What are YOUR solar PV's generating TODAY?

spinaltap

Living in a conservation area I will be installing integrated roof panels.

Does anyone with integrated panels experience increased heat in their loft space, and by association, their upstairs living space (especially during this current heatwave)?

sneakyweeone

I have panels but not integrated. My head is saying that it is not the panels that will generate the heat but the inverter?
You need to make sure the roof space is appropriately ventilated.
Interested in other peoples thoughts though.

jouster

Out of interest, have any of you been tempted to upgrade your systems to (or are already running) SolarEdge inverters with optimisers on each panel

Had a nice chap pop round today and talked me through it all. No hard sell, no pressure at all...suggested £4K to fully install new SolarEdge inverter  optimisers on each of my 16 panels.

I certainly see the benefit of a system like this and whilst the additional power generation/profit benefits are quite simple to see, whilst I won’t be rushing to upgrade my inverter yet as it appears to be working without issue, it’s definitely something I will at going forward.  

We also talked about battery systems and he said that Sofar batteries were the ones they currently install...a 4.8kw storage system AND a new inverter/optimisers would be £10k INstalled with the ability to add another 2.4kw battery module at a later date as and when required.

As we’ve already discussed here, battery storage is certainly the way forward and that £10k for me at least would easily be recouped in generating tariff alone in 5 years or under.

FYI Company was Clear Renewables

spinaltap

I’ve recently had an E.On quote for 13 x (3.9kwh) Viridian PV Integrated Panels and Battery Storage.

SolarEdge Inverter/Optimisers included in the price, as my house is prone to partial shading from my neighbouring property.

Battery options were 4.8kwh PylonTech Phantom-S batteries, or 3.3kwh LG Chem RESU.

Minus grid standing charges, projected annual consumed grid electricity expenditure is <£20. Presently, my existing monthly electricity bill averages £60.

sneakyweeone

Found this with a search on google. Seems to depend on shading. No shade 2-5% increase. Only heavily shaded then 25%.

Read the comments pretyy scary stuff.

Solar Edge / Tigo, Are They Worth It? - Poweri Services Ltd

Plus I wonder what your FIT provider may say as you'd need to tell them you've adjusted the system.

jouster

Might make that enquiry with EDF to see what they say.

I read the same thread after posting.  

I guess at the end of the day it’s not worth upgrading until a new inverter is required butbwheb you have to upgrade it makes sense to go with the most efficient system you can.

sneakyweeone

If you do check let us know as EDF are my fits provider as well.

Kitch

I’m sure you’ve figured this out from the link but solar edge is really not a great investment for retrofit. Sure it ups the efficiency if you suffer from shading on the panels but would be a long roi, maybe 20 years at best.
Battery storage again is not a great roi, best I have calculated is 10 year payback, this was using the Tesla pw2 being the cheapest per kWh. The Tesla pw2 have 14 kWh capacity. Cost installed is around £5k plus vat at 20% or 5% with solar panels installed at same time.

jouster

I agree the payback is long but if SolarEdge isntneeded/beneficial fo those of us wiuth very little/no shading...what would you recommened as tthe next upgrade inverter when the time comes (aI appreciate this is changing all of the time.

In case it matters, my 4kw system was fully paid for with generation proceeds over a year ago

Kitch

Personally i'm awaiting two things for my next investment, this will be home battery storage...
1. Price of lithuim batteries to drop to $100 per kWh (maybe in 2020).
2. Gateway to allow house battery backup/off grid when there is a power cut.

Currently the ROI for me (the chepeast option being the Tesla PW2) would be 10 years, i want that down to atleast 7 years so the batteries outlast the investment.