28% saving on Electricity Usage in Winter !!

newtonflotman · Mar 23, 2012

I have just had my first Electricity bill in since having solar panels fitted. A small 1.44kw Sanyo HIT System SSE facing - No Shade. The figures show we have used 28 % less electricity (graphs show comparison against last years usage on EDF bill) even through the depths of winter. Hopefully in the summer months the Solar panels will kick in higher savings, hopefully 60% ish. My system is running around 8% better than estimated to date.
EDF can manage to send their Bills out on time, shame about getting the FIT contracts out. INSTALLED 26/11/11 and still waiting for contract!!!!

Glen Powell · Mar 23, 2012

This is really good news that you see the benefits of solar PV, with the 28% reduction could I ask what your consumption was to start with and is now. It would just give other readers an idea of the total benefit you have gained.

newtonflotman · Mar 23, 2012

Last year average per day this bill period( 04/12/11 to 20/03/12) was 25.87 kWh, this bill year dropped to average 18.55kWh per day (REDUCTION OF 28.29%). This is for a 10 year old Semi-detached, Medium sized 3 bed house with conservatory. Usual kitchen gizmos. 2 Adults and a Child. A couple of years ago changed 90% lights over to LED bulbs, put various things on timers and eco-switches.

Pv System = 6 x Sanyo N240SE with SMA 1200 Invertor.
Not my first choice of system but I got caught up in the December rush and stock shortages.
But comparing well with other systems locally on pvoutput.

Glen Powell · Mar 23, 2012

You have something high powered running all say don't you, either a computer, fish tank or something?? this is where the difference really shows a return in investment.

Graeme Harrold · Mar 23, 2012

My 4kW system has made no difference to my bill................then again I have since installed a 1700l hot tub

Glen Powell · Mar 23, 2012

Graeme Harrold said:
My 4kW system has made no difference to my bill................then again I have since installed a 1700l hot tub

And they say electricians are poorly paid

moggy1968 · Mar 23, 2012

The lad who had my demo system installed on his house complained it made no difference to the size of his electricity bill, when I pointed out the rise in electricity prices over the period ne realised that was quite good!! Both out at work all day too.

Graeme Harrold · Mar 24, 2012

Glen Powell said:
And they say electricians are poorly paid

It was on a tight budget............ £700 off e-bay......

The Solar King · Mar 24, 2012

Interesting stuff. The annual consumption if you multiply up 25.87kwh is quite high. Are you sure the grid meter is not running backwards when the system is exporting? When this happens it is like being paid 13.5p plus 1.5p for every exported unit! Not quite the intention of the Feed In Tariff programme. Some FIT application forms ask if you have seen this happening. Also read the small print as you may be oblidged to tell your FIT provider if you do experience this. If you do not, it could be seen as fraudulent. Either way they will have the money back.

Working on the basis of no metering problems, how much this system contributes in the summer will depend largely on the load profile of the property, ie when you are consuming electricity. For most households there is a major mismatch between generation and consumption. Don't be disappointed if it is not as much as you may hope.

moggy1968 · Mar 24, 2012

Graeme Harrold said:
It was on a tight budget............ £700 off e-bay......View attachment 11417

PMSL!
how far did you have to with that!

Graeme Harrold · Mar 24, 2012

The Solar King said:
Working on the basis of no metering problems, how much this system contributes in the summer will depend largely on the load profile of the property, ie when you are consuming electricity. For most households there is a major mismatch between generation and consumption. Don't be disappointed if it is not as much as you may hope.

This is a big part of my survey presentation, as not many people think about their usage patterns or where the power goes. Changing usage habits is all part of the scheme. e.g. when I go out in the morning, the dishwasher is set to come on at about 11am (it goes on daily anyway, but better to minimise my export), in addition I also have an inverter switched immersion heater that will top up the hot water throughout the day.

Graeme Harrold · Mar 24, 2012

Didnt have to go too far, tub was dropped by the pallet courier at my local building supplies depot, I only drove about 2 miles through town..............plenty of comments. The tub weighs about 400kg.......

newtonflotman · Mar 24, 2012

I run a Tropical fish tank with heater, plus have a convector heater in use during winter months in conservatory. Try do do best with switching washing machine and dishwasher on at suitable times. A couple of years ago changed 90% of lights in house over to LED.

Glen Powell · Mar 24, 2012

newtonflotman said:
I run a Tropical fish tank with heater, plus have a convector heater in use during winter months in conservatory. Try do do best with switching washing machine and dishwasher on at suitable times. A couple of years ago changed 90% of lights in house over to LED.

I gathered as much, I run a marine tank and that alone uses about 20kwh a day.

SolarCity · Mar 24, 2012

Glen Powell said:
I gathered as much, I run a marine tank and that alone uses about 20kwh a day.

Christ on a bike! That must be some tank.

newtonflotman · Mar 24, 2012

1440kw system produced 181 kw within the 3 month billing period. I have a new style electronic meter in the house, so no dial to spin backwards. Light flashes red at various speeds depending on usage, goes solid red when exporting. I take it this is correct?
The Pv Inverter and meter is separate and in the garage.

Glen Powell · Mar 24, 2012

SolarCity said:
Christ on a bike! That must be some tank.

Erm yes, I had to knock a wall out to put it in, the filter tank (sump) is 200 litres, it has 2 x 6000litre an hour pumps, UV steralizers, wave makers, just under a kw of lighting and just under 1kw heating. not to mention all the gizmos and gadgets.

But its worth it to keep my ugly pet dogs

SolarCity · Mar 24, 2012

A kW of lighting in a fishtank?! I love it.

I have a 50ltr tropic tank and that's enough of a ball ache in itself.

Gary K · Mar 24, 2012

Glen Powell said:
Erm yes, I had to knock a wall out to put it in, the filter tank (sump) is 200 litres, it has 2 x 6000litre an hour pumps, UV steralizers, wave makers, just under a kw of lighting and just under 1kw heating. not to mention all the gizmos and gadgets.
View attachment 11423 But its worth it to keep my ugly pet dogs

And Graeme Harrold thought his hot tub was expensive to run!!!

The Solar King · Mar 24, 2012

You should have a solar thermal swimming pool system to heat something that size. Far more efficient than PV.

Earthstore · Mar 24, 2012

Hell, we are getting sad, Saturday night and we should be down the pub, and here we are talking about the best way to heat a fish tank..
Sorry chaps I am off, there is a pint with my name on it
Cheers.

The Solar King · Mar 24, 2012

Me too. Daughter's 19th birthday party. Fancy dress - don't ask!

Aquinas_Quark · Mar 24, 2012

newtonflotman said:
Last year average per day this bill period( 04/12/11 to 20/03/12) was 25.87 kWh, this bill year dropped to average 18.55kWh per day (REDUCTION OF 28.29%). This is for a 10 year old Semi-detached, Medium sized 3 bed house with conservatory. Usual kitchen gizmos. 2 Adults and a Child. A couple of years ago changed 90% lights over to LED bulbs, put various things on timers and eco-switches.

Pv System = 6 x Sanyo N240SE with SMA 1200 Invertor.
Not my first choice of system but I got caught up in the December rush and stock shortages.
But comparing well with other systems locally on pvoutput.

Have I understood you correctly? You are generating an average of over 7 kWh per DAY, in winter, with a 1.44 kW peak system?
So it produces equivalent to nearly 5 hours at pEAK POWER in the winter? I have 15 of these panels and did nowhere near that over the winter - though up to 15 kWh + on a good day now.........

moggy1968 · Mar 24, 2012

Glen Powell said:
Erm yes, I had to knock a wall out to put it in, the filter tank (sump) is 200 litres, it has 2 x 6000litre an hour pumps, UV steralizers, wave makers, just under a kw of lighting and just under 1kw heating. not to mention all the gizmos and gadgets.
View attachment 11423 But its worth it to keep my ugly pet dogs

Is that a diver in scuba gear behind that rock?!!

danesol · Mar 25, 2012

newtonflotman said:
I have just had my first Electricity bill in since having solar panels fitted. A small 1.44kw Sanyo HIT System SSE facing - No Shade. The figures show we have used 28 % less electricity (graphs show comparison against last years usage on EDF bill) even through the depths of winter. Hopefully in the summer months the Solar panels will kick in higher savings, hopefully 60% ish. My system is running around 8% better than estimated to date.
EDF can manage to send their Bills out on time, shame about getting the FIT contracts out. INSTALLED 26/11/11 and still waiting for contract!!!!

Good to hear that you are making a saving, however IMO, you wont be able to make any further saving in the summer, infact you will make less.... as you will naturally will use less during daytime hours as myself & FB pointed out weeks ago on another thread.

The only way you will be able to increase your saving is by using more electricity during production hrs ( ie. heating water, washing, tumberdryer etc ), or make your home more efficient by replacing halogens and similar high wattage bulbs with 3Watt LEDS and purchasing more efficient white goods on replacement or invest in a battery backup system like the SunnyBack, which can feed back through the Inverter ( at night) excess energy stored in DC batteries during the day

FYI- I spoke to the EDF Greeen Team only the other week and they are currently on NOV 2011 FiT app's now.... so can I suggest you call them on their FREE 0800 no and findout whats the status of your application as you ONLY have 10days to respond to the contract which they prefer to send you via email. If you havent received it and they have already sent it... dont panic, tell them this and they will give you extra time to respond to the contract papers been resent

hth

newtonflotman · Mar 25, 2012

Got my contract from EDF finally sent to me via email yesterday. (Took nearly 4 months!!)
AQUINAS_QUARK1
In the previous post I explained that my usage has dropped against the same period last year by roughy 7Kwh per day as quoted by EDF on their latest bill. My system has generated around 180 Kwh in this time - which equates to approx 2 kwh per day. I don't seem to of changed anything else since last year, I presume the other savings are down to the relatively mild winter here in sunny Norfolk.

danesol · Mar 28, 2012

newtonflotman said:
Got my contract from EDF finally sent to me via email yesterday. (Took nearly 4 months!!)
AQUINAS_QUARK1
In the previous post I explained that my usage has dropped against the same period last year by roughy 7Kwh per day as quoted by EDF on their latest bill. My system has generated around 180 Kwh in this time - which equates to approx 2 kwh per day. I don't seem to of changed anything else since last year, I presume the other savings are down to the relatively mild winter here in sunny Norfolk.

Sounds like you are just NOT making use of the generated power during your peak generation hrs by the sounds of it