Is solar electricity wothwhile ?

[FB.]

.....actually didnt estimate correctly at all) was the actual amount of electric it would save me on a daily basis ......

Yes, now that my own system has been running for a few months, I'm beginning to appreciate that using your own solar power is very difficult because it is so variable from day to day or even from minute to minute.
As you imply: who wants to be staying inside on a lovely sunny day to do the chores?

However, we live and learn.

As far as possible, houses in future ought to be built with a nice roof facing, and preferably so that panels can be mounted on two or three of the roof sides, in order to provide a more even supply of power during the day.
To have 1.2kWp facing in each of East, South and West (for a 3.6kWp system*) would give a much more usable and steady power supply.
It would also not all be in sun at any one time, so a 2.5kW inverter would be able to handle the output from the 3.6kWp, and the inverter would be working at good capacity (more efficient) for longer.
Panels are relatively cheap, so lots of panels in as many compass-point facings as possible, coupled with a medium size inverter would probably be more efficient.
Certainly I have 3.75kWp facing SoutherEast and it runs close to full capacity in mid-morning (3kW+) so there's more power than I can use on a sunny morning, but afternoons I get relatively little power (maybe 0.6kW) and the big inverter is not very efficient when the flow of electricity is just a trickle.


(*I choose 3.6kWp as a number just within the 16A/230V DNO ideal limit).

 

[alarm man]

solar without subsidies wouldnt be worth while..people arnt being green to save the planet,its just a better investment than putting your money in the bank,

 

[babba]

I understand its not being subsidised as much now ? and whats the lifespan of the average panel ?
A few lovely looking houses have been spoilt by it near me.:crazy:

I was hoping they would build a nuclear power plant beside my house instead the built an incinerator to burn rubbish and make electricity...WOW it looks great, really put the value of my house up...down with pv thats one eyesore.

 

[SolarCity]

solar without subsidies wouldnt be worth while..people arnt being green to save the planet,its just a better investment than putting your money in the bank,

You're totally right. Unfortunately, there are very few people that will actually pay for green technology if they feel that they're in it alone. To get green technology up and running we need to either subsidise it or tax pollution - or both.

Even more infuriating, a huge percentage of the population simply do not understand global warming and are utterly stunned every time we get a ground frost.

 

[Veryhandyman]

Have just had 16 Panels fitted a 4K/Watt System that’s 250Watts from each panel, the Company that fitted it were supposed to fit a SMA 4000tl inverter and said they couldn’t get one and that the SMA 3600tl/20 is the same
The 3600 is capped at 3600Watts and they said the 4000 is capped (is this correct) (Could any body out there please advise me?)
They also connected the live wire to the consumer unit to the feed side of the sockets/ring main that meant if I had turned off the sockets to do some work that it would still have been live!
They came back and fitted a separate circuit breaker 16amp
How many more have they done like this should I report them.

 

[pwboston]

You need to start a new thread for that.

 

[MorganPVI]

We have no mains gas in our village, where is our subsidy to have mains gas line run in?

I bet the majority of people moaning about solar subsidies have directly benefited from some kind of subsidy in their lives.

 

[moggy1968]

anyone paying an electricity bill is paying a 'subsidy'

 

[cybercat1989]

About 10 to 15 years offer power at almost same efficiency if maintain properly

 

[MicraShed]

Yes, now that my own system has been running for a few months, I'm beginning to appreciate that using your own solar power is very difficult because it is so variable from day to day or even from minute to minute.

Panels are relatively cheap, so lots of panels in as many compass-point facings as possible, coupled with a medium size inverter would probably be more efficient.
Certainly I have 3.75kWp facing SoutherEast and it runs close to full capacity in mid-morning (3kW+) so there's more power than I can use on a sunny morning, but afternoons I get relatively little power (maybe 0.6kW) and the big inverter is not very efficient when the flow of electricity is just a trickle.

Im glad its not just me, I look outside now (17.45hrs) and the back garden is full of sunshine, but my panels are putting out just 0.5kW. This is because the sun is on the wrong side of the house and whilst its very light they are getting no direct sunlight.

On another thread I stated about adding in further panels to my existing array facing SE. but now Im wondering if adding the additional 6 panels to the NW facing roof might actually extend the amount of usable power we get by delivering more in the late afternoon and early evening *(in the Summertime), as this roof is in direct sunlight for a few hours and unshaded.

Interesting thought about the inverter as we have a 3kW one which if the panels were split would be unlikely to be put over its capacity.

Thoughts?

 

[Blueflash]

In years to come those that bought into solar PV will have a smug smile on their face as electricity prices rise to unbelievable levels!
Most people have bought into solar for greeds sake not the free green power, they just see the solar meter as a cash machine!

 

[Eco Deal]

I glad I have two solar power systems then.

It a catch 22 situation either you have the cash to help you battle future fuel bills or you have no cash and you will struggle even more on fuel bills.


now theres free system but everybody in fuel poverty does not have a nice south facing roof !!!1

I think all local councils should have solar panels added to there housing stock to help combat fuel poverty!

Will the green deal do this ???

NOPE

 

[kevineaton]

best investment you can make. we had ours done in feb, and got the 43p scheme. its still worthwhile at 21p though. of course it depends on your house - roof angle and facing etc. put it this way, my electrictiy / gas bill used to be 2000 per year. its now down to £1100 (estimated). (we have an 8ft marine fishtank so we use a lot of electric during the day for the lighting and pumps etc). most of this is now free all the time.

electricity will never get cheaper.

plus, i will get a check soon for about £1000 for the 2300kw i have generated since feb. system cost me £7500. i get the 43 p rate for 25 years. panels have no moving parts and theres not much to go wrong. system will pay for itself in about 3 years with the savings i make and the generation tarrif. then its just money in the bank for the next 22 years. there is no better investment you can make for the risk.