I wish I'd gone for it years ago, sooner the better if you're thinking about it.
Energy Suppliers
- Thread starter craig_t
- Start date
To give you an idea, our 3.5KW solar system over the last 7 years, generates on average 3500KW per year. (Summer 21st March to Sept21st=2500Kw, Winter 21st Sept to March21st =1000KW)
Were in Mid Wales near the coast, South Easy would generate more for the same size system.
How much saving per year does that translate to with the your electricity bills? Vs how much it cost to install.
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Rob, Its on our rental property so we don't gain on actual generated use at the property, Id guess it would save 500-1000+KW per year minimum to the house use. (depends if there is anyone home during the day)
FIT payment pays me just over £700 a year. Install cost 7.5k in 2014.
FIT payment pays me just over £700 a year. Install cost 7.5k in 2014.
I'm making a spreadsheet of this data, in the last two months, I estimate I would have saved about £35 in electric, and earned £10 in SEG payements each month.
Remember FIT doesn't exist now, SEG took its place and you need a Smart meter to get SEG.
We've had a hefty increase of around £40 a month, looked everywhere for a cheaper deal and the lowest we can get is still a £30 increase. No way I'm signing up for a 2/3 year contract like most suppliers are offering.
We got solar fitted exactly a year ago, 3.6kw (but 4.5kw of panels, can only use 3.6kw of it at once) for about £4.5k. On an old meter too (that spins backwards), so we did well at first when it was 12.3p a unit, better when it went to 16p, and now I've just gone for a fix at I think around 20p, but fixed for a couple of years. Generated 4.4MWh in the past year, which has probably saved us at least £600 this year. A lot of that benefit has come from the fact we've got an old meter, but even so, that's a good whack of cash!
Given how prices are still rising, we're planning on moving soon, I'll be seriously considering a battery setup where we end up, they're expensive, but with prices rising as they are, it'll pay itself off far sooner now than it would have done when we had this place done.
Given how prices are still rising, we're planning on moving soon, I'll be seriously considering a battery setup where we end up, they're expensive, but with prices rising as they are, it'll pay itself off far sooner now than it would have done when we had this place done.
How does that work if your meter reads end up negative between one month and another?
Yeah got a smart meter.
To put your savings into context what did you used to pay a month? Your £45 a month saving would make my electric bill around £15 a month, but still £45 a month on a £5k install would take about 10 years to break even.
I wonder if more savings could be had by getting an electric water heater and heating water only when your producing enough power to make it free. But then that's even more costs to pay back. It seems its more about being green than making financial sense.
10-15 years is what i calculated for payback for me too.
peaked my interest got any handy links? Could easily install something on the back of my garage roof.
They owe you cash. If your meter goes backwards, you tell them, and then it's their responsibility to get you onto a smart meter. Because of our location, they've never gotten around to it. I believe they're allowed to make an estimate of your usage (especially if you haven't told them, I think if you tell them, it's then they're problem not yours).
£45 a month now, how about after electricity costs have gone up further still. We paid £4.5k for our system, suspect we could have negotiated them lower still. Even so, that would be a year less in payback time.
And of course, once you've finished paying back, from then on, it's "interest" earned on an investment. £500 (probably more after electricity price increases) a year on an initial £4.5k investment, isn't too shabby.
Looks good, do you run a setup? How does it work regards the smart meter, say your producing 50w, and using 100w will the smart meter show 50w or 100w.
Can't be paid for metered export unless its MCS certified
Thats not what i was asking, i know you wont get paid for export, but how does your house use the power you generate vs the power from the grid.
Id want to get some batteries as well.
Yes, I run 2x 250w in the Summer + 1 330W extra added in the Winter, it works just as you say it uses the grid tie power first.
Panels in the garden, plugged into the ring main in the shed.
Edit to add.
50W from the grid tie will mean it will show 50W less than is being consumed on the meter.
Sat here on computer using power, meter is showing 0W cost per hour £0.00
Panels in the garden, plugged into the ring main in the shed.
Edit to add.
50W from the grid tie will mean it will show 50W less than is being consumed on the meter.
Sat here on computer using power, meter is showing 0W cost per hour £0.00
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Micro grid tie is more used for covering the background electricity usage, like fridge freezer ect.