Solar Panels UK - is it worth it?

[Avendit]

They are no longer producing. The general consensus is to get in touch with your installer. Im sure as a big brand name they will probably sort something out even though this would be a separate business and they would not be oblidged.

All I was thinking is what would the replacement. Might be worth asking the original installer if still in existence imho.

Unless a subsidiary has been wound up, the warranty will still need covered, if that's the contract you have. Not really of interest to the end user the 'how', but yes, installer would be first point of call if they still exist (part of the reason I had my install done by a (Stable) energy company.

 

[RedMod3]

Deemed export seems like cheat mode . Glad it was there to kick start the industry tho!

One thing I am interested in this is how efficiency is improving over time - if you don't mind, how old are you panels, and what % efficiency do they have so you know? Would you swap them for better panels eventually? Before or after their 25 year 'life span'?

FYI, no significant change in panel/inverter output over 11 years. I can't upgrade panels even if I wanted to as I would lose FIT.

Tot

2013 Gen

2014 Gen

2015 Gen

2016 Gen

2017 Gen

2018 Gen

2019 Gen

2020 Gen

2021 Gen

2022 Gen

2023 Gen

Jan

1,281​

138​

144​

127​

139​

125​

136​

110​

102​

125​

135​

Feb

2,416​

181​

244​

206​

224​

165​

293​

268​

197​

186​

239​

213​

Mar

3,982​

249​

451​

396​

411​

344​

281​

354​

442​

380​

402​

272​

Apr

5,510​

448​

481​

555​

461​

524​

359​

511​

590​

577​

535​

469​

May

6,243​

525​

521​

524​

572​

515​

629​

555​

704​

530​

552​

616​

Jun

6,190​

531​

617​

584​

451​

575​

597​

525​

558​

498​

595​

659​

Jul

6,336​

628​

633​

521​

560​

524​

638​

572​

560​

569​

633​

498​

Aug

5,545​

546​

509​

415​

561​

512​

447​

546​

508​

473​

548​

480​

Sep

4,558​

343​

419​

471​

373​

354​

465​

425​

445​

442​

390​

431​

Oct

3,094​

282​

256​

265​

333​

232​

343​

224​

255​

283​

329​

292​

Nov

1,680​

174​

131​

87​

189​

186​

161​

141​

146​

172​

142​

151​

Dec

981​

99​

111​

71​

101​

92​

80​

108​

88​

71​

93​

67​

Tot

47,816​

4,006​

4,511​

4,239​

4,363​

4,162​

4,418​

4,365​

4,603​

4,283​

4,583​

4,283​

 

[Steerpike]

My current G99 clearly states that whilst I can export from Solar (4kW), I am not approved to export from battery (0kW).
Anyone had experience lobbying a DNO to have a G99 amended to allow battery export?

Mine is an iDNO - (gtc)

I contacted UKPN, they responded very quickly, were very helpful, and have agreed to increase the export limit from 6.5kW to 8.5kW without an engineer visit. Total solar is 6.5kW and 0kW was assumed for the PW, I requested a total of 11.5kW but UKPN explained that due to the size of the cabling and transformer the maximum that they can allow without requiring works is 8.5kW. I expect formal confirmation of the 8.5kW approval next week. I don't understand why export is limited to about half the maximum import, however, under the circumstances, I am satisfied with this result.

 

[ringi]

I don't understand why export is limited to about half the maximum import

They have to assume many people will soon installed 3.6kw of PV exports (that they can't prevent) and all PV generates at peak output at the same time. The risk is that many homes on the same road copy each other installing the 3.6kw.

For large sites it is possible to get a higher export allowance between 3pm-7pm but that is not done for domestic connections.

 

[phil4]

They have to assume many people will soon installed 3.6kw of PV exports (that they can't prevent) and all PV generates at peak output at the same time. The risk is that many homes on the same road copy each other installing the 3.6kw.

For large sites it is possible to get a higher export allowance between 3pm-7pm but that is not done for domestic connections.

There's a difference somewhere which you're spot on about. There'll be an import figure they've assumed and the difference between that import and 3.6kW export across the entire street is the issue. So technically not a problem for you, you can draw 100A so can likely export it too. But they can't take the entire street doing that (either part, import or export).

 

[ACarneiro]

What I don’t quite understand is the battery export limitation.
Surely if they say the export limit for a certain property is x kW, it doesn’t matter whether that power is coming from batteries, solar or both provided it doesn’t exceed that limit?

 

[phil4]

What I don’t quite understand is the battery export limitation.
Surely if they say the export limit for a certain property is x kW, it doesn’t matter whether that power is coming from batteries, solar or both provided it doesn’t exceed that limit?

You're absolutely spot on there. The reason they're being picky, is if you export only solar, that generates them a REGO cert. They can sell that on to the likes of Octopus who can then claim all power is 100% green.

If you're exporting from battery, you may have charged it from the grid, so no REGO, and no money made that way.

So nothing to do with technical limitations, purely financial.

Don't worry, I expect to be told that's wrong, that we can't generate REGO's, but you get the gist of my thinking.

 

[ringi]

What I don’t quite understand is the battery export limitation.
Surely if they say the export limit for a certain property is x kW, it doesn’t matter whether that power is coming from batteries, solar or both provided it doesn’t exceed that limit?

I expect this was done by the battery installer to save paperwork.

 

[ringi]

But they can't take the entire street doing that (either part, import or export)

The issue is that there is no risk of everyone cooking etc at same time, but max PV output will be at same time.

 

[GRiLLA]

You're absolutely spot on there. The reason they're being picky, is if you export only solar, that generates them a REGO cert. They can sell that on to the likes of Octopus who can then claim all power is 100% green.

If you're exporting from battery, you may have charged it from the grid, so no REGO, and no money made that way.

So nothing to do with technical limitations, purely financial.

Don't worry, I expect to be told that's wrong, that we can't generate REGO's, but you get the gist of my thinking.

Doesn't explain why some care and some do no. My g99 has no conditions from SSE, I can import and export what I like.

 

[phil4]

Doesn't explain why some care and some do no. My g99 has no conditions from SSE, I can import and export what I like.

Whereas SSEN say 0kW for PW for me. Do you have a PW? I think with hybrid setups they can't limit battery export, whereas PW it's separate inverter so can be treated separately. I'm no expert on DNO's though

 

[GRiLLA]

Whereas SSEN say 0kW for PW for me. Do you have a PW? I think with hybrid setups they can't limit battery export, whereas PW it's separate inverter so can be treated separately. I'm no expert on DNO's though

It's a 5kW hybrid solar+battery,

 

[notmeguv]

Whereas SSEN say 0kW for PW for me. Do you have a PW? I think with hybrid setups they can't limit battery export, whereas PW it's separate inverter so can be treated separately. I'm no expert on DNO's though

I don’t think SSE have said I can’t export from my Powerwall. If I log on to my Tesla Gateway it shows an export limit of 8.68kW. My export tariff is supposed to be going live on Monday so I’ll find out next week.

 

[phil4]

It's a 5kW hybrid solar+battery,

That’s probably why you have no export limit then.

 

[ACarneiro]

So apparently Tesla have opened all Energy product APIs (presumably including Powerwalls) to developers.

Could this finally mean the long-desired integration between IO and Powerwalls??

Should we start emailing Octopus to ask them?

 

[Pink Duck]

There’s a form to show interest in battery providers other than GivEnergy for their IO Flux tariff already.

That works best during the sunniest half of the year for low annual mileage owners.

 

[ACarneiro]

I'm not interested in Flux. It would be a lot more expensive than IO.

 

[ringi]

Could this finally mean the long-desired integration between IO and Powerwalls??

Also automatic tariff rate changes including for saving sessions. Then the battery's AI can be left to do its job.

 

[ACarneiro]

Also automatic tariff rate changes including for saving sessions. Then the battery's AI can be left to do its job.

Absolutely! Shirley it's yet another tool for Octopus to help balance the grid, even if the car is not plugged in at home....

 

[KennethS]

I'm not interested in Flux. It would be a lot more expensive than IO.

The Octopus Tesla Energy Plan was a big savings for us. When it ended they suggested Flux was the best alternative but it would be more expensive for us then IO so we added a second Powerwall and additional solar array and moved to IO as our best option. Would have happily stayed on the TEP.