M
matthunt
@matthunt. I'm not being derogatory. I'm trying to get to the bottom of the technology.
I've got very detailed generation, consumption, power diversion and export of my own systems and a number of others for the last 3 years (there are 18 different environmental and energy monitors on my property), and know how difficult it is to use what you generate and store.
I understand the principles of most of the storage systems, even with the SolaX if you do configure it into 'force time use' mode (so it charges the batteries before self consumption) you're still not likely to be in a net gain situation over a considerable number of days in the year - just look at the generation figures above, and even the average household can use 35% of their annual generation by tweaking their usage habits. Even if you could use 4kW/day over a whole year = 1460kWh that is still only represents 44% of most homes annual usage. So in practice in most instances you'll still want to prioritise self consumption over generation, so that the benefits are cumulative not replacement. Even so you'll struggle to get above 75% when only having 4kWh of storage available. You need to look closely at consumption and generation profiles to work out the actual optimum storage capacity (see here https://www.elexon.co.uk/reference/technical-operations/profiling/ ) Just in case you didn't know it your profile is part of the information displayed above your MPAN on your leccy bill
I was NOT criticising marc8, or the Solax system, as I mentioned earlier marc8 is clearly an innovator (see Geoffrey Moore, Crossing the chasm) and the industry needs those guys
What we need for the next group - the early adopters is some good factual information on the real life performance of storage systems, and we need it as soon as possible, so that they can relate themselves as to how to use it and the benefits that they will get from it. - They will put their own value on the technology, they will however expect it to work and perform as stated - and that's the current issue we don't have that data - the price is not such an issue for this group (think people that always by the latest iPhone / Galaxy phone as soon as it comes out)
The big market place is the early majority, and these guys want well established references and tests and for it to be an established technology so they are at least 2 years away, that ties in nicely with battery development and costs
Very good response Worcester