South facing gives you the biggest peak power, but an E-W orientation smooths generation out over the day better - in particular you get power generation into the evening when demand is higher (Roof pitch also makes an impact).
The PV+battery would of course have a similar effect.
For reference the back of my house is approx SE facing and the front NW.
My plan is to have PV on the back asap, but then add further panels to the front to get summer evening generation when I can afford it. Battery probably first though.
The dilemma I'm having is currently whether to cover the back roof with PV (think I can fit 12 1.5mx1m panels) or whether to stick a couple of Solar Thermal for hot water on the back too. That probably reduces my PV to 9 panels at the back.
I've ordered a Tesla Powerwall 2 with the backup bit in case of a power cut.
Solar panels are not that practical, roof faces south but the space available isn't great and I suspect I will get knocked back for planning (conservation area)
Might approach that bit again in 18 months when I think there will be a tilt towards more people being given permission for them even if they live in a conservation area.
Planning to fill the battery every night on off peak rates and that will cover 90% of our peak usage. Not confident that the off peak rates can last forever, as EV ownership climbs I think it will reshape the pattern of demand on the grid.
So here it is. For those interested in the science, the politics, the action for (and I'll state that for me, this is mostly pro-environment, anti-emissions, anti-pollution etc.) and the hope for the future of our planet.
Useful links posted by contributors: rf_fozzy: This is quite a good article about how disruptive technology works too: lesswrong.com Basically about why Kodak completely missed the boat when it came to digital cameras timkastelle.org run free's Grand Designs example Ben Laws is a man who built his dream: granddesignsmagazine.com granddesignsmagazine.com Carbon Commentary carboncommentary.com
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