Solar Panels do not reduce Electricity Usage significantly - Confused

[soms]

Generated kWh from solar PV tails off sharply over Autumn into in the winter months. Generation in December is a fraction of what it will be in June. As such benefits from off-setting imported electricity are slim to none, particularly December - early January. This is due to short days and few clear days. Because the sun is at it's weakest generation on overcast days at this time of year can be negligible.
In the Spring, Summer and Autumn it is a different matter, if you are conscious of how well you are generating on a given day (clear/bright conditions) and use your energy-hungry appliances at this time you will see savings.
If you use can maximise your use at this time then export metering would work against you as the deemed 50% would be greater than the real value of your annual export.

 

[Gavin A]

you should see a bigger reduction than that, though it does depend on your consumption pattern - if you're never in during the day and don't set washing machines etc off to use daytime power and have that low level of consumption then it could be right.

Are you sure your loft light hasn't been left switched on or something like that? It's amazing how much power something like that can end up drawing over a year - 500kWh a year for a 60W bulb.

 

[whinmoor]

I reckon there's a possibility that you have a faulty import meter in your meter cabinet. I am monitoring some systems in our area (Yorkshire) and they are not starting to generate until 8:15am. That includes east-facing systems with Solar Edge.

I just looked at a couple of sites in Winchester and Gloucester and they don't seem to be active before around 8:00am.

I don't believe that your system was generating enough at 7:45am to cover your baseload and have enough spare to export.

Your meter may have been under-measuring your usage for years which will obviously have saved you £s.

 

[Wilko]

Crikey it's still dark here at that time

 

[rolyberkin]

I may have the wrong end of the stick here but I have the same size system as you and I have saved loads, the key to me is ensuring that you use the electricity you generate during the day. Easier for us as we have time delays now on our washing machine and dishwasher or my Mrs is at home. In the event of a predicted sunny day I will set them to come on consecutively. I also am on economy seven so if no sun we run the washers at night. As @Leesparkykent has suggested the other sensible move is to fit a solar iboost or similar to divert any excess generated energy to save on heating your water via an immersion particularly during the summer (I haven't done this yet but will be shortly). I wouldn't suggest getting an export meter fitted, instead try to make better use of what you are generating, then you get the best of both worlds.

 

[Gary K]

Is it not the case that once reverse energy has been detected, this message(RED)is added to the meter cycle as it goes through the various meter rates and continues to show indefinately. I have it showing, even after dark?

 

[Barry White]

Is it not the case that once reverse energy has been detected, this message(RED)is added to the meter cycle as it goes through the various meter rates and continues to show indefinately. I have it showing, even after dark?

I believe you are correct as the meters are designed to detect reverse energy and will stay like this unless reset. Its a foolhardy attempt to stop meter fiddling. If you have solar or wing etc ignore it.

 

[Gavin A]

Is it not the case that once reverse energy has been detected, this message(RED)is added to the meter cycle as it goes through the various meter rates and continues to show indefinately. I have it showing, even after dark?

correct

 

[Rincewindwiz]

Various comments

rolyberkin:
1. Fascinating. Wonder why you got so much and I get little. I only do washing during the day (and usually sunny days so it can hang in the garden.) Dont do washing even in the evenings even in the winter.

Only 1 of me so I dont use the dishwasher that much.

I agree entirely with the plan for solar iboost (or similar). Be interesting to see what additional savings that brings

Soms: Yes, I agree the with the approach of maximising the use of the energy I generate. Afterall, its effectively free!

Winter Generation.
Nov - March I generated about 600Kwh (assuming generation meter started at 0)
March to November I generated about 3000kwh
Thats about 3.5 times more in summer month than winter month.

 

[Gavin A]

I really would be checking for something being switched on in the house that shouldn't be as that's the most likely explanation of this situation.

Turn everything off that you're aware of as well as the solar pv system, and time the time between flashes on the LED on your incoming meter. Each flash is one watt hour, so from that you can calculate the power draw. Then you can run through turning each circuit off one at a time until you find which circuit was still drawing more power than you'd have expected, then investigate everything on that circuit until you find the culprit.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

Gavin: Sounds an excellent plan. May take a day or so but I will report back.

So a quick look says currently (2 PCs, TV and 5 or 6 lights) I get 3 flashes in 15 seconds so that is 1 watt hour every 5 seconds. I seem to have too many time units here so how do I turn this into Kw used?

 

[HandySparks]

I get 3 flashes in 15 seconds so that is 1 watt hour every 5 seconds. I seem to have too many time units here so how do I turn this into Kw used?

So that would be 12 flashes (Wh) in a minute, x 60 = 720Wh in an hour. ie 720W, or 0.72kW.

 

[LeeH]

Energy meters with a graphical display are very cheap!

Maybe get one and you'll have real time information on what's on.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

So that would be 12 flashes (Wh) in a minute, x 60 = 720Wh in an hour. ie 720W, or 0.72kW.

Right. Got it. Thanks

Energy meters with a graphical display are very cheap!

So I googled. The first (Smappee) was £300. Then I stuck UK in the search string and got a pile of smart meters. What would you suggest?

 

[LeeH]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122310799461