Random Renewables Thread

DrPhilG

Call is in with the installer, waiting for a ring back.

slave1

Bit of a mad one, firemans hardly mechanically failed?

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121652012#Comment_121652012

I have also seen my sunsynk get grid disconnected, 3 times, is the grid messed up or what? Or just me

DrPhilG

And just like that...

So it fired up again once it had enough solar. I need to understand why it shut down in the first place though so I'll have a chat with the installer anyway.

I was doing a timed battery charge last night, in preparation for a possible power cut. Shortly after I stopped the battery charge, the inverter went down.

unkel

Glad you're back up @DrPhilG. Warranty replacement is a nightmare scenario.

deezell

Spikes on the grid due to the storm may have caused overvoltage and shut it down.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121653337#Comment_121653337

True but it should be logging those type of events or displaying a status LED at least. Even microinverters will provide that level of logging as seen here.

@DrPhilG any logs?

ColemanY2K

just saw this at kings cross tube station. They claim shared solar is up to 62% cheaper than home solar and could cut your bill by up to 25%. The renewable industry seems to be really dynamic in GB.

To me it's an interesting concept or is it too good to be true? Be interested to know if any businesses have similar plans for here.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121671655#Comment_121671655

It's been on the fully charged show a few times over the last few years. Seems legit. AFAIK there is no equivalent here in Ireland.

ColemanY2K

I've 8 acres lying idle behind my house. It's got me thinking ha!

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121671993#Comment_121671993

How do I pay? 😁

twitcherdub

Any advice on somebody who might be able to add 4 new panels to an existing setup installed last year? I have the panels, railing and (11) optimisers, but the guy I had lined up to throw the panels on doesn't seem to want to do the job anymore. I'd imagine it's a 2-3 hour job.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121695796#Comment_121695796

The Solar page on Facebook has a few lads that do add on's to existing setups if you ask there you will get a broader response I would imagine. Just make sure you check them out for insurance and warranty reasons though!

idc

Noticed DAA has started work on new solar farm beside the main runway

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774707#Comment_121774707

That's interesting. Seeing as the only exception to the free for all place panels anywhere on your house or property whereever you want them, is if you live near an airport 🤣

Maybe DAA will use special non-glare panels or something 😂

bullit_dodger

I think that stipulation is so that if there was an array somewhere close to the airport which was causing an issue (not in control by the airport), that they could ask for it to be removed/changed. In reality worldwide the practice is to install more solar on airports.

It's the FAA (we're JAA here in Europe) but they've given the green light, pun intended :-)

FAA Issues Policy on Solar Projects on Airports | Federal Aviation Administration

Airports could power 100,000 homes if we covered them in solar panels | Euronews

Lot of roof space on airports.

bunderoon

Any national plan for national and secondary schools for PV solar? A no brainer in fairness.

Maybe it requires brown envelopes and the usual state awarded contract.

idc

Can't recall but I think DAA might already have a smaller array on site. Thesse new panels are south of the airfield and the furthest possible point from the crosswind runway. Only installing ground mounts at the moment.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774936#Comment_121774936

It already got ridiculed by some dude who clearly knows nothing.

https://m.independent.ie/business/the-stupidest-thing-ever-said-clean-energy-firm-blasts-eamon-ryans-plan-to-put-solar-panels-on-schools/a702117336.html

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775007#Comment_121775007

What a ****. The panels are not for use within the school, they are for the grid. 5000 schools in Ireland, so maybe the guts of a million square meters of unshaded school roofs nationwide, should be plastered with PV panels where appropriate / financially viable. Sounds like one of those rare uses of tax payers money where the money doesn't just disappear into people's pockets (RTE / children's hospital / Irish water etc.) but actually makes a decent financial return for the tax payer...

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775106#Comment_121775106

I'd be very confident the reason that company responded that it 'was stupid' was to get column inches and free marketing. So when people google it, their name comes up as 'an industry expert'. So they used the media to their advantage. Clearly it's not stupid, and any commercial solar company knows that. It's exporting a ton to the grid as you say when the schools are closed.

bunderoon

"If someone had even picked up the phone and called us we could have pointed out that that was the stupidest thing ever said,” said Maughan, whose company installs solar panels on the roofs of commercial customers and sells the power back to those businesses at a reduced price.

And there's his motive right there. It wouldn't be a hassle for the government to work out a deal with ESB and an NC7 cert for mid to large schools. Those schools wouldn't need to deal with suppliers or what FIT rates.

But that would go against this particular company. And his view was published in a national newspaper..

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775458#Comment_121775458

I love these grand broad sweeping statements like "Stupidest thing ever". No (real) clarification as to why it's stupid. Is it because they would be, by default, limited to NC6 export limitations or something else and if so, what? As mentioned easy enough to assign a couple of bodies in ESBN to cater for NC7 applicants from schools and your done.

The irony is that if you think of a school as no different as a company/business, one that consumes power, the lad is arguing against the whole premise of what his company is founded upon.

I don't normally like being negative, but sounds like a moron.

That said, when I think back to when I was in secondary school (mid 80's), I'd hope that efficiency has improved. Drafty old classrooms, old archaic heating system, lighting designed by Edison himself, etc. LOL! One hopes that modern schools are better. (No idea - don't have kids)

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775388#Comment_121775388

I hope he has achieved the opposite. Next time I'm asked for advice about installers I will tell them not to use Urban Volt or that other active company that likes the number 8

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775007#Comment_121775007

Look at what just popped up on my feed lol

https://info.kellihers.com/school-solar-pvkits

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121778930#Comment_121778930

No battery nor heater included. I'd like to hope that all of the installs all eventually include a battery at least, otherwise its feeding into the reality of Urban Volt's statement.

slave1

Well schools will be closed for peak Summer production so can see the sense in just exporting...

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121779631#Comment_121779631

This is true. If they had batteries they could just set the max charge to 50% over summer and preserve their health. Then do night charging over winter if a lower rate is available.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121779754#Comment_121779754

Schools would need a lot of energy I'd guess. That's ignoring heating which wouldnt be electric at the moment. Just the baseload for lights alone in a large school must use a few kW at a guess.

A 10kWh battery wouldn't touch the sides of it. So a decent FIT is likely worth more.

graememk

Really depends on the size of the school, the national school that I went to is only a 2 teacher school!

Having 6kW is better than 0kW

Also would disagree on the batteries, it complicates things, and if everything was exported would be worth nearly €1000. (At 20c)

Also off the shelf batteries aren't really worth it if you have a good FIT.

Schools are also non domestic, so they would have a guaranteed minimum of 13.5c too.