Solar pv and other domestic micro-generation technologies

1 lurker | 27 watchers
Nov 2023
2:34pm, 8 Nov 2023
4,126 posts
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jacdaw
... isn't doing much good... Like if I buy 10k worth of pv and install them in the shade, rather than 10k towards a wind installation in a windy place?

And to be fair, given the scale of the problem we face, a few thousands of pounds is utterly irrelevant.
jda
Nov 2023
2:49pm, 8 Nov 2023
15,827 posts
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jda
Depends on the site perhaps. Round here there has been some discussion of the possibility of a community scale PV system of some sort. Early days, but if it's a goer then I'd certainly be prepared to stick a chunk of money into it.

(We do already have a small community hydro scheme which AIUI doesn't make much economic sense but maybe I'm wrong on that.)
Nov 2023
3:09pm, 8 Nov 2023
48,378 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
"...And to be fair, given the scale of the problem we face, a few thousands of pounds is utterly irrelevant."

For the environment thread, but that's something I don't agree with. I think we need all of everything, and yesterday, to minimize the already impacting effects of climate change.

With that approach we could all say "Well my wee bit of recycling or cutting on down on use doesn't really matter, given the scale of the problem." We need big solutions from the big polluters and from governments yes. But we also need small changes from hundreds of millions of the (mostly wealthy northern hemisphere) consumers, which together will also make a big difference.

But yes, I agree - a load of solar panels in a location that is covered in shade is completely pointless!

What other, bigger schemes are there that you can give your £10,000 to that will generate more benefit (excuse the pun)? :-) G
Nov 2023
3:49pm, 8 Nov 2023
21,060 posts
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rf_fozzy
facebook.com

Don't let the nimbys hear of community style solar schemes.
jda
Nov 2023
5:25pm, 8 Nov 2023
15,829 posts
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jda
A few thousand per person here, a few thousand per person there, pretty soon you're talking real money!
Nov 2023
7:55pm, 8 Nov 2023
11,923 posts
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cathrobinson
This thread is straying over into environmental debates. There’s a thread for that so it would be good to try and keep this one on point…?

(Dismounts high horse, knowing I’ve been slightly to blame ;-) )
Dec 2023
11:39am, 1 Dec 2023
12,025 posts
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cathrobinson
Rookie question here. My batteries are in the loft next to the inverter.

This last two days have been sunny but the majority of power has been going back into the grid rather than charging the batteries. Eg ~300W going to battery and 1.5kW going to the grid.

Is this likely to be due to the operating temperature of the batteries?
Dec 2023
12:48pm, 1 Dec 2023
48,677 posts
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Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(rrr)
Shouldn't be cath. The inverter should have settings for about what order it charges batteries vs. outputting to grid. We can set all of that in ours. But the default behaviour should be charge batteries before outputting to grid.

If batteries are too hot or too cold to charge, that isn't good. I would challenge your installer if that is the case. That sounds like a bad set up, if so. Our batteries are outside the house (too heavy for the loft!) and they work fine in direct sunlight in summer and -10C or whatever lowest was last winter. :-) G
Dec 2023
3:52pm, 1 Dec 2023
12,027 posts
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cathrobinson
Thanks Happy… I think I’ll contact them for support then as that’s two days in a row it’s done the same now. And it’s also been pulling from the grid first thing in the morning to charge the battery when there’s already 50+% charge and it should be draining that to power the house first.
Dec 2023
4:30pm, 1 Dec 2023
48,689 posts
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Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(rrr)
Sounds more like a configuration on your inverter/controller has got changed or reset somehow. Remember, these things are all internet connected computers nowadays, so they get updates, like your phone, over the network and stuff can change. Our support company can update our settings remotely, for instance. Not that they ever have changed something without telling us, I don't think! :-) G

About This Thread

Maintained by ThorntonRunner
Every so often we talk about solar pv, batteries etc split across the environment, energy bills and electric car threads. Here's a dedicated home for such discussion :)

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