domestic solar PV Fits

the mad cyclist · Post by **the mad cyclist** » 11 Oct 2010, 10:42

JohnB wrote:
the mad cyclist wrote:If there is going to be a PO hard crash, like a lot of people on this forum believe, why would you want a PV system that feeds into the grid?
So TPTB give you money until TSHTF, then you get your screwdriver and wire strippers out?

Yes, I had thought of that.

I’m jealous because I’ve only got a small amount of roof facing south

Post by **adam2** » 11 Oct 2010, 11:10

Post crash there wont be any grid to feed into.
However the crash might not come, and meanwhile grid tied PV is worthwhile and should be seriously considered eherever feasible.

Post crash the modules could be re-purposed for battery charging.

A grid tied array normally uses the modules in series strings, producing hundreds of volts.
To re-use a grid tied array would require either re-connecting the modules for lower voltages, or the use of a high voltage battery.

I am aware of a house that has a 252 volt battery for standby lighting and limited power.
This is charged from the grid, for use in power cuts.
There is also a grid tied PV array.
In case of long term grid failure, the high voltage PV array would be used to charge the 252 volt battery, thereby giving light and limited power for perhaps 15 years, or decades if replacement batteries could be found.

Great care should be taken if this is done since the voltages are definatly dangerous.

PockPower · Post by **PockPower** » 14 Nov 2010, 21:02

RenewableCandy wrote:My FiT still hasn't come through and I've had a bloke come 'round here reading the meter who said, he had no detail to read a third meter. Gah! They'd better hurry up and get it sorted before Ozzie abolishes it!!

I'm with e.on for my FIT and they simply want me to send them a reading every 3 months, and they reserve the right to check it occasionally.

Up to 540 since end of August

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 14 Nov 2010, 21:33

Cor! About 400 since August here. And still no sign of any cash from ScottishPower. However, I do at last have an email saying they are processing my form...

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 14 Nov 2010, 22:03

Ecotricity phoned me the day I e-mailed them to say I was installing a pv system. They chased things up quicker than the MCS and my installer could work. But they just want me to send them a generation meter reading after three months.

PockPower · Post by **PockPower** » 14 Nov 2010, 23:27

e.on only had a downloadable PDF application form that had to be returned via snail-mail, but they turned it round within a week. I've got to give my first reading on 8th December, hopefully get some dosh for Christmas.

katie · Post by **katie** » 16 Nov 2010, 19:29

RenewableCandy wrote:Cor! About 400 since August here. And still no sign of any cash from ScottishPower. However, I do at last have an email saying they are processing my form...

I am glad you got your email. If you don't hear from them soon, this contact may be useful to you.

Chris Stewart - Microgen Advisor

Internal: 850 6998 External: 0141 568 6998

chris.stewart@scottishpower.com

This is the person I contacted initially and he was helpful.

With SP we need to ring them with the generation meter reading on the date they tell you - mine is towards the end of December. We do however, still need to enter the quarterly electric/gas meter readings online. I'm looking forward to my first cheque as we've cranked up 744 kWh's so far.

Katie

Post by **clv101** » 17 Nov 2010, 10:00

One the big questions for me regarding the FiT is how sustainable it is.

The Spanish situation is interesting:

Spain's Solar Power Sector Falls into the Abyss

...

Indeed, the Spanish solar industry has seen investment plunge in the past two years with only 100 MW of generating capacity having been installed in 2009 and 2010 - compared to 2,700 MW in 2008.

...

The industry is so frustrated that it has sued Spain's government, arguing that that new regulation is way too harsh and even "unconstitutional" as the tariff cuts are expected to apply to both new and existing projects, meaning the industry may have to make retroactive payments.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 Nov 2010, 22:50

Thanks Katie but it turns out he was the very person I've been dealing with. Just the luck of the draw really, innit (do you live in Scotland btw? Or at the very least sound the part over the 'phone?).

katie · Post by **katie** » 24 Nov 2010, 13:25

RenewableCandy wrote:Thanks Katie but it turns out he was the very person I've been dealing with. Just the luck of the draw really, innit (do you live in Scotland btw? Or at the very least sound the part over the 'phone?).

No - I live in NE England - not too far away though

When I give them my generation meter reading, I'm going to telephone it in but I think I'm also going to follow it up with an email - just to be sure they act on it. I don't trust anyone to do anything these days.
correctly
Katie

Kontiki · Post by **Kontiki** » 28 Nov 2010, 09:43

Firstly I should say hi (this is my first post just found this forum) I had my panels installed on November 16th so I'm a newbie. Our main reason for going solar was economics (not much interest on the money in the bank) with the FIT's it seems to make the money work better in the long run.

Bit disappointed with the first couple of days as

as they hardly did anything, weather was wet, miserable & it was so dark we had to have the lights on in the middle of the day to read.

Keeping a daily record at the moment on a spreadsheet giving such information as averages & how much it will have to produce (retired & time to mess about

also keeps my mind active) Up to about 28 Kw after 12 days but weather hasn't been great.

I found E.ON ok for getting the FIT's (up to now haven't yet had the final letter off them) I rang them on 01234 733029 gets you straight through to the people who deal with the FIT's. They sent me the application form, sent it back the day after the installation. They sent me a document to sign accepting the T&C a few days later. Just waiting for a letter to say everything is ok. On the letter I had it says I can email my readings to them.

katie · Post by **katie** » 28 Nov 2010, 12:55

Kontiki - I wouldn't worry too much about your production at this time of year. I was getting up to 20 KwH a day at the end of August but can get less than 1 on very dark, cloudy days and days like today when the sun is belting down but the panels are covered in snow

I just sent in my generation meter reading for my first quarter from 26th August and have managed to produce 769 KwH which should give me a return of about £329. I would expect to get the best production between May and August based on average sunshing hours for my area.

Katie

Kontiki · Post by **Kontiki** » 28 Nov 2010, 22:36

Good to know the figures what others are getting, I worked out I need to average 7.76Kw per day to give me the predicted return I was quoted, this figure will obviously need to be greater as you said this time of year the panels are going to under perform. I have had a couple of days over 5kw's

. Found that I could get some of the snow off the panels using a hose pipe, this was when the sun was on them & it looked like the snow was very slushy. Spraying some water on them cause the snow to slide off, then once some of the panel was exposed the sun would do the rest.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 04 Feb 2011, 14:37

FiT has arrived!!! Sittin' there looking gorgeous in the Renewable bank account!!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 07 Feb 2011, 17:00

Now I'm officially FIT, I'm contemplating adopting a new image...

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