Installing Solar_cells

[peterb]

Now around nine months since installation, and looking at the figures, I have generated just over 2Mwh or energy, of which nearly a quarter (450kwh) was generated in May. The peak power has been just over 3kw, but generally it is sound 2 to 2.3 unless it is very overcast.

the next FIT reading is due in June, so I'll look at the figures then and see you my grid consumption has changed.

[1stRaven]

This will be our first fit payment so just waiting for the meter reading request to come in. We were at 1550KWh this morning so should be a nice little payment hopefully.

[peterb]

This will be our first fit payment so just waiting for the meter reading request to come in. We were at 1550KWh this morning so should be a nice little payment hopefully.

Excellent, I've reached 2MWh, but that is in 9 months!

[peterb]

Just submitted my FIT reading, and expect to receive around £205, making £345 for the last nine months. On the assumption that the next quarter will be the same, that will be about £550 for the year, slightly less than the original forecast. In terms of savings, my monthly bill will reduce by about £31/month, compared with last year although it has been reduced throughout the year, but represents a saving of around £330 a year, making an overall return of £880 a year, which is about a 9% return on investment, not including the opportunity cost (i.e., it isn't an investment I can cash in and regain the capital, unless I sell my house)

Im not sure what difference it would make to the house value. These things are difficult to estimate, but it would certainly be a selling point and could tip the balance between this and one without, even at a price premium. But as I'm not planning to move any time soon, these questions are of little practical relevance at the moment.

[TeePee]

Congratulations again on beating your initial estimates. I'll also point out that, on face value, you've beaten the market as well. Based on 9/25/14-6/1/15 you'd have seen about a 6.5% return.

However, the retained value of the panels remains the issue here. Assuming even a very optimistic 20 year life span, the profit here is significantly below market returns.

That said, I think you are being over cautious assuming the next quarter will be the same. Summer is just beginning, and you should be seeing bigger returns. With your particular set up, those 6 north facing panels should really benefit from a more advantageous axial inclination over the summer months!

[1stRaven]

I'm still waiting for the letter or email asking for the FIT reading but only my housemate has access to the npower account so maybe we just need to logon to submit it.

We hit 1700Kwh yesterday so depending when we submit, I guess that we are looking at around £250 for the last 4 months. The good news is that npower just dropped our main bill by £70 per month due to the reduction in electrical usage and gas since october. Looks like the heating work and these solar panels have done good work together. We also have the export credit on top of this but that wont arrive until march next year.

[1stRaven]

Just received our first FIT payment today which was a nice start to the month. They appear to have included our export payment in it as well as we received just under £300.

[1stRaven]

Below is a graph of our reduced energy consumption since we had the panels installed. Looking at an average saving of around £30 per month at the moment. Along with the expected 3.6MWh per year generation and we are looking at around the £950 mark per year. Could even be higher consider the generation rate that we are hitting.

[walibe]

With the possible and indeed likely reduction of feed in tariffs which would result in generation of under £100 a year (??!!!) the future seems to be squarely with in home power storage and more efficient solar panels much like what tesla are testing. The ability to then top up during the lower night time tariffs and with solar topping the batteries during the day, it could even lead to the UK moving away from gas for central heating etc.

Brilliant thread.

[1stRaven]

Due to our energy usage, I am tempted by the power storage systems. However, I estimate that I would need to be storing around 7-9KW to provide overnight power for the server, lights and PC's. That would take quite a bright day to provide power for the house during the day as well as recharging the batteries. That reduces the number of days that the system would fully work and therefore, just extends the repayment period of the technology.

Guess it depends on how expensive the home power storage technology is and how quickly it does in price.

[walibe]

Fully agree. Although if the government spent less on new power stations (particularly the nuclear ones with guaranteed extremely high energy prices) and invested in clean energy like home power storage, home generation etc our demand on the grid would reduce dramatically.

Maybe ensuring new builds have solar panels as a minimum or encourage these ground heat pumps.

[peterb]

I looked at home storage systems recently. I think a 2.5kwh hr unit would be sufficient to power all the background stuff overnight and reduce my grid consumption to practically zero. However, the unit is quite big and costs around £2900. The batteries however are extra and it needs two at a shade under £1000 each. The payback period is 10 to 12 years, about the estimated life of the batteries!

I expect prices will fall in due course, but at the moment it isn't worth it for home use.

My next FIT reading is due next week, so that will be the first year to do a like on like comparison.

[1stRaven]

Thanks for reminding me. Its been a rubbish month for Solar so I think we have only generated around 1.2MWh over the past quarter.

[1stRaven]

Just submitted my reading. Currently at 3055KWh so only 1199KWh in the last 3 months. Shows how poor the weather has been over the last 3 months.

[Rob_B]

Ouch, that must affect your return on expenditure pretty hard?

[1stRaven]

It might do. September has been good so far so the next three months could make up for the summer figure. When I was investigating all of this, the solar companies were estimating an annual generation of 3.6MWh over the course of the year - a figure that I think we will be beat considering we have another 6 months to go (granted, these will be poorer than the summer months).