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Size my Solar PV

  • 02-05-2020 4:33pm
    #1
    celtic_oz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,547 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    So this is what I used last year and what I was billed last year.

    Day and night meter rural from Energia

    Month Day Night Total Cost
    Apr’20 356 kw 262 kw 618 kw €115.50
    mar 356 kw 262 kw 618 kw €115.50
    feb 339 kw 456.5 kw 795.5 kw €129.97
    jan 339 kw 456.5 kw 795.5 kw €129.97
    dec 327 kw 595.5 kw 922.5 kw €139.86
    nov 327 kw 595.5 kw 922.5 kw €139.86
    oct 271.5 kw 494.5 kw 766 kw €121.00
    sep 271.5 kw 494.5 kw 766 kw €121.00
    aug 297 kw 582.5 kw 879.5 kw €134.03
    jul 297 kw 582.5 kw 879.5 kw €134.03
    jun 232 kw 530 kw 762 kw €117.44
    May’19 232 kw 530 kw 762 kw €117.44
    Totals 3645 kw 5842 kw 9487 kw €1,515.57


    Just wondering what size PV and battery would cover this so that when you sell back(when it comes in) the nett annual bill would be zero and what you could expect to pay ? I dont qualify for the solar grant with the house built post 2011

    thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,693 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    You'd need to cover a football field with solar panels for your net bill to come to zero :p

    Look at the "domestic solar PV quotes" thread in this forum to get an idea of what a typical system will cost. Summary: a good quote would be around the €6k mark including VAT, with the subsidy already deducted, so net cost to you, for a 4kwp system (about 13 panels) with a 5kWh battery


  • #3
    celtic_oz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,547 ✭✭✭celtic_oz


    from the other posts the pv is required ( in typical irish location ) to generate 900kw in a month = 40 x 310kW panels maybe


    60 panels for net zero ?


  • #4
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,693 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Your units cost €1500 per year. Let's say you got solar PV without battery (with battery the payback would be longer) and let's say you use 20% of your production yourself at the higher rate. Your break even point would then be with x being the annual production in kWh (with a presumed 5c FIT):

    (20% * x) * €0.18 + (80% * x) * €0.05 = €1500

    or x = 20MWh

    one south facing 310W panel in a perfect location in Ireland produces about 310kWh per year, so you would need about 65 panels, so yeah your guess was pretty good


  • #5
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    4kWp


  • #6
    Delta Lima
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭Delta Lima


    celtic_oz wrote: »

    Just wondering what size PV and battery would cover this so that when you sell back(when it comes in) ......?

    thanks in advance.

    Just wondering myself , when will the ESB allow meters to run backwards, if consumers are generating more than they are using?


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  • #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    You can pay them €200 for the official one so you can donate power to their network for them to sell your neighbours.


  • #8
    Delta Lima
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭Delta Lima


    I'm not thanking you for that answer Sir Liamalot. lol.


  • #9
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    You can get the meter in the Uk for £50....maybe they'd fit it for you if you ask nicely..tomatosplat.gif


  • #10
    Delta Lima
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭Delta Lima


    Sir Liamalot, are you one of those people that answers questions on Amazon by saying things like
    '"I don't know, I've never tried that."

    I found this for anyone who is interested.

    https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/solar-panels-excess-electricity-ireland-16487581


  • #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Nope. I walk the walk. :P


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  • #12
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,693 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Delta Lima wrote: »
    Sir Liamalot, are you one of those people that answers questions on Amazon by saying things like
    '"I don't know, I've never tried that."

    I found this for anyone who is interested.

    https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/solar-panels-excess-electricity-ireland-16487581

    Don't believe everything you read. There is zero chance we will get a 19c FIT

    If we are fairly lucky, we will get maybe 5-6c. So if you have a large solar PV system of say 4kwp (13 or so panels) and you use just 20% of your consumption yourself and you "lose" 80% to the grid, yo will get paid 4000 kWh (annual production) * 80% * 5c = EUR160 per year

    All those fancy new homes with the 5 panels on them will get about twenty quid a year. A pittance.

    And that's if the ESB install the smart meter for you for free...


  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    Don't believe everything you read.
    +1


    or anything that has "Tesla", "game changer", "linchpin", "revolutionary" or "predicted" in the title.


    and you can bet your bottom dollar that -15% derating on efficiency is a real world normal operating condition figure.


  • #14
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    unkel wrote: »
    Don't believe everything you read. There is zero chance we will get a 19c FIT

    If we are fairly lucky, we will get maybe 5-6c. So if you have a large solar PV system of say 4kwp (13 or so panels) and you use just 20% of your consumption yourself and you "lose" 80% to the grid, yo will get paid 4000 kWh (annual production) * 80% * 5c = EUR160 per year

    All those fancy new homes with the 5 panels on them will get about twenty quid a year. A pittance.

    And that's if the ESB install the smart meter for you for free...

    I know a lad in the US with solar. He gets 90% credit on his bill (so no actual cash) for every unit he exports. Starting to think that's a better idea than paying 5 or 6c cash.


  • #15
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,693 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Yep. Even better again is net metering. Like they have in countries like Germany and the Netherlands. Produce 4MWh per year (mainly in summer) and use 4MWh per year (mainly in winter) and you have a zero bill over the year :cool:


  • #16
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    unkel wrote: »
    Yep. Even better again is net metering. Like they have in countries like Germany and the Netherlands. Produce 4MWh per year (mainly in summer) and use 4MWh per year (mainly in winter) and you have a zero bill over the year :cool:

    Sounds good in theory, but all you have to do to achieve maximum export is face a heap of panels south. Everyone does it and there's a surplus (check what was happening in Germany a while back). The solar version of the RHI scandal in Northern Ireland waiting to happen! East/West panels suit most households' actual consumption better than due south, so I think if net metering were to happen, south facing only panels should be excluded.


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Germany is 10 years into the future compared to us islanders...shame really...


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