New solar and battery install - best Octopus tariff

greenbee

Thanks both. I've just applied for the switch - the outgoing fixed was still available (no idea where I saw the rumour that it was only outgoing lite that was available). Like @Screwdriva I'll review Flux when generation picks up on the spring. I suspect outgoing Agile is the way to go to make the best (financial) use of the battery, but probably rather a lot of work.

I'm hoping Agile will mean I can get more use out of the immersion and electric towel rails (one bathroom is not on the heating circuit, so this will be a huge benefit) and reduce oil consumption. It's also made me think that it would be worth putting in electric UFH in the kitchen when that's redone (there is wet UFH in the rooms either side of it, but I didn't fancy digging down to extend that). And in the bathrooms too. Which will then mean I can keep the oil heating going longer and make the changes needed to be heat-pump ready more slowly. 

I'm also eyeing up the rest of the roof to increase my solar generation and importantly extend the time I'm generating in the spring/autumn by using the south-facing bit of the house roof (the current installation is on the garage), a bit of east, and the significant amount of west. Summer generation could be improved by adding to the north side of the garage, but I'm not sure that's worth it. I'll get hold of the original installer in the next couple of months to discuss. I don't need more battery capacity at the moment, just the panels and inverter(s), if it turns out to be viable. 

ETA - the Agile switch has gone through and starts at midday today. The outgoing switch is looking peculiar as it says they need to install a smart meter! So still on Flux for export (I think). I've spoken to someone who is looking into it and hopes to resolve today. 

charles_b_2

Alnat1 said:

We have managed to get into an after dinner habit while we have a coffee of checking prices and weather forecast, setting battery fill time if needed, dishwasher run time and deciding if we need washer on overnight.

There have been odd times I've forgotten and the battery has done the previous nights settings but it's not the end of the world, might have lost out by a few pence.

Sounds more or less what occurs in our house too!

70sbudgie

greenbee said:

Thanks both. I've just applied for the switch - the outgoing fixed was still available (no idea where I saw the rumour that it was only outgoing lite that was available). Like @Screwdriva I'll review Flux when generation picks up on the spring. I suspect outgoing Agile is the way to go to make the best (financial) use of the battery, but probably rather a lot of work.

I'm hoping Agile will mean I can get more use out of the immersion and electric towel rails (one bathroom is not on the heating circuit, so this will be a huge benefit) and reduce oil consumption. It's also made me think that it would be worth putting in electric UFH in the kitchen when that's redone (there is wet UFH in the rooms either side of it, but I didn't fancy digging down to extend that). And in the bathrooms too. Which will then mean I can keep the oil heating going longer and make the changes needed to be heat-pump ready more slowly. 

I'm also eyeing up the rest of the roof to increase my solar generation and importantly extend the time I'm generating in the spring/autumn by using the south-facing bit of the house roof (the current installation is on the garage), a bit of east, and the significant amount of west. Summer generation could be improved by adding to the north side of the garage, but I'm not sure that's worth it. I'll get hold of the original installer in the next couple of months to discuss. I don't need more battery capacity at the moment, just the panels and inverter(s), if it turns out to be viable. 

ETA - the Agile switch has gone through and starts at midday today. The outgoing switch is looking peculiar as it says they need to install a smart meter! So still on Flux for export (I think). I've spoken to someone who is looking into it and hopes to resolve today. 

West facing roof panels are particularly satisfying when you are still generating after 7pm. 

MallyGirl

Alnat1 said:

We have managed to get into an after dinner habit while we have a coffee of checking prices and weather forecast, setting battery fill time if needed, dishwasher run time and deciding if we need washer on overnight.

There have been odd times I've forgotten and the battery has done the previous nights settings but it's not the end of the world, might have lost out by a few pence.

we do something similar here. Dishwasher and washer can be programmed, as can a couple of oil filled radiators to take the edge off. I also programme in discharges if I can recharge again at significantly less cost than the 15p export.

greenbee

70sbudgie said:

greenbee said:

Thanks both. I've just applied for the switch - the outgoing fixed was still available (no idea where I saw the rumour that it was only outgoing lite that was available). Like @Screwdriva I'll review Flux when generation picks up on the spring. I suspect outgoing Agile is the way to go to make the best (financial) use of the battery, but probably rather a lot of work.

I'm hoping Agile will mean I can get more use out of the immersion and electric towel rails (one bathroom is not on the heating circuit, so this will be a huge benefit) and reduce oil consumption. It's also made me think that it would be worth putting in electric UFH in the kitchen when that's redone (there is wet UFH in the rooms either side of it, but I didn't fancy digging down to extend that). And in the bathrooms too. Which will then mean I can keep the oil heating going longer and make the changes needed to be heat-pump ready more slowly. 

I'm also eyeing up the rest of the roof to increase my solar generation and importantly extend the time I'm generating in the spring/autumn by using the south-facing bit of the house roof (the current installation is on the garage), a bit of east, and the significant amount of west. Summer generation could be improved by adding to the north side of the garage, but I'm not sure that's worth it. I'll get hold of the original installer in the next couple of months to discuss. I don't need more battery capacity at the moment, just the panels and inverter(s), if it turns out to be viable. 

ETA - the Agile switch has gone through and starts at midday today. The outgoing switch is looking peculiar as it says they need to install a smart meter! So still on Flux for export (I think). I've spoken to someone who is looking into it and hopes to resolve today. 

West facing roof panels are particularly satisfying when you are still generating after 7pm. 

That's what I was thinking. Although right now, after 5pm would be good. At this time of year I'm not so worried about export, but more hoping to have enough surplus to heat/pre-heat the hot water as I'm trying to keep oil usage down. There's quite a bit of experimentation going on, but I think it's probably worth investigating more west-facing panels while there is still other stuff going on in the roof as at some point I'd like to shut it up and leave it alone!