Leased panels - opportunity for battery

olbas_oil

We bought a house with leased solar panels. The company that owns the system were impossible to contact during the purchase, so I hold no hope of getting any co-operation from them. They get the FIT payments, but we get use of the solar power for free. The lease prohibits us from making any changes to their system.
Am I right in thinking that rules out any smart devices for storing the solar energy, like batteries or water heating? The only actual display of solar energy is on a small lcd on the inverter (Solar River) in the loft. Apart from turning on the washing machine when we can see the sun is shining, is there a smarter way to exploit our free power?

EricMears

'Rent a roof' companies tend to make their money from FIT payments (with deemed exports) so shouldn't be too bothered what you do with 'their' power.

But having a battery in your house wouldn't be a 'change to the system' (providing your battery was fed after the TGM) any more than e.g. buying a new hair dryer might be.

olbas_oil

EricMears said:

'Rent a roof' companies tend to make their money from FIT payments (with deemed exports) so shouldn't be too bothered what you do with 'their' power.

But having a battery in your house wouldn't be a 'change to the system' (providing your battery was fed after the TGM) any more than e.g. buying a new hair dryer might be.

That sounds encouraging. But how would the battery know how much power to consume without drawing it from the grid? 

paul991

they would use a ct clamp to tell when you are exporting
if you have a  immersion heater consider a  diverter to heat water

Petriix

Basically an AC coupled battery would (almost certainly*) be fine. Don't under any circumstances replace the existing inverter and go for a hybrid system with a DC coupled battery. 

*The only potential complication is if the DNO imposed an export limit which prevented the solar inverter from generating the maximum output. It's unlikely that you would be deliberately exporting from your battery while the panels are producing surplus but it's vaguely possible. 

ispookie666

The battery/AC inverter will need DNO notification and might have a few hiccups when they ask details about the solar PV/MCS certificate.