Discussion
ruwokeenuff said:
We have 5.6kw of panels now and I was scratching my head as to why I was maxxed out at 3.6kw exporting on a lovely sunny day.....after a cpl of calls to my supplier found out that I am limited to exporting just the 3.5kw coz of the state of the line/transformer etc local to me.....bummer. Still its nearly time to adjust my rockers to their peak summer position...
Sounds more likely you're limited to exporting 3.6KW because you only have an inverter rated to 3.6KW...?But fitting a higher-rated inverter would require the different certification mentioned previously, which could indeed be rejected if local infrastructure can't handle it.
I've gone with Ripple - Mrs eps didn't want solar panels, even though we're south facing on the rear aspect and there are no trees, etc.. in the way.. anyway!
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Arnold Cunningham said:
My Mrs was also a bit "meh" about panels on the roof. But actually now installed, doesn't look bad at all - just looks different.
I'm sure it would be fine if I went ahead, but she is steadfastly against them!! I mean I almost never go down to the end of the garden and turn round and look at the roof of our house and neither does she, however...Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Friday 5th May 15:09
silentbrown said:
ruwokeenuff said:
We have 5.6kw of panels now and I was scratching my head as to why I was maxxed out at 3.6kw exporting on a lovely sunny day.....after a cpl of calls to my supplier found out that I am limited to exporting just the 3.5kw coz of the state of the line/transformer etc local to me.....bummer. Still its nearly time to adjust my rockers to their peak summer position...
Sounds more likely you're limited to exporting 3.6KW because you only have an inverter rated to 3.6KW...?But fitting a higher-rated inverter would require the different certification mentioned previously, which could indeed be rejected if local infrastructure can't handle it.
ruwokeenuff said:
NO, and I'll write this again. I am limited to exporting 3.6kw due to the transformer etc where I live. it has NAFF ALL to do with the inverter.
It's the inverter which physically sets the limit.Allowing you to only connect a 3.6kW inverter is how the gridco protects their transformer.
Or rather, avoids having to think about the situation.
Presumably GridCo thinks their transformer would be OK if every consumer in your area added a 3.6kW inverter?
It's just the way the game is played.
OutInTheShed said:
ruwokeenuff said:
NO, and I'll write this again. I am limited to exporting 3.6kw due to the transformer etc where I live. it has NAFF ALL to do with the inverter.
It's the inverter which physically sets the limit.Allowing you to only connect a 3.6kW inverter is how the gridco protects their transformer.
Or rather, avoids having to think about the situation.
Presumably GridCo thinks their transformer would be OK if every consumer in your area added a 3.6kW inverter?
It's just the way the game is played.
ruwokeenuff said:
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr NO
You need to explain a little more then, as I'm not the only one baffled here! You're UK based, I assume??- You can install a 3.68KW inverter without advance approval.
- You can't install a 5KW inverter without DNO approval *in advance* via a G99, which costs £££.
- The DNO could say, sure, fit a 5KW inverter, but you can only export 3.5KW - this AIUI then requires a further G100 form (£££) plus an export limitation device must to be installed. (At this point, the sane approach is to say sod it and just fit a 3.68KW Inverter)
While it's feasible that you have a 10KW inverter with a 3.5KW limiter and have paid £££ for all the DNO forms before installation, I'm amazed you're only finding out about the output limitation NOW.
silentbrown said:
ruwokeenuff said:
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr NO
You need to explain a little more then, as I'm not the only one baffled here! You're UK based, I assume??- You can install a 3.68KW inverter without advance approval.
- You can't install a 5KW inverter without DNO approval *in advance* via a G99, which costs £££.
- The DNO could say, sure, fit a 5KW inverter, but you can only export 3.5KW - this AIUI then requires a further G100 form (£££) plus an export limitation device must to be installed. (At this point, the sane approach is to say sod it and just fit a 3.68KW Inverter)
While it's feasible that you have a 10KW inverter with a 3.5KW limiter and have paid £££ for all the DNO forms before installation, I'm amazed you're only finding out about the output limitation NOW.
eps said:
I've gone with Ripple - Mrs eps didn't want solar panels, even though we're south facing on the rear aspect and there are no trees, etc.. in the way.. anyway!
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Not sure that's an apples with apples compare. The savings even if you own 100% of your generation in capacity from Ripple are still only 25% because you have to pay all your grid charges, taxes and supplier costs. Much cheaper to have the panels on your own roof!So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
OutInTheShed said:
Having 5.6kW of panels with a 3.6kW inverter means you will generate more power and be able to use or export it at all times when a 3.6kW array was generating less than 64%. That's a big slice of a day like today.
It's normal to have an over-specified array, i.e. the panels can nominally generate more than the inverter can output. Panels' ratings are optimum figures; actual performance depends on slope, azimuth and latitude (as per the PVGIS tool). A lower rated inverter is also likely to have a lower startup voltage, meaning it will generate earlier and later in the day than a higher rated one, though possibly not by a lot.Penny Whistle said:
OutInTheShed said:
Having 5.6kW of panels with a 3.6kW inverter means you will generate more power and be able to use or export it at all times when a 3.6kW array was generating less than 64%. That's a big slice of a day like today.
It's normal to have an over-specified array, i.e. the panels can nominally generate more than the inverter can output. Panels' ratings are optimum figures; actual performance depends on slope, azimuth and latitude (as per the PVGIS tool). A lower rated inverter is also likely to have a lower startup voltage, meaning it will generate earlier and later in the day than a higher rated one, though possibly not by a lot.AyBee said:
eps said:
I've gone with Ripple - Mrs eps didn't want solar panels, even though we're south facing on the rear aspect and there are no trees, etc.. in the way.. anyway!
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Not sure that's an apples with apples compare. The savings even if you own 100% of your generation in capacity from Ripple are still only 25% because you have to pay all your grid charges, taxes and supplier costs. Much cheaper to have the panels on your own roof!So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Instead of paying £12k for a 4kW system you pay £4466.
The hardware will be costing them about £2k for the panels, plus a share of an inverter and some brackets. Plus a bit of agricultural land. I'd guess there's a bill for connecting to the grid, but you can see they are making money.
With your own system, you are paying a lot for having white van man knock holes in your roof.
OutInTheShed said:
AyBee said:
eps said:
I've gone with Ripple - Mrs eps didn't want solar panels, even though we're south facing on the rear aspect and there are no trees, etc.. in the way.. anyway!
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Not sure that's an apples with apples compare. The savings even if you own 100% of your generation in capacity from Ripple are still only 25% because you have to pay all your grid charges, taxes and supplier costs. Much cheaper to have the panels on your own roof!So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Instead of paying £12k for a 4kW system you pay £4466.
The hardware will be costing them about £2k for the panels, plus a share of an inverter and some brackets. Plus a bit of agricultural land. I'd guess there's a bill for connecting to the grid, but you can see they are making money.
With your own system, you are paying a lot for having white van man knock holes in your roof.
I paid £5k for my solar panels, but they are fixed to this house. I can't really take them with me if I move. If they break, that's my problem.
If I wanted a solar only solution, I would have been very interested in this.
pingu393 said:
As someone who has solar panels on their roof, I can say that this sounds a fantastic idea. The biggest selling point for me would be the portability of the system.
I paid £5k for my solar panels, but they are fixed to this house. I can't really take them with me if I move. If they break, that's my problem.
If I wanted a solar only solution, I would have been very interested in this.
Unfortunately, there is a faint whiff of 'timeshare' about it.I paid £5k for my solar panels, but they are fixed to this house. I can't really take them with me if I move. If they break, that's my problem.
If I wanted a solar only solution, I would have been very interested in this.
Why can't we just buy shares in company with a bunch of panels in fields?
eps said:
I've gone with Ripple - Mrs eps didn't want solar panels, even though we're south facing on the rear aspect and there are no trees, etc.. in the way.. anyway!
So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
Do you have to go on a specific tariff with their supply partners or can you get the ripple discount applied to any tariff?So in theory win-win, I get solar energy and she doesn't get to see them!
So basically you invest in part of a solar park and you get the benefit of a lower electric bill.
If anyone is interested this is a link, where both parties benefit https://rippleenergy.com?ogu=24144 if you sign up and purchase shares in the project
OutInTheShed said:
Why can't we just buy shares in company with a bunch of panels in fields?
https://stcenergy.org.ukOutInTheShed said:
Unfortunately, there is a faint whiff of 'timeshare' about it.
Why can't we just buy shares in company with a bunch of panels in fields?
Edf, Scottish Power (via their parent company), Centrica, SSE etc all own solar farms and are tradable companies. Why can't we just buy shares in company with a bunch of panels in fields?
Ripple seems quite an inefficient way of doing it because of all the charges which make up your bill, over and above the wholesale energy cost.
OutInTheShed said:
Ripple is interesting, because it's a lot more efficient in terms of work and overheads to put some panels in a field as part of a big system.
Instead of paying £12k for a 4kW system you pay £4466.
The hardware will be costing them about £2k for the panels, plus a share of an inverter and some brackets. Plus a bit of agricultural land. I'd guess there's a bill for connecting to the grid, but you can see they are making money.
With your own system, you are paying a lot for having white van man knock holes in your roof.
But with your own system, you get to save 100% of your energy bills, with Ripple's system, you only save 25% because you still pay your grid charges, taxes and supplier costs. If you want to invest in solar, just buy a fund that does that (there are plenty), if you want to save on your energy bills, you're better off getting panels on your house.Instead of paying £12k for a 4kW system you pay £4466.
The hardware will be costing them about £2k for the panels, plus a share of an inverter and some brackets. Plus a bit of agricultural land. I'd guess there's a bill for connecting to the grid, but you can see they are making money.
With your own system, you are paying a lot for having white van man knock holes in your roof.
AyBee said:
But with your own system, you get to save 100% of your energy bills, with Ripple's system, you only save 25% because you still pay your grid charges, taxes and supplier costs. If you want to invest in solar, just buy a fund that does that (there are plenty), if you want to save on your energy bills, you're better off getting panels on your house.
Facts about this for 28/03 to 27/04...We paid £17.04 for imported electricity.
We were paid £17.01 for exported electricity.
Net charge was 3p
House consumption was 269.70kWh
It would have £107.27 on Octopus Flexible.
It sounds like a fantastic saving, but it is still a 10 year ROI on a £13k investment.
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