Plug in solar

[denso13]

but down to nitty-gritty the G98 is not intended for plug in solar, so it is simply not fit for purpose.

Of course it is, it specifically says "plug in solar".

 

[Munroast]

Just looking at the numbers for this
my 9 KW solar system produced 7537 kwh over the past 12 months
therefor we could assume a 0.8 KW system would produce 670 kwh

670 kwh at 25p = £167 (5 year pay back ?)

but that is on the assumption you can make use of all 800 watts when the sun is out - a time of day when you will be using next to no electric - so I am thinking you will never ever get your money back. !

my solar is only semi worthwhile as I can export, once the export tariffs dry up (and they will) having solar will be hardly worth the bother

 

[ebee]

I suppose a chart of mean average etc etc might give us some figures about how many as a percentage of the public night benefit and to what amount and then devise an expected payback time (if any) for each group and decide if it might be cost effective or a red haddock.

We might also consider how it might (or might not) mitigate from power outages too.

 

[ericmark]

Just looking at the numbers for this
my 9 KW solar system produced 7537 kwh over the past 12 months
therefor we could assume a 0.8 KW system would produce 670 kwh

I looked at my 6 kW array for 2024 it was 5139 kWh and 2025 it was 6028 kWh and my panels are facing South West. So 7537/9x6 to compare 5024 kWh so yes that does seem a reasonable average output, around 1000 kWh/year per kW of panels.

but that is on the assumption you can make use of all 800 watts when the sun is out - a time of day when you will be using next to no electric - so I am thinking you will never ever get your money back. !

I agree. I would say likely I could use less than half of that output without a battery or export payment. Likewise, I looked at it and came to the conclusion around £70 maximum saving per year.

Until either export is paid for, or batteries are permitted, it is just not worth it.

 

[ericmark]

Of course it is, it specifically says "plug in solar".

I was confused, as the version I looked at said nothing about plug in solar, then I found there is as yet no nationwide form, so it depends on where you live.

They also want informing if the system is removed, so a tenant moving house will clearly need to inform the DNO it is removed, but can you really see this happening?

 

[denso13]

but can you really see this happening?

No idea, nothing stopping people ignoring any laws/regulations.

 

[UKMICKY]

My house is currently consuming at 2pm 671 watts according to the smart meter. Even if I’m out due to my pond equipment I can’t see me exporting much from 2 x 500 watt panels especially in winter. I would need to go to at least 4 panels or more if I wanted to charge a battery using just the sun .

 

[Munroast]

I looked at my 6 kW array for 2024 it was 5139 kWh and 2025 it was 6028 kWh and my panels are facing South West. So 7537/9x6 to compare 5024 kWh so yes that does seem a reasonable average output, around 1000 kWh/year per kW of panels.

what are your figures based on ? where did you get them from ?

My Growatt solar system caims to have produced 8592 kwh for the past 12 months, however measured post inverter/battery (measured by meter next to consumer unit), the figure drops to 7537 kwh (12.3% loss within the inverter and battery)

 

[ebee]

Careful you two - we do not want you to become embroiled in one of those "My Inverter`s bigger than yours!" arguements

 

[Munroast]

Careful you two - we do not want you to become embroiled in one of those "My Inverter`s bigger than yours!" arguements

it was more of a sunshine comparison, he is 3º further south should generate a little more, but our comparative figures don't quite add up (may be we have less cloud)

but when ever comparing figures we need to compare like for like, Solar companies love to give the figure before the inverter, and the dif is massive 12.3% in my case - my online growatt meter tells me 8592 but the reality (what goes to the house + what is exported) the reality figure is 7537kwh

 

[morqthana]

You and yours live in the front of your house and your cousin lives in the back of the house - is that "two households"?

For statistical purposes in the United Kingdom, a household is defined as "one person or a group of people who have the accommodation as their only or main residence and for a group, either share at least one meal a day or share the living accommodation, that is, a living room or sitting room". The introduction of legislation to control houses of multiple occupations in the UK Housing Act (2004) required a tighter definition of a single household. People can be considered a household if they are related: full- or half-blood, foster, step-parent/child, in-laws (and equivalent for unmarried couples), a married couple or unmarried but "living as ..." (same- or different-sex couples).

(collective) All the persons who live in a given house or other home; a family including attendants, servants etc.; a domestic or family establishment.
Entirety of work and management required to sustain the household.
Legal or culturally determined unit of people living together.
(obsolete) A line of ancestry; a race or house.

 

[ericmark]

For statistical purposes in the United Kingdom

I am told it is to do with where the stairs/steps are, with my house, because I don't have internal access between the lower floor and the middle floor, they are considered as separate. Even when both fed from same electric meter, water meter, and central heating boiler, so I am charged two lots of council tax.

Had numerous arguments with the council over it, they every so often think they should charge me extra as the flat is not occupied, I reply OK I would move down-stairs, and we will then get tax relief as both then single occupancy, and they back off again.

We all know it is electrically all supplied from a single MPAN number is what they mean, but that is not what they have said. What matters is not having more than one plug in solar per circuit, but also that is not what they have said.

However since it seems export is not going to be paid for, and you can't have batteries, can't really see the point in having multi-systems.

 

[denso13]

We all know it is electrically all supplied from a single MPAN number is what they mean, but that is not what they have said.

3.3 Household
A single dwelling unit with its own electricity supply and consumer unit. In buildings containing
multiple dwellings (e.g. blocks of flats, converted houses), each dwelling with its own consumer
unit is treated as a separate household.

 

[Munroast]

why focus on some largely unenforceable rule ?

the point is, these things are terrible value for money leaving those who are daft enough to buy them considerably out of pocket.

even if you are consuming excess of over 800w continuously when the sun is shining (which very few people will be) pay back time is likey to be 7 years or more (well out of the products warranty, and may be lifespan)

 

[ebee]

I am told it is to do with where the stairs/steps are, with my house, because I don't have internal access between the lower floor and the middle floor, they are considered as separate. Even when both fed from same electric meter, water meter, and central heating boiler, so I am charged two lots of council tax.

Had numerous arguments with the council over it, they every so often think they should charge me extra as the flat is not occupied, I reply OK I would move down-stairs, and we will then get tax relief as both then single occupancy, and they back off again.

We all know it is electrically all supplied from a single MPAN number is what they mean, but that is not what they have said. What matters is not having more than one plug in solar per circuit, but also that is not what they have said.

However since it seems export is not going to be paid for, and you can't have batteries, can't really see the point in having multi-systems.

Just a thought Eric (Yes mate I do not often get accused of thinking).

You have one or two plug in solar to create a bit of power - you use it all so a nice small win.

What if you do not use it all - It goes to the grid for the greater good (including the suppliers?)

If you use it all and at the same time you draw power for your batteries via a charger at much the same rate of knots as you solar panels are giving power, whether on the same circuit or on other circuits in your installation - would you consider that as having plug in solar with batteries so not permitted or having plug in solar without batteries but you have batteries independantly which is allowed even if no solar present in the installation.

You might be charging up a UPS or or even adding some monitoring and auto/manual change over thingy on your battery pack.

Does that qualify as having permitted one or two plug in solar units and additionally having a battery charger/UPS or two somewhere else in the installation but completely as permitted?

Just a thought?