Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

The solar we inherited when we moved in, the battery I brought about 2-3 years ago.

We are all electric in this house so during the summer we are pretty much independent from the grid. As winter draws in and solar production reduces we then start topping the battery with off peak electric at 10p per kWh.

We are energy conscious. We use what we need to but not a lot more .
 
OldKitMan said:
pretty much the same setup I've just got installed.

The eddi hot water system is a great addition for us as we have a family of 5 so go through a lot of hot water. I'm already seeing significant savings on the gas using the immersion to heat the water using the surplus electricity.

Think once batteries are a bit more evolved I will add it but between the usage during the day and the hot water diversion we are exporting very little.
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Bear in mind electricity export on Octopus Agile Outgoing is paying circa 15p kwh average at the moment vs buying gas at 7.5p kwh price cap so even with some efficiency losses you would be better off exporting your electricity than directing it to HW
 
Doobedoo said:
4kw split over both sides of our roof. We get sun out the front in the morning but it sets over the rear during the summer months.
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So let me get this straight.

You pay less than 200 a year in electricity due to consuming most electricity from your battery via solar panels?

If you diddnt have solar panels, would your month bill be more like 200 a month?
 
Could anyone give me some good pointers as to where I should start with looking into solar?

If I'm being honest the only thing I've managed to do so far is confuse and annoy myself as it's a total minefield :(
 
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Valo said:
Could anyone give me some good pointers as to where've should start with looking into solar?

If I'm being honest the only thing I've managed to do so far is confuse and annoy myself as it's a total minefield :(
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I'd just read through this thread a bit.

It is a bit of a minefield, and the ideal solution very much depends on individual circumstances and even then there are differences in opinions.
 
Valo said:
Could anyone give me some good pointers as to where've should start with looking into solar?
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Learn about the actual technology first, and look at different technologies availably on the market, and what they do how they work, drawbacks, benefits, and costs etc. Do this for panels, inverters, optimisers, and then if you are looking at battery storage also factor these technologies in. Learn about your orientation if you don't know it, roof angles, useable roof space, and generation you can reach per metre squared, shading, bird protection. Then know your usage or investigate it, and decide if you are going to get an install as big as possible, based on roof space and the DNO acceptance, or something to fit a specific usage and/or budget. Decide if you might want future expansion, be that more panels or a battery, maybe you'll get a BEV or electric based heating (Heat pump etc.) so you might want to plan for that.

There is no rush, you are investing in something that will last 20-25+ years, the only other thing people make that commitment to is a mortgage, or maybe a partner. So don't panic yourself into a bad ill-informed choice, unless you are flush with cash, or just don't mind doing it again. :)
 
I'm thinking of getting solar panels and maybe a battery, luckily for us we'd have the cash upfront, I know we won't be self sufficient but the way electric prices are going it seems like a good idea, obviously in the winter months it would drop and I've heard people with batteries storing the cheaper energy overnight and using the next day? We live on the south coast and are pretty low users considering we have kids, below average usage for a family of 5, but like I said energy will only keep going up so is solar the way forward? Any tips or experience would be greatfully received
 
@HungryHippos and I have gone with Solar Powerful on the south coast, they may be worth hitting up, they used the kit I was after after reading this thread and were miles cheaper than many of the companies out there with only one getting anywhere close, despite having what seems to be a very good reputation!
 
BUDFORCE said:
I'd just read through this thread a bit.

It is a bit of a minefield, and the ideal solution very much depends on individual circumstances and even then there are differences in opinions.
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Thanks I have read the thread over the past few days. I think that maybe where my confusion has sprung from!
Journey said:
Learn about the actual technology first, and look at different technologies availably on the market, and what they do how they work, drawbacks, benefits, and costs etc. Do this for panels, inverters, optimisers, and then if you are looking at battery storage also factor these technologies in. Learn about your orientation if you don't know it, roof angles, useable roof space, and generation you can reach per metre squared, shading, bird protection. Then know your usage or investigate it, and decide if you are going to get an install as big as possible, based on roof space and the DNO acceptance, or something to fit a specific usage and/or budget. Decide if you might want future expansion, be that more panels or a battery, maybe you'll get a BEV or electric based heating (Heat pump etc.) so you might want to plan for that.

There is no rush, you are investing in something that will last 20-25+ years, the only other thing people make that commitment to is a mortgage, or maybe a partner. So don't panic yourself into a bad ill-informed choice, unless you are flush with cash, or just don't mind doing it again. :)
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Thanks for the advice. I guess once you've done your research it comes down to the installation company as well, finding a knowledgeable and importantly fully accredited (MCS)

Whats the best way of figuring out my usage other than my bill, a smart meter? My bill gives me an annual usage figure but this may contain estimates. I'm in a good position that my bungalow is south facing and is unobstructed from other buildings or trees. I'm looking to save as much money as I can with my installation but have scope to eventually add a heat pump and EV charging once existing boiler and car are passed their economical serviceable age.
 
@Valo Smart meter, or if you want something easier try the Loop app on your phone, they basically get half hourly smart meter readings and present it in the app so you can see what you are using through out the day.

They don't actually connect to the meter, but get the information from the service that reads the meter.
 
I'd suggest this:

Login | Pylon

Fast and accurate solar designs with high resolution aerial imagery
app.getpylon.com app.getpylon.com

Need to use PC for full features, but sign up for a free account and enter your address and it'll let you select your house from Google maps, drop solar panels onto it and give you month by month estimates of everything.

Was spot on for our estimates Vs solar panels fitted

For your usage, just use your annual usage figure from bill and most apps will break it down to monthly figure based on local weather / temps
 
Ron-ski said:
@Valo Smart meter, or if you want something easier try the Loop app on your phone, they basically get half hourly smart meter readings and present it in the app so you can see what you are using through out the day.

They don't actually connect to the meter, but get the information from the service that reads the meter.
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Thanks @Ron-ski I’ve been hesitant about getting smart meters installed for sometime, however I’m guessing they’ve sorted out most of the issues with the second generation models?

I’m guessing everyone with solar uses them, so I don’t really have an option if I want to accurately see my energy use in preparation for solar??
 
If a solar panel could power even 1/2 of my tech throughout the year, i would be happy.

Could a solar panel even just run a full blown desktop Linux server 24/7 directly from solar panel/battery?
 
jonneymendoza said:
If a solar panel could power even 1/2 of my tech throughout the year, i would be happy.

Could a solar panel even just run a full blown desktop Linux server 24/7 directly from solar panel/battery?
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It could yes, quite easily. Thing is, how much £ would you be able to throw at fulfilling that requirement, and then you have to compare to how much the electricity would have cost compared to the outlay.
 
VaderDSL said:
It could yes, quite easily. Thing is, how much £ would you be able to throw at fulfilling that requirement, and then you have to compare to how much the electricity would have cost compared to the outlay.
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How much is the outlay in installing a solar panel roof and battery on say a typical 3 bedroom terraced Victorian 1930’s property ?

Like ball park figures? Is it soo much that its pointless?

I always thought that because we don’t get much clear sky sun, solar panels are useless in this country???
 
Ron-ski said:
Gen 2 are much better. My smart meters we're installed in 2015 so gen 1, and until recently no supplier apart from the original could remotely read them. Somehow Shell Energy got them working again.

The other option is something like this https://hackaday.com/2020/07/24/a-complete-raspberry-pi-power-monitoring-system/
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Thanks. I’m actually with Shell Energy as well after I was transferred automatically by Ofgem after the collapse of Pure Planet, my previous supplier.

I’ll look into getting the Smart Meters installed via Shell through their website/app.
 
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