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Polysolar windows and solargaps blinds?

waqasahmed
Posts: 1,988 Forumite


So,
The windows of polysolar apparently cost £250/Square metre with around 15% efficiency
https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/solar-panels/windows-with-solar-panels-built-in/
I'm not sure how much solar gaps cost however here's a sort of review / criticism of them
https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/31/solargaps-power-blinds/
Would these be worth putting in? Solargaps allegedly have a 22.4% efficiency rate
https://solargaps-eu.com/en/products/#:~:text=We always choose what is,with 22,4% efficiency.
Both systems would be an afterthought over more traditional solar (ie: to get solar panels first)
The windows of polysolar apparently cost £250/Square metre with around 15% efficiency
https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/solar-panels/windows-with-solar-panels-built-in/
I'm not sure how much solar gaps cost however here's a sort of review / criticism of them
https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/31/solargaps-power-blinds/
Would these be worth putting in? Solargaps allegedly have a 22.4% efficiency rate
https://solargaps-eu.com/en/products/#:~:text=We always choose what is,with 22,4% efficiency.
Both systems would be an afterthought over more traditional solar (ie: to get solar panels first)
2
Comments
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Thanks, all very interesting.
I love ideas like these, and vertical wall mounted PV, as the make it possible for residences without a roof (so to speak) to play the PV game.
Couple of thoughts, may sound negative, but really just nit picking.
First off, if you are getting 'normal' PV first, then unless these additional systems don't feed into the consumer unit/grid, you'll need DNO permission for them if they and the roof mounted PV exceed 3.68kWp.
Secondly, the solargaps may be 22% efficient, but they say 100Wp per m2. Well, common panels now, at around 22% are in the 370Wp to 400Wp range, but measure (just as an example) a bit over a metre wide, and 1.7m(ish) tall, so let's call it 2m2, so that's 200Wp per m2. I assume the solargaps are 22% efficient, but some, perhaps half of the m2 is not PV panel, it's edging, or gaps.
Also, the blind idea is genius ....... but again, will it need adjustment each day? If they are closed on sunny days, then that's fine, but if you'll need to remember to adjust them, then that may become a pain, and you may face a dilemma on a nice day, whether to generate leccy, or brighten the house. [Just thought - will they reflect a lot of heat in the colder months, as the amount of solar gain through windows a house gets is pretty impressive. So heat v's generation, possibly, but I really don't know.]
Money wise. I wouldn't say no, certainly worth investigating, but if you're considering 'normal' PV, then it may be simpler and cheaper to pay for higher efficiency roof panels, to squeeze on the extra Wp's.Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.
For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.3 -
I've never seen formal calculations but I'm sure my house is warned significantly by sun coming through the windows. If extracting energy from this sunlight reduces its warming power then you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul, generating electricity that you have to use to heat your house because sun through the windows is not doing it for you. Of course this idea could be rubbish, someone needs to do the maths.Reed4
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Martyn1981 said:Thanks, all very interesting.
I love ideas like these, and vertical wall mounted PV, as the make it possible for residences without a roof (so to speak) to play the PV game.
Couple of thoughts, may sound negative, but really just nit picking.
First off, if you are getting 'normal' PV first, then unless these additional systems don't feed into the consumer unit/grid, you'll need DNO permission for them if they and the roof mounted PV exceed 3.68kWp.
Secondly, the solargaps may be 22% efficient, but they say 100Wp per m2. Well, common panels now, at around 22% are in the 370Wp to 400Wp range, but measure (just as an example) a bit over a metre wide, and 1.7m(ish) tall, so let's call it 2m2, so that's 200Wp per m2. I assume the solargaps are 22% efficient, but some, perhaps half of the m2 is not PV panel, it's edging, or gaps.
Also, the blind idea is genius ....... but again, will it need adjustment each day? If they are closed on sunny days, then that's fine, but if you'll need to remember to adjust them, then that may become a pain, and you may face a dilemma on a nice day, whether to generate leccy, or brighten the house. [Just thought - will they reflect a lot of heat in the colder months, as the amount of solar gain through windows a house gets is pretty impressive. So heat v's generation, possibly, but I really don't know.]
Money wise. I wouldn't say no, certainly worth investigating, but if you're considering 'normal' PV, then it may be simpler and cheaper to pay for higher efficiency roof panels, to squeeze on the extra Wp's.
What's DNO? I guess if I don't get said permission, I'd have to get batteries and just pop the reserve power into there?
FWIW, I was looking at getting the most efficient solar panels for the roof anyway, before going down this path.
1 -
waqasahmed said:
What's DNO?
You don't hear much about DNOs but you may remember that after the damage caused by Storm Arwen, DNO "Northern Powergrid" came in for a lot of criticism because of its slow response and poor communication.Reed2 -
Reed_Richards said:waqasahmed said:
What's DNO?
You don't hear much about DNOs but you may remember that after the damage caused by Storm Arwen, DNO "Northern Powergrid" came in for a lot of criticism because of its slow response and poor communication.
I didn't hear about that at the time tbf but again, I get email subscriptions. I guess they didn't notify those who weren't subscribed however0 -
Reed_Richards said:I've never seen formal calculations but I'm sure my house is warned significantly by sun coming through the windows. If extracting energy from this sunlight reduces its warming power then you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul, generating electricity that you have to use to heat your house because sun through the windows is not doing it for you. Of course this idea could be rubbish, someone needs to do the maths.
Of course, in the summer, it could be a big benefit if it reflects heat away. Leccy gen whilst cooling?
Nagging doubt is that the gen isn't worth the 'faff', but I hope I'm wrong.Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.
For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.2 -
waqasahmed said:Martyn1981 said:Thanks, all very interesting.
I love ideas like these, and vertical wall mounted PV, as the make it possible for residences without a roof (so to speak) to play the PV game.
Couple of thoughts, may sound negative, but really just nit picking.
First off, if you are getting 'normal' PV first, then unless these additional systems don't feed into the consumer unit/grid, you'll need DNO permission for them if they and the roof mounted PV exceed 3.68kWp.
Secondly, the solargaps may be 22% efficient, but they say 100Wp per m2. Well, common panels now, at around 22% are in the 370Wp to 400Wp range, but measure (just as an example) a bit over a metre wide, and 1.7m(ish) tall, so let's call it 2m2, so that's 200Wp per m2. I assume the solargaps are 22% efficient, but some, perhaps half of the m2 is not PV panel, it's edging, or gaps.
Also, the blind idea is genius ....... but again, will it need adjustment each day? If they are closed on sunny days, then that's fine, but if you'll need to remember to adjust them, then that may become a pain, and you may face a dilemma on a nice day, whether to generate leccy, or brighten the house. [Just thought - will they reflect a lot of heat in the colder months, as the amount of solar gain through windows a house gets is pretty impressive. So heat v's generation, possibly, but I really don't know.]
Money wise. I wouldn't say no, certainly worth investigating, but if you're considering 'normal' PV, then it may be simpler and cheaper to pay for higher efficiency roof panels, to squeeze on the extra Wp's.
What's DNO? I guess if I don't get said permission, I'd have to get batteries and just pop the reserve power into there?
FWIW, I was looking at getting the most efficient solar panels for the roof anyway, before going down this path.
If you add any generation to the grid*, or a battery that can discharge to the house' circuits, then you need to notify the DNO, and all kit has to be certified for UK DNO approval. If you (want to) add more than 3.68kW of possible generation then you need prior approval from the DNO.
*Your house is part of the 'grid' so the PV inverter is called a GTI (grid-tied inverter) as it will discharge to the local grid when there's excess generation.
Welcome to the rules and regs!Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.
For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.4 -
waqasahmed said:So,
The windows of polysolar apparently cost £250/Square metre with around 15% efficiency
https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/solar-panels/windows-with-solar-panels-built-in/
I'm not sure how much solar gaps cost however here's a sort of review / criticism of them
https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/31/solargaps-power-blinds/
Would these be worth putting in? Solargaps allegedly have a 22.4% efficiency rate
https://solargaps-eu.com/en/products/#:~:text=We always choose what is,with 22,4% efficiency.
Both systems would be an afterthought over more traditional solar (ie: to get solar panels first)
This is based on window size being 9.6m ^2
Annual energy generation = 654.61 kWh
At an exchange rate of 1.14, that's £6435.08 to generate 654.61 kWh
Assuming 54p/kWh , that's a saving of £353.49/year
That means the blinds pay for themsleves in.. 18 years which isn't ideal imo
Also, realistically, given I'd have batteries, and given the 12p/kWh night time tariff will probably go up to 18p/kWh, that's a saving of just £117.83 or a payback of over 54 and a half years which definitely isn't ideal
0
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