solar panels with our without battery, advice would be greatly appreciated

2nd_time_buyer

It might be worth looking at the new Ripple Energy solar project. It might be more viable for you.

Alnat1

I think Ripple closed to new applicants last week

paul991

yes but another scheme should follow 

ABrass

Now, to be controversial: You could just get batteries.

If you have a cheap overnight rate you can charge your batteries then and not use expensive power during the day.

There's at least a few people on the forum that do it, but I haven't checked the numbers.

69bertie

ABrass said:

You could just get batteries.
If you have a cheap overnight rate you can charge your batteries then and not use expensive power during the day.

And looking back that might be a more sensible option. While I've only recently had solar (and batteries) installed, the use of the batteries has shown up to be far more beneficial than I'd first thought. We are mostly out during the day so tend to export a fair proportion of the excess at the moment. I have E7 and I use that to charge the batteries - 9.2kw - for 2 hours during the night. We tend to start using electricity again in earnest from 5pm on. The whole of that usage is supplied from the batteries, apart from the occasional overshoot when cooking.

Yes, the solar is doing its job. Unfortunately I'm not getting paid at the moment because I'm still waiting on paperwork to come through to enable that to happen. I'm told it could be 6 to 8 weeks. In this day and age! Come on.

But our costs for electricity has plummeted - even though the prices have gone up - our very cheap deal finished in February this year. Yes, during the summer months I will par back the mains battery charging and let the solar charge the batteries but come winter it will come back in as even the month it has been operating, solar is a mixed affair. Some days, like today, yippee. Other days when it is dismal, cloudy. yes, well nuff said. But if you can't afford solar, I think a battery only system coupled with a cheap rate might be a good and viable solution.

One thing I have noticed is each supplier can be good or bad for YOUR usage. If I was to go to Octopus, their E7 tariff is more expensive on the night rate and standing charge than my existing supplier. I have to also join Octopus to progress to their other exotic tariffs like Agile Flux etc. As you say, check the numbers.

BossBob

69bertie said:

Yes, the solar is doing its job. Unfortunately I'm not getting paid at the moment because I'm still waiting on paperwork to come through to enable that to happen. I'm told it could be 6 to 8 weeks. In this day and age! Come on.

I was in the same situation, Export MPAN applied for mid March and no movement. A gentle (and I really mean gentle) phone call to my supplier revealed that the export meter was on the national database but the DNO hadn’t notified my supplier. They were able to enrol the meter and get it on line and I’m due to be on export from midnight that night.