Best Octopus plan for Solar PV only?

Jonboy1889

I’ve recently had a 4.7kw SEE/WSW arrays installed, with no battery or hot water diverter.

Getting an EV (arrives November sort of time).

Any other solar only people out there with advice on best Octopus plans? 

Would Flux be worth it? 

Annually we use around 2.6kw (more when EV arrives), I think the array should generate about 4.5kw, so probably looking at more export than usage (given we have no battery)

EcoScruples

Flux is for battery and PV but I'm sure people have moved onto it without a battery.
With you getting an EV then surely you should be looking at GO?

powerful_Rogue

Or even Intelligent Octopus depending on the EV/Charger.

Alnat1

But the OP doesn't have an EV until winter, he wants the best payment for summer export.

I'd suggest Flux for now, the WSW panels will give good generation 4-7pm. You can think again when the EV arrives, easy enough to switch tariffs with Octopus. 

70sbudgie

I have just switched to Flux. I have solar, no battery and an EV. I have yet to charge my EV on Flux (I can charge for free at work and as it has been the holidays, there has been less competition for a charger, so I've managed full charges). I think my average import rate has been pretty similar to what I was getting on E7, but the clincher for me is that I've been averaging >21p/kWhr export on Flux, compared to ~10p/kWhr on Agile outgoing. 

Screwdriva

No battery. We're on Agile incoming (average cost ~.25p and Outgoing fixed at .15p per kWh.

The reason we haven't switched to Flux is that we consume most of our energy in the evenings, which is when it prohibitively expensive to import. We also don't produce as much PV past 5pm. A calculator to compare these tariffs would be incredibly useful! 

Once Ripple project 3 goes live, we may see our incoming cost per kWh achieve parity with the export tariff, which would be a more sensible purchase (vs. a battery)!

Jonboy1889

Thanks everyone very helpful- Octopus Go I’ve discounted for now due to EV not arriving for ages (altho I only do 3-4k miles a year, so probably won’t gain much with the Go tariff esp as I’ll lose out on the better export.)

Plus I work from home most days anyway, much of my EV charging will be from the solar power (I have one of those Easee equalisers which puts any excess energy straight to the EV if plugged in). 

But WFH most days and young children who are in bed early (no PS5s yet!)?means a relatively low % of our usage is around 4-7pm, so should be able to export some then at better rates.

I think it is between flux and agile outgoing/fixed. A quick look at agile outgoing seems like the average export rates aren’t as good as flux (even if the rates are a little higher on flux between 4-7). I am pretty sure over summer we will export a similar amount to what we use over that time anyway so should offset the higher rates.

plus the export rates of 22p vs 15p during the day quickly offset by the additional peak costs if there are any!

I think Flux is the best option! Anyone disagree in my situation?

EcoScruples

The only thing I'd say about Flux with PV only is being able to avoid the 16:00 to 19:30 peak rate. If you can do that somehow then it looks good.

carlos_fuente

We have very recently acquired panels and EV, still getting to grips with smart charger behaviour. No battery or hot water. Very nearly have our export with Octopus operating (why does it take DNO 2 weeks to push some buttons? Can't help but feel they are in no rush to give up the free electricity).

I've signed up for Outgoing Fixed to keep the process simple. Unclear whether Flux does or doesn't need battery, but good to hear others are on it.

I think Flux would be better for 9 months in the year, even with EV we should have a good surplus to sell, and generally more export than import 4-7pm too. But December would be very expensive. And chopping/changing tariff seems painful.

Alnat1

@carlos_fuente Changing tariffs with Octopus can be done with a phone call/Twitter message and usually takes effect from midnight that day. Tariffs can be changed every 30 days if you really want.

In just over a year I've gone from Flexible gas and electric with basic SEG, to Tracker for gas, with switches to Agile import, and Agile Outgoing/Fixed Outgoing and now on Flux. Most complicated it got was being emailed T&C which I had to confirm before tariff could be changed. Really, no pain at all.

Waywardmike

Jonboy1889 said:

But WFH most days and young children who are in bed early (no PS5s yet!)?means a relatively low % of our usage is around 4-7pm, so should be able to export some then at better rates.

Appreciate this while you can! 

I didn't consider this at all but with two teenagers now, our energy usage has risen considerably.  I do have to take some of the blame though, half the time I'm on with them.  3 Playstations plus associated massive TV's is a serious drain!