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Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?
- Thread starter jdwuk
- Start date
It seems odd that unless the EV is at home all day its not possible to combined cheap EV charging with a good rate for PV export. So tarrif will need switching between winter and summer.
However I like normal rate import on flex being a little lower then peak rate export as it removes the risk of giving all battery content back to the grid at peak time, but wish they would net off import/exports at peak time so can just dump complete battery content to grid.
(Having a separate meter for the garage so the car can be on a different tariff seems unnecessary complex but they are pushing people in that direction.)
However I like normal rate import on flex being a little lower then peak rate export as it removes the risk of giving all battery content back to the grid at peak time, but wish they would net off import/exports at peak time so can just dump complete battery content to grid.
(Having a separate meter for the garage so the car can be on a different tariff seems unnecessary complex but they are pushing people in that direction.)
RedMod3
Member
I've never understood why anyone would go for the TEP, as if you have a Tesla Battery (as I do), you would only import at the lower GO or IO rate, which is far below the TEP rate. So, no loss, I'll stick with my batteries on GO or IO.
Think of a winter 35kwh use per day mostly in the daytime due to a heatpump
The PV export rate in summer is also more than GO or IO
But you can't get the good PV export rate if on GO or IO. And on Flex you only get 3rd hours of the low overnight late, so not long enough to charge many cars.
I am starting to think that with the direction Octipus is moving in I need any home battery systems to be able to complete charge/discharge in 3 hours hence would for the size I think of needing 8kw charging/discharging.
It would be so much easier if I could put a 2nd hand 40kwh Leaf on a 10kw plus V2H charger...... Having the additional capacity would make Agile Tarrif so much easier to control.
It would be so much easier if I could put a 2nd hand 40kwh Leaf on a 10kw plus V2H charger...... Having the additional capacity would make Agile Tarrif so much easier to control.
3 hours is 90 miles a day, unless you are exceeding that on subsequent days you can catch up. Even if you need more you could consider it costing 11p, the difference between the daytime generation and consumption. A 4hr charge on go would be £4.20 factoring in generation at 4p, or 35p total for the same on flux. Assuming you generate 28kw, which admittedly is quite a lot.
phil4
Member
I find it odd that they've binned the TEP tariff, which needed you to have a powerwall, and replaced with Flux which excludes anyone who has a powerwall.
Tesla must have -really- annoyed Octopus.
Tesla must have -really- annoyed Octopus.
scdoubleu
Member
Doesn't appear to exclude Powerwall owners. However, the three hour off-peak period is insufficient to charge an empty Powerwall to 100%, at least in my circumstances where Powerwall charge/discharge is limited to 16 amps.
So not particularly attractive for the winter months.
So not particularly attractive for the winter months.
ACarneiro
Active Member
Also, seems like there’s a maximum limit of 9kWp installed solar power so that would rule me out as well.
Seem like they don’t want people selling too much back to the grid…
Seem like they don’t want people selling too much back to the grid…
phil4
Member
As above, how do you control your PW exporting? Sure you're not explicitly excluded, but if you can't control export, there's no benefit whatsoever to being on it?
scdoubleu
Member
Might be possible to tweak the utility rates in the app to encourage the Powerwall to export at the right time - the Left Pondians have more experience in this regard. Perhaps ask in the Tesla Energy part of TMC.
Pretty sure my Powerwall is configured to never export anyway due to DNO edict because of crap LV cabling down the street.
Pretty sure my Powerwall is configured to never export anyway due to DNO edict because of crap LV cabling down the street.
RedMod3
Member
Could be that there is too high a voltage in your area as it in where we are. Our nominal voltage is 245-247V, and not far off the max of 253V, so our DNO doesn't like too much export.
RedMod3
Member
Maybe there are some circumstances where it works. In winter our solar and battery are sized to just avoid peak power and in summer they are sized to be independent of the grid, but not give them anything. We too have heat pumps, and they need a fair amount of power in the summer to keep us cool when it is 35-40C outside.
I think that the inverter capacity not the panel ratings. I don't know if a 10kw inverter can be downgraded a little or have a export limiters on it.
I think Tesla already have support for fixed times of day import and export rates integrated into their PV and usage prediction system.
I thought TEP also had a 9kwp limit? If you had more than that you needed an additional powerwall.
As for effectivness - its less good if you need to charge fully off peak - but then as well as hours, the price isn't great. But if you expect to have significant export potential you'd be charging the battery off that then exporting.
Its an odd one - at first glance appears a very seasonal tariff. You either game the system by bouncing around and only jump on when spring properly hits and jump back onto something else at the end of autumn, or your factor in the entire year in your maths which could get complicated
As for effectivness - its less good if you need to charge fully off peak - but then as well as hours, the price isn't great. But if you expect to have significant export potential you'd be charging the battery off that then exporting.
Its an odd one - at first glance appears a very seasonal tariff. You either game the system by bouncing around and only jump on when spring properly hits and jump back onto something else at the end of autumn, or your factor in the entire year in your maths which could get complicated
