Solar: Export Octopus 15p Rest 1p /kwhr ? Does the grid want this energy ?

Otisregrets

Hello  Like to go solar : seems most energy suppliers just offering minimum 1p /Kwhr to export.  Looks like grid doesnt want it by day ?  Is it now just a case of use it or lose it ? 
Octopus seems to be alone in offering 15p/ kwhr  So guess I should switch  to them 
How does octopus finance work on this if no others ?   Does anybody actually get 15p/kwhr during day time ? 
Contacted octopus for solar install  Seem reluctant to reply to questions 
phil 
(I know battery thats a whole other issue Sleep with a volatile lithium battery in the house ? )

QrizB

Otisregrets said:

Hello  Like to go solar : seems most energy suppliers just offering minimum 1p /Kwhr to export. 

I'm not sure where you're getting your info but there are many suppliers who pay more than 1p/kWh. Some even pay more than the 15p/kWh that Octopus does.

If you can ignore the marketing junk, there's a pretty good table on this page:

https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/green-energy/grants/smart-export-guarantee/best

Otisregrets said:

Does anybody actually get 15p/kwhr during day time ? 

Lots of people do.

Otisregrets said:

Contacted octopus for solar install  Seem reluctant to reply to questions 

Octopus's solar PV quotes are a bit disappointing, to be honest. There are several recent threads on this forum where people have got better quotes from independent installers. Take a look through them and you'll see what to expect to pay.

thevilla

"Sleep with a volatile lithium battery in the house ?"

I wouldn't buy one of those.  Get a standard commercial battery offering.

Heedtheadvice

thevilla said:

"Sleep with a volatile lithium battery in the house ?"

I wouldn't buy one of those.  Get a standard commercial battery offering.

You probably already do 'sleep' with a Lithium battery in the house maybe several......

Coastalwatch

Otisregrets said:

Hello  Like to go solar : seems most energy suppliers just offering minimum 1p /Kwhr to export.  Looks like grid doesnt want it by day ?  Is it now just a case of use it or lose it ? 
Octopus seems to be alone in offering 15p/ kwhr  So guess I should switch  to them 
How does octopus finance work on this if no others ?   Does anybody actually get 15p/kwhr during day time ? 
Contacted octopus for solar install  Seem reluctant to reply to questions 
phil 
(I know battery thats a whole other issue Sleep with a volatile lithium battery in the house ? )

Four LiFePo batteries in garage adjoining and two EV's on drive. Knowing I now contribute relatively zero emmisions to the atmosphere I sleep far sounder than I ever could possibly do when burning FF's and poisoning the generations following including our children and grandchildren. 

You pays your money and takes your choice!

Last month we were charged £91 for energy Imports and were paid £200 for Exports so not much to complain about.

Oh, just one confession I did give my Pre65 bike an airing last weekend using the last gallon of petrol purchased prior to Covid arriving and bringing a halt to such matters.

Spies

15p/kwh from octopus is on borrowed time, likely to drop in the next couple of months (to around 10p) so don't base any calculation on getting that amount for export

EcoScruples

Spies said:

15p/kwh from octopus is on borrowed time, likely to drop in the next couple of months (to around 10p) so don't base any calculation on getting that amount for export

And firm data to back that up? I do expect this to happen as solar becomes too much for the grid to balance.
I had a visit from a UK power networks operative who said solar export from domestic premises was the bane of his life as a big chunk of his work was sorting out the switching gear from outages caused by grid imbalances.
He might have just been grumpy though and misinformed.

bucksman

Maybe good to checkout EON Drive - this was 16p when I last looked for export 

Screwdriva

Spies said:

15p/kwh from octopus is on borrowed time, likely to drop in the next couple of months (to around 10p) so don't base any calculation on getting that amount for export

I've had a couple conversations with Octopus Energy senior employees about their tariffs. From what I have gathered, they are loss leaders on the EV tariffs (Go, Intelligent Go) and it is likely these will become less lucrative as the grid continues to balance itself.

Contrary to popular belief, I was told that nighttime charging is much closer to consuming any excess nighttime energy production than we may realize. They asked if I recalled last time I had seen two consecutive single digit nighttime rates (<10p) on Agile - it has been several weeks if not months. 

Intelligent Flux is safe for now as they are keen to move towards controlled grid balancing (their control, not ours). When I asked about Solar, they appeared to downplay its importance and simply pointed out that UK's record peak PV production has yet to cross 40% of the overall energy mix or 10% of the annual energy mix. Take from that what you will. 

Spies

Yeah I was looking at historic agile outgoing prices and the basis that octopus outgoing is no longer a fixed term... only a matter of time 

Magnitio

I am sure there will be increasing incentives to use the excess energy on sunny days, both for individuals and companies. What will be challenging/upsetting for some will be the disincentives to export, or a significant reduction in export rates when these are a major part of the justification for installing solar.