Hi ,
It looks like you're using an ad blocker.



The revenue generated from the adverts on the site is a critical part of our funding - and it's because of these ads that I can offer the site for free. But using the site for free AND blocking the ads doesn't feel like a great thing to do, which is why this box is so large and inconvenient. Some sites will completely block your access, but I'm not doing that - I'm appealing to your good nature instead. Did you know that you can allow ads for specific sites, whilst still blocking them on others?

Thanks,
Ian Williams aka Fetch
or for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

Energy Bills

54 watchers
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Mar 2024
12:56pm, 27 Mar 2024
49,684 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
HappyG(rrr)
Diogenes Dio, we've got 19 panels, a mix of south, east and west on various bits of sticky out extensions to the old house. We don't get a very high peak (should be 7.8kW peak with 19 panels, but I've never seen higher than 6kW, though there may also be some limitation on the inverter / battery combo in our house, I've never got to the bottom of that!) but... it's good enough for free elec most of the time and surplus some of the time, so we are paid.

Remember battery - we save more (and can even generate income) from the battery than the solar. So much so that wife is agitating for a second battery. :-) G
Diogenes
Diogenes
Mar 2024
12:58pm, 27 Mar 2024
85,231 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Diogenes
Battery HappyG(rrr)?

Not sure I could afford the initial outlay. What if you move before it's paid for itself. That's money down the drain, isn't
Diogenes
Diogenes
Mar 2024
12:58pm, 27 Mar 2024
85,232 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Diogenes
...it?
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Mar 2024
1:00pm, 27 Mar 2024
49,686 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
HappyG(rrr)
How so? Battery is cheaper than the solar (was for us). In fact, I'd go so far as to say "battery BEFORE solar". Happy to explain in £ numbers, payback etc. if useful. :-) G
Diogenes
Diogenes
Mar 2024
1:14pm, 27 Mar 2024
85,233 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Diogenes
What do you mean by battery in this context? To me a battery is something that stores energy. Where does that energy come from in this domestic application? Should I just Google it? (and is there a more appropriate thread for this discussion?)
jda
jda
Mar 2024
1:14pm, 27 Mar 2024
16,758 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
jda
It's no more money down the drain than any other house improvement, assuming your buyers are not complete idiots (well who knows about that though).

As for RunningRonnie, any decent combi really ought to be off until used, that's the whole point. We don't have a hot tank at all - getting rid of that was part of the point of changing over, as it was in our bedroom and uncomfortably warm overnight. Can't guarantee that your system isn't odd though!
jda
jda
Mar 2024
1:17pm, 27 Mar 2024
16,759 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
jda
Batteries are commonly installed alongside solar in order to store excess daytime production and use it later on (eg in the evening). But as HG says, the principle of storing power when it's cheap and using it when the price is peaking makes sense even without solar.
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Mar 2024
1:20pm, 27 Mar 2024
49,687 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
HappyG(rrr)
Dio, the battery stores cheap energy from night time (assuming you can get such a tariff) and allows you to use it during the day and evening (or if you have surplus, to sell it back to grid at a profit).

If you combine it with solar then it allows you to store what you generate during daylight hours (e.g. stops at 5pm) but still run things in the evening and into dark hours. Without a battery, you can only use solar during the day. Without a battery solar is virtually useless for anyone who isn't at home and consuming significant energy all day.

The amount you get paid for surplus energy going back to the grid is variable, but during peak of day generation e.g. 10 - 15.00 it's often very low. So whether you are using the energy or selling it, a battery lets you do that when it is most useful and valuable - 16.00 - 19.00. :-) G
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Mar 2024
1:22pm, 27 Mar 2024
49,688 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
HappyG(rrr)
In the old days ( stopped 5 or more years ago) you got a thing called "feed in tariff". It was a very generous subsidy effectively that paid you for the capacity of the solar you installed at a guaranteed (and high!) rate, whether you generated that energy or not.

Now, you only get paid for what you actually export to the grid, measured, so it makes sense to do that when it is most valuable. :-) G
Muttley
Muttley
Mar 2024
1:31pm, 27 Mar 2024
3,092 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Muttley
My thoughts occasionally stray in the direction of a battery. A neighbour (identical house and solar panels) has one but complains that it's noisy, it buzzes apparently. Not sure if they're all like that. Also, gradual loss of capacity over time worries me.

So far I've held off because my DD is only £30 anyway so the savings will be minor. That said, I'm keeping an open mind.

About This Thread

Maintained by fetcheveryone
We’ve had word from our energy company that our direct debit from April onwards will be double the current amount. How’s everyone else fared?
  • Show full description...

Related Threads

  • advice
  • budgeting
  • finances
  • lifeadmin








Back To Top

Tag A User

To tag a user, start typing their name here:
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 114,014 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here