakkkers said:

Can't help thinking you are concentrating on the wrong things (there are better ways of getting your energy bills to near zero)
But wonder what you do about other bills, water, council tax, Internet, insurance, transport, food, return on investments.

What better ways? Have I missed something? Council tax is my highest charge by far and there's not a damn thing I can do about it, other than downsizing from my present band E property to band A or B. I am also considering moving to live on a yacht or some form of abode which does not pay Council tax. But I wouldn't be able to take much of my energy saving gear with me.

You ask about other bills. Water - less than £100 per annum. Internet £12 a month for home broadband. Transport - I have cars, bicycles and a bus pass. Food - I eat well.

Exiled_Tyke asked about washing (self, dishes, clothes) which use most of the electricity in their house. I don't use any electricity for any of those things. Hot water for washing myself, dishes and clothes has recently all been heated using gas - still a lot cheaper than electricity. But I will try to heat most of that water using solar thermal tubes in future, with a 24v 900w immersion heater for use as backup on sunny afternoons if there is no better use for 'surplus' solar energy.

Yesterday, I used some of that surplus energy to cook 2 sausages and some potatoes in an air fryer for 20 mins. Within 10 mins of turning off the air fryer, the battery bank was back to a float voltage of 29v.

I'd say my approach is based on two or three things: First, reducing my electricity consumption to a level I never though I could reach, down from 3kwh per day to as little as 0.25kwh for an ultra low energy fridge. Moreover when the sun is lowest for PV energy in winter, the kitchen will be coldest, so the fridge will have very little to do and I guess the energy consumption will fall even lower. It will be interesting to see how low. So 0.25kwh per day is the base level. Anything more needs to come from solar PV - just 6 panels. If it is cloudy and dreary, like today, I really shouldn't use any extra power. I am breaking the rule right now by using my desktop computer to type this. But the battery voltage is still 25.7V. Once I turn off the computer and inverter, the voltage will go higher. I assume the most meaningful measurement of battery voltage is under zero load but I could be wrong.

Second, by the use of solar panels bought at low cost and set up by myself, without the massive expenses of contractors, scaffolding and a grid tie inverter. 

Third - I forget but will write again when i remember!

Krakkkers

"What better ways?"

Until the recent huge rises in gas and electricity prices i was paid enough through my FIT contract to pay my duel fuel bill and have some left over, panels paid for themselves in 6 years, today will be the first time i have needed to use my boiler for hot water since february, i have an iboost diverter connected to my immersion and an oil filled radiator to use any generation that might get exported.
You have taken the route of cutting your consumption to near zero to save money but you can be comfortable and MAKE money.
You can swap your internet each year and get enough cashback to almost pay for it, can also do a similar trick with insurance but that is nowhere near as good as it used to be, used to stooze as well but the opportunities are not as good as they used to be.
The point is you don't have to cut your consumption to save and make money.

HertsLad

I really don't think any of your suggestions apply to me, Krakkers. You imply my cuts make me uncomfortable but that's incorrect. I am perfectly comfortable, even in my unheated house at 2C. It's hard to describe. With the layers I wear, I feel like I in the middle of a bubble of self-generated warmth (no electric pads). Try it and you'll see!

As for internet costs, there's no way I think I could reduce them below the £12 I currently pay. And that includes line rental for the phone, in effect.