Smart Meters and Solar PV and battery questions …….

uk1

I am struggling to find answers to some basic questions, so hope for some patient advice!!

I currently do not have a smart meter and I am considering having one installed and having a Solar PV system with batteries installed later this year.   I’m also thinking that “island” isolation mode might be a good idea as we do get some outages.

I have been reading with some concern that Smart Meters may be problematic with solar PV systems.

So my questions are:

1.  Must I have a smart meter if I want to install a Solar PV system.

2.  I’m in a tough mobile reception area and some networks aren’t available.  I understand that this might disable readings being sent but are there any other issues I should be aware of. 

3.  If I proceed with a smart meter I’ve read that this has caused problems with customers being charged for electricity from the grid when they are using solar provided power.  Is this a concern?  I’m with Scottish Power in Hampshire.

https://www.utilitiesadr.co.uk/households-with-solar-panels-risk-being-overcharged-by-smart-meters/

4. Are there any issues to be concerned about with the excess power that is being fed back into the grid (SEG). 

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

[Deleted User]

1. Yes, if you want to paid for any exported electricity. No, if you don’t want any export income.

2. Smart meters in the South use the Telefonica mobile network. The installer shouldn’t fit a smart meter if a connection cannot be established. Some areas now use a Mesh. The signals from smart meters cascade around the mesh until they find a meter that has a mobile connection.

3. Smart meters record both import and export on separate indexes. I have had SMETS2 meters for 3 1/2 years and this has not been an issue. Clearly, if your array is outputting 2kW and you turn on a 3kW kettle, then the kettle will take 1kW from the Grid: the remaining 2kW comes from your roof. On days when solar output is low in changing cloud conditions then there will always be a mix of solar and Grid if you use high energy devices such as a cooker; vacuum cleaner; immersion heater etc. Without an exceptionally large array and battery, you cannot live exclusively off the Grid. For example, my 6.35kWp array generated just 350Wh on one particularly poor day last December.

4. I don’t understand. You are better off financially using the electricity that your PV solar generates but, at certain times of the year, this isn’t always possible. Energy exported contributes to the Grid to be used by nearby properties. Your DNO will make sure that the local grid infrastructure can take all the exported energy. The DNO may impose an export limit if there are any concerns.

Islanding is a complex issue and it requires DNO approval PRIOR to installation. The DNO may also want to witness test the completed installation. A Tesla Powerwall 2 Gateway adds about £2.5k to the cost. Any solar array greater than 3.68kWp (single phase supply) also requires PRIOR DNO approval.

uk1

Many thanks for your time and help.  Really appreciated. 

It appears that Telefonica is the 02 network so I seem to be OK as long as it isn’t 5g.  I am ok for 4g and below. 

I am planning a solar array of greater than 3.68kw.  I’m hoping on around 6.5kw subject to the survey.  In practice is the applications for prior DNO approvals delay installations do you believe?

[Deleted User]

uk1 said:

Many thanks for your time and help.  Really appreciated. 

It appears that Telefonica is the 02 network so I seem to be OK as long as it isn’t 5g.  I am ok for 4g and below. 

I am planning a solar array of greater than 3.68kw.  I’m hoping on around 6.5kw subject to the survey.  In practice is the applications for prior DNO approvals delay installations do you believe?

Most comms hubs are still 2g. The DCC has a programme of planned work to replace all existing 2g hubs before the end of service date.

My DNO took 3 months to approve my installation. My G99 application ran to 20 pages of detail. SPEN charged £350 plus VAT. 

If you want Special Export Guarantee payments then I recommend that you use a MCS-certified installer. The supplier will also want proof of DNO sign off on your completed installation. The supplier will then apply to the DNO for an Export MPAN. You will end up with a smart meter that has two MPANs.

QrizB

Item 3 in the OP is a link to a reprinted Telegraph article from about 4 years ago which in turn refers to export payments for FIT tariffs. Nothing in that article is relevant today (and I don't think it was accurate even when it was written).

uk1

Many thanks for all the generous help and pointers.  My readings and searches have at least started me through.  I can see that choosing the installer is probably the most important decision because some people have had miserable experiences and some people great ones.  The Solar Together initiative has shown some goodness and badness on my searches.

So my start point as a result of the helpful posts here and I have produced a list of 10 MCS approved suppliers within a 15 mile radius of here and I have sent them a short email, on the basis that I should find a good one from those. 

Thanks again.

Reed_Richards

Dolor said:

2. Smart meters in the South use the Telefonica mobile network. 

For the sake of balance, I will point out that smart meters in the north and Scotland use Long-Range Radio.

TheTwillows

I've just been out and checked my smart meter and it is Zigbee  based! This is in west yorkshire.

MilesT6060842

I think technically you can have an export meter that isn't SMART, but getting a supplier to let you install one (unless SMART is not available in your area) is another matter.  (Larger businesses can get a semi-smart meter called an AMR for inbound and export I think)

I think the other thing you need to check (or have checked) before you start is whether your current incoming supply is shared with a next door neighbour ("looped" is the term), i.e. one cable in from street, goes to your meter first (before the supply company fuse/meter), then onwards to the next neighbour, or vice versa.  For EV charger installs (and maybe for PV with export) you may need to get that resolved, which means someones garden will get dug up (or a new line from a pole) to add a new wire in the from street to remove the shared nature of the current connection, giving everyone their own set of wires.