Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

[WannabeOwner]

when they're just charging Off Peak they are usually pulling 3.5kW each

Mine are 10kW for the pair (again : IIRC) when on Time-Based, but they drop back if there is heavy load elsewhere in the house - e.g. car charging. Pretty sure they drop back to 3.5kW (rather than proportionately for whatever the other heavy load(s) is - if I charge 2x cars, overnight, the PW charging drops back the same as 1x car charging)

 

[notmeguv]

16 South Facing, and 32 (I think) Slightly South of East



If not already tried you might want to try an estimation with PVWatts



Useful to know. If I manually force mine to 100% (e.g. at start of Off Peak) (using Self-Powered, rather than Time-Based) the PWs charge at 3.5kW rather than their normal 10kW ... which means that they may not fully charge before Off peak ends. Dunno if you will have that limitation.

I watched the automation switch it to 100% reserve at 23:30 last night and it immediately started charging at 5kW. That was still on time-based.

 

[WannabeOwner]

I watched the automation switch it to 100% reserve at 23:30 last night and it immediately started charging at 5kW. That was still on time-based.

I don't think I have manually pushed mine to 100% on Time Based (i.e. outside the set charging time schedule). Would be interesting to see if that does Full Tilt.

In the Summer I use Self-Powered because PV (longer days) will provide enough for house, fully charge the PowerWalls and PWs will last from PV-sundown to sun-up ... but ... if I know that tomorrow will be cloudy or I need extra juice (anticipating daytime car charging [e.g. visitor]), and I want to charge PowerWalls Off Peak, and raise to 100% during Off Peak for that reason, then I only get (from memory) 3.5kW (2x PW)

 

[ACarneiro]

I don't think I have manually pushed mine to 100% on Time Based (i.e. outside the set charging time schedule). Would be interesting to see if that does Full Tilt.

In the Summer I use Self-Powered because PV (longer days) will provide enough for house, fully charge the PowerWalls and PWs will last from PV-sundown to sun-up ... but ... if I know that tomorrow will be cloudy or I need extra juice (anticipating daytime car charging [e.g. visitor]), and I want to charge PowerWalls Off Peak, and raise to 100% during Off Peak for that reason, then I only get (from memory) 3.5kW (2x PW)

At an export price of twice the import, I suspect most of our charging habits and self-consumption will change this coming summer...

 

[Js1977]

At an export price of twice the import, I suspect most of our charging habits and self-consumption will change this coming summer...

Im just hoping my tariff will renew at the same comes July

 

[random.car.new]

dashboard is fantastic, solar integration to see ahead expected generation to help determine how much to charge teh battery overnight. Super simple to set charge levels during an off peak period etc.

Hi - do you happen to have a screenshot of this forecast? I can’t seem to find it on the app or the browser!

 

[PITA]

At an export price of twice the import, I suspect most of our charging habits and self-consumption will change this coming summer...

Yep. My plans have now flipped completely.

I'll be charging my Powerwalls to 100% every night... exporting all Solar, and then exporting Powerwalls completely before 23:30

Cars will be Grid charged to 80% every day (hoping to connect this with free Grid Power notifications when this finally happens)

Then rinse & repeat...

Combined with Winter Saving Sessions export, I might use 15 MWh next year and not pay anything for it... amazing result.

 

[notmeguv]

and then exporting Powerwalls completely before 23:30

I haven’t got my export tariff yet, but what’s the best way to achieve this? Just set the reserve to something low an appropriate amount of time before 23:30?

 

[ACarneiro]

I haven’t got my export tariff yet, but what’s the best way to achieve this? Just set the reserve to something low an appropriate amount of time before 23:30?

Set the tariffs, set the Powerwall to "Export everything" and it should do it all for you.
I am interested to see how the AI is going to manage things...

 

[Js1977]

I am interested to see how the AI is going to manage things...

That is a fair point. The charge and discharge shenanigans with the saving sessions hasn't gone well with the battery not charging fully overnight in my case. I dont think the randomness of how it was done helped... After a bit of training, it has now been charging to 100% over night for the last few days.

I know HA can be a solution but I dont really have the time and inclination these days to mess around with such things such as I was about 20 years ago.

 

[Js1977]

I felt sorry for my neighbour with his battery and solar panels now sat there doing bugger all really most days at the moment with no cheap tariff to charge the battery overnight... My present to him this Christmas was IO

 

[ringi]

I felt sorry for my neighbour with his battery and solar panels now sat there doing bugger all really most days at the moment with no cheap tariff to charge the battery overnight... My present to him this Christmas was IO

There are people who can cover the cost of the cheapeet EV plus charger based on the savings from IO having lower rates then E7.

 

[Js1977]

There are people who can cover the cost of the cheapeet EV plus charger based on the savings from IO having lower rates then E7.

That is a sure fact. My neighbour doesn't have a EV yet. Fortunately for him, ive loaned him my spare IO compatible wall charger and set it up for him until he does

 

[Mrklaw]

Hi - do you happen to have a screenshot of this forecast? I can’t seem to find it on the app or the browser!

sure

dashboard with solar section on the side (you have to add this by editing the dashboard)

clicking on the expand button brings it full screen

and clicking on individual days shows you in more detail

 

[Mrklaw]

Hoo boy - just checked my stats for December which has been super dull and gloomy. 60kwh for the entire month, which is a good weekend in July!

 

[Pink Duck]

484.4 kWh as of yesterday for me, but that includes home storage discharge.

My Solar PV for December is currently 119 kWh (East England, 20 panels facing SE), versus 1.15 MWh in July.

 

[scdoubleu]

Dire here too. 93.1 kWh for December 2023, compared to 180.5 kWh December 2022. PVWatts estimate for the month is 172 kWh.

Oh well, here's hoping 2024 gets off to a better start. On that note, lang may yer lum reek!

 

[Js1977]

9.8kw solar generation for December. Hopefully it makes someone feel better

 

[MJR-VR]

Not good here either, 34 panels 169KWH for December.

 

[phil4]

69kWh for december, vs a peak of 775kWh in June.