Best tariff or strategy for solar/battery

Having recently had 4kW solar and a 7.2kWh battery installed, I'm wondering what's the best current strategy for getting a good return?

I know this is a "how long is a piece of string " question, but there are probably some general rules that can apply.

I'm thinking that a low night rate is good as it can charge the batteries, which can then support the house in the morning until solar kicks in. Solar can then recharge the batteries to cover evening use.

This will reduce usage to zero on a good solar day, but on a bad solar day, I will end up paying for "normal " electricity in the evening at a higher rate (but I'd have had to buy this electricity at whatever normal rate I was on anyway).

Has anybody done a similar calculation recently with current rates for their useage, to give me a clue, and what provider are they using?
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Replies

  • Alnat1Alnat1 Forumite
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    It will depend a lot on your expected solar production, general electric usage, how much your overnight load is, do you heat your home with electric, is your seasonal use similar,  maybe post some figures
    Barnsley, South Yorkshire
    Solar PV 5.25kWp SW facing (14 x 375 Longi) Lux 3.6kw hybrid inverter and 4.8kw Pylontech battery storage installed March 22
    Octopus Flux electric and Tracker gas
  • arty688arty688 Forumite
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    It will also depend on if you have an EV or not , as the best TOU tariffs require an EV.
    8kw system spread over 6 roofs , surrounded by trees and in a valley.
  • edited 16 May 2022 at 3:12PM
    EcoScruplesEcoScruples Forumite
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    edited 16 May 2022 at 3:12PM
    I'm in exactly the same position, I'm looking at going Octopus Go so I can take advantage of the cheap rate electric to charge my battery to be able to reuse during the cold winter days.
    Obviously I need rhe EV which I'm sorting but it seems worth the calculations to he able to use electric at a quarter of the price when solar just can't do it during Nov, Dec, Jan & Feb
    4.3kwp JA panels, Huawei 3.68kw Hybrid inverter, Huawei 10kw Lunar 2000 battery, Myenergi eddi, South facing array with a 15 degree roof pitch, winter shade.
  • arty688arty688 Forumite
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    Also octopus Agile will probably be OK over the summer, wouldn't like to be on it in the winter though
    8kw system spread over 6 roofs , surrounded by trees and in a valley.
  • Nick_Dr1Nick_Dr1 Forumite
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    Alnat1 said:
    It will depend a lot on your expected solar production, general electric usage, how much your overnight load is, do you heat your home with electric, is your seasonal use similar,  maybe post some figures
    No EV at present
    Good performance from the solar. Its 4kWp and I am seeing 20-22kWhr daily production on good days (in May - I only have 3 months data.). Bad days about 5kWhr so far.
    Average use of about 16kWhr per day, but that includes excess being diverted to the hot water (iboost). Over three months solar has reduced my bill by about 80% so the standing charge is the most significant cost
    Heating is oil. Overnight basic load appears to be about 200-300W.
    On a good day, I can be totally self sufficient in power consumption. In other words , normal use means that at this time of year on a sunny day, solar and battery can give all the energy I need for 24hrs.
    The winter will obviously be different - I won't have enough solar to run the house or charge the batteries much. 
    I guess in the winter I can get maybe 1/2 a days electricity from charged battery/solar (if I can charge the battery overnight sensibly)  so would need to buy 6 to 8kWhr per day. In the height of summer I wouldn't need to buy anything except standing charge.
    Are there any tariffs that I should be considering? Do I actually need an EV for Octopus go?
  • EcoScruplesEcoScruples Forumite
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    You sound very similar to me (although my install is now happening in June).
    I also have an oil fired boiler so in the winter I'll use that to heat the water as I'll be running the heating anyway.
    I've been measuring my oil tank every day and an hours use to heat my water per day actually uses very little oil.
    You do need an EV charger and now an EV I believe for Octopus Go. I haven't found any other tariffs that would fit the use of a home battery apart from economy 7 which isn't really what I want.
    4.3kwp JA panels, Huawei 3.68kw Hybrid inverter, Huawei 10kw Lunar 2000 battery, Myenergi eddi, South facing array with a 15 degree roof pitch, winter shade.
  • arty688arty688 Forumite
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    You don’t need an ev charger just an ev. I charge mine from a 13a socket. You need the right charger or car for intelligent octopus which is another option.
    8kw system spread over 6 roofs , surrounded by trees and in a valley.
  • michaelsmichaels Forumite
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    Edf have a tariff with 5 hiurs at 4.5p but very expensive for gas and I dont think their is an electricity only option
    I think....
  • edited 18 May 2022 at 7:51AM
    MagnitioMagnitio Forumite
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    edited 18 May 2022 at 7:51AM
    I've recently switched to Agile Outgoing Octopus where the rates change every half hour after realising how much more I could be getting for the excess energy we currently produce (£55.30 last month compared to £14.59 at fixed rate). It's a bit of a gamble if the price is very high when dark winter days arrive, but you can choose the best rates of the day to charge the battery.
    6.4kWp (16 * 400Wp REC Alpha) facing ESE + 5kW Huawei inverter + 10kWh Huawei battery. Buckinghamshire.
  • random321random321 Forumite
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    I'm just having a 5kW system installed with 4.8kWh battery and am also wondering which tariff to choose. I'm thinking Octopus Go as we do have an EV so especially over winter months will charge the solar batteries and car between 12.30am - 4.30am, and also program dishwasher/washing machine etc to run during the same time.
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