Solar panels , would you ?

PJ87 said:
Too warm at the moment, won't get one coming up this week I reckon as it's cold but also strong winds so won't be a shortfall
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Judging by the Octopus Tracker tariff, wholesale prices must have been quite high the last few weeks. There was actually one day (6th Nov) when the tracker price for electricity was about 2p above the standard cap rate. And it's been pretty close (above 20p) for a couple of weeks. So that would suggest there isn't much wriggle room.

I seem to recall reading that the early November dull and calm weather meant quite a bit of gas fired generation had to be fired up to meet the demand.
That sounds like exactly the right time for a saving session. Strange that it hasn't happened.
 
Such a strange country we live in lol most of November has been dry, mild but with bugger all sun

One of the best returns for sun today .. yet it was freezing cold lol go figure

Plenty of energy in the battery ATM going into the last 5 hours before the cheap rate kicks in
 
PJ87 said:
Such a strange country we live in lol most of November has been dry, mild but with bugger all sun

One of the best returns for sun today .. yet it was freezing cold lol go figure

Plenty of energy in the battery ATM going into the last 5 hours before the cheap rate kicks in
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Yes, it was a good day, more of it on Friday
 

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TW12, just within Ulez by a long iron distance.


As one of the customers who joined Saving Sessions last winter, I wanted to give you an update on it, and ask for your help.

Saving Sessions’ future is in jeopardy.

This Friday 22nd November, the energy regulator Ofgem are deciding:

- Whether the service should continue at all
- How much reward customers should receive for taking part

The proposal they’re assessing would reduce the reward you receive by ~90%. Where previously, we typically paid you £2.25 per unit you saved, it would be more like 22p per unit instead.
 
larmen said:
TW12, just within Ulez by a long iron distance.


As one of the customers who joined Saving Sessions last winter, I wanted to give you an update on it, and ask for your help.

Saving Sessions’ future is in jeopardy.

This Friday 22nd November, the energy regulator Ofgem are deciding:

- Whether the service should continue at all
- How much reward customers should receive for taking part

The proposal they’re assessing would reduce the reward you receive by ~90%. Where previously, we typically paid you £2.25 per unit you saved, it would be more like 22p per unit instead.
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Ofgem demonstrating once again that they can't be trusted to regulate the energy industry properly for the benefit of the consumer and the environment.
 
@larmen free energy in the morning 7-9 which is the longest session I've seen

I've changed my schedule on my battery to only charge 1.5 hours tonight and to then charge between those hours

Wife's car is only 81% full ATM so I'll plug that in and approve the charge about 7am aswell

Make the most of it all I guess
 
I set mine to skip 2 to 5 and charge at 7 instead. Also charge my bike on Sunday, will have to wake up to plug in the batteries that early.

The couple of nights ago it was too cold for the batteries to charge fully in the time slot. But it was sunny enough to not matter that day.
 
my usage is definitely down on last year on a day to day basis. today for example i used 16kwh , used to be pushing 25kwh a day.. i put it down to replacing the outside freezer with a much more efficient one , which also means i could turn my second outside freezer off because i can fit more in this one, on top of that the girls are at school every day so less usage during the day. weekends are higher usage

this usage has been offset though with replacing my wifes car with an EV. however im happy with that as its pushed down the energy costs as everything goes via the cheap hours rather than using more in the house which risks the battery running out and pulling from the day rate.

would love to get a heat pump but its just not viable at the moment. gas is so reasonable for what i need. I will however be getting an induction hob when i need to replace the kitchen
 
The factory next to us at work, 20-30 metres away, has just posted for people to be careful because their solar panels are being ripped off their roof by the wind. Hopefully they just land on the ground, safely, and stay there.

I've not really come across this before. Is it much of an issue?
 
Lord Tyrion said:
The factory next to us at work, 20-30 metres away, has just posted for people to be careful because their solar panels are being ripped off their roof by the wind. Hopefully they just land on the ground, safely, and stay there.

I've not really come across this before. Is it much of an issue?
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We have had some serious storms since ours were installed and touch wood haven't had an issue. The ones on the flat roof are held down by concrete slabs rather than screwed to the roof itself (IE they are on a big metal frame and the frame is weighted down with slabs)
 
Forgot to do the numbers in november (on here anyways)

Novembers bill : £54.41
Export : £0.34
total usage 662.7kwh
cost without system £182.19
Saving this month £124

December bill: £67.62
Export: £0.36
total usage 796.1
Cost without system £215.33
Savings this month £148

Total savings in year 3 (may till now) £1324
Total savings since install £4865
Left to pay back system £10456

Still proving its worth for sure
 
November and December were both awful. Spending £30ish each month on energy, on top of daily charges.


But overall the 1st year of solar + storage was OK.

Based on the MCS certificate our 8 panels should generate 2,730 kWh a year. That's 8 panels fairly south, but 2 of them fairly flat.
We did generate 2,900 kWh.
We used 2,600 kWh of energy, so we have net exported for the year.
The cost on standard tariff would have been £674 + standing charges, we received £22, standing charges wash out. Giving a saving of just under £700.Screenshot 2025-01-01 at 17.53.00.png
 
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January figures

Billed cost £64.29
Export paid £0.66
Total usage 755.8 kWh

Cost if I didn't have system £208
Savings this month £145

Saving in year 3 to date £1469

Saving since system install £5010

3rd of the way to being paid off
 
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