MSE guide: plug-in solar panels

debitcardmayhem

As my signature says Essex and right now 333 total this am 2kWh

ed110220

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127978#Comment_82127978

Thanks Mart, the DNO said I could have over 16 kW when I asked last year, I can't remember the exact figure because it's far more than the 8 kW I have installed.

I'm guessing my existing inverter won't charge the batteries using the plug in solar if it detects flow to the grid using the CT clamp when it is in zero export mode? That's ok though as it's usually more financially beneficial for us to export the solar than store it and instead store off peak grid electricity. Though when it's been very sunny recently and wind was low overnight I did store the solar because it seemed the environmentally better thing to do.

QrizB

I'm guessing my existing inverter won't charge the batteries using the plug in solar if it detects flow to the grid using the CT clamp when it is in zero export mode?

I wouldn't assume that. How the inverter behaves under those conditions might not be documented; you might not know until you try it, unless you can find a forum post or blog entry from someone else who's already done it with your model of inverter.

Reed_Richards

I'm guessing my existing inverter won't charge the batteries using the plug in solar if it detects flow to the grid using the CT clamp when it is in zero export mode?

You could find that it throttles battery discharge (and any other solar PV output) down to zero in a vain attempt to stop the export that it is detecting.

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82130371#Comment_82130371

Hi Ed. As Qriz mentions, it will depend on your inverter. My Solaredge hybrid battery kit was grabbing the excess being exported from my other (non-battery) Solaredge array. I'd suggest that that is near ideal at first glance. But, if you are in a net export month, then battery losses will actually reduce total export income a smidge.

Following excellent advice I was given on MSE this year, I was able to switch off AC side charging*, not because of that small export loss, but because that battery is on the original FiT rate. So every unit of leccy that goes from AC to DC to AC, will result in a small reduction in net generation, and impact FiT income. Not the end of the world at all, and pretty much 'first world problems', but it was worth addressing. [Edit - Note my battery is on the DC side, so charging goes through the bi-directional TGM. For an AC side battery, the/my FiT issues wouldn't apply. M.]

*I'll put AC side charging back on perhaps in October (till early Mch), when I'm no longer net exporting, and need to start topping up.