Lovely request

[Joeboy]

An old offshore mate of mine got in touch today,

'Aye aye Joe, looking at putting solar panels on the shed and feeding the house. Did you use a local supplier? Thinking that I can eradicate electricity costs and also heating costs, oil alone is about £1500 to £2000 a year and electricity has just jumped up over 60% in the last month!!! Gone from £65 to around £104, still trying to understand what has changed as we've plenty fuel and energy cost going mad. Think the big suppliers want to eradicate the little companies and swallow them up to monopolise their own costs...'

Looking forward to helping him out and have one of our baby sparkies who has went out on his own and is making inroads into RE from offshore in mind for the job beyond and depending on my pals DIY ambitions! The pride I feel in being able to reach out and help is palpable. I'll point him towards 'Us' too of course. Thought you guys might like a snapshot of another dudes costs in the Aberdeenshire countryside and weigh in?

[Andy]

I think a lot of people must be thinking the same way at the moment. As we've seen gf with all the panels selling out. It's probably a good idea to get in quickly
B

[Joeboy]

I think a lot of people must be thinking the same way at the moment. As we've seen gf with all the panels selling out. It's probably a good idea to get in quickly
B

I agree in part Andy but only on an immediate timeline. Looking out to what an array can bring in benefits across a multi decade timeline then it's more a case of timing the tide as the next container ship arrives from China and locking in an unheated price at a reasonable quality and efficiently of panel.
It may be that this most recent surge in fossil fuel prices has a long term benefit in take up of personal RE systems that runs way, way beyond 2021. That's a nice thought.

[Stinsy]

You obviously gave him the impression you’re some kind of solar expert!

I don’t know how big his shed is. It’ll need to be big if he wants enough solar to “eradicate electricity costs and also heating costs”, he’ll certainly take the edge off!

[Joeboy]

You obviously gave him the impression you’re some kind of solar expert!

I don’t know how big his shed is. It’ll need to be big if he wants enough solar to “eradicate electricity costs and also heating costs”, he’ll certainly take the edge off!

It is genuinely about 1,000 sq mtrs. Up here a 'shed' can vary by quite a margin. I'll help him along where I can. As Andy said, plenty people with the same idea due to fuel costs. No bad thing!

[Stinsy]

1000 square meters? In that case he’ll be able to throw up something we’ll all be jealous of!

I certainly found that panel availability was a moving feast a few weeks back. Surging energy prices were stoking demand on one side and logistical delays caused by congestion at ports and shortages of HGV drivers combining…

Anything that motivates more people to add solar is a good thing. I still see plenty of beautiful, rectangular, south-facing roofs, unadorned…

[Andy]

Well I’ve modelled our property (also in Aberdeenshire )with another 24 panels (495kW)on the ‘shed’ totalling 18.3kW. With a use of 24000kWh in a cold year i reckon we will be able to make use of approx 13000kWh on 16231kWh generated. Power uses include heat pump, electric car, 28kWh battery, everhot cooker.

So as I’m sure you appreciate, but I’ll put out there again for others is the idea of heating come Nov-Feb doesn’t really happen. We used 2800kWh in Jan this year but would only generate around 400 with the new set up.

However I’m aiming to time shift E10 7p electricity with the batteries in those months so actually the bill will be reduced from £3840 with no solar to about £900. So despite an expensive outlay it will pay back relatively fast.

Panels do make other things possible. I have an in-line immersion ready for the kids pool come summer time

[Joeboy]

Well I’ve modelled our property (also in Aberdeenshire )with another 24 panels (495kW)on the ‘shed’ totalling 18.3kWh. With a use of 24000kWh in a cold year i reckon we will be able to make use of approx 13000kWh on 16231kWh generated. Power uses include heat pump, electric car, 28kWh battery, everhot cooker.

So as I’m sure you appreciate, but I’ll put out there again for others is the idea of heating come Nov-Feb doesn’t really happen. We used 2800kWh in Jan this year but would only generate around 400 with the new set up.

However I’m aiming to time shift E10 7p electricity with the batteries in those months so actually the bill will be reduced from £3840 with no solar to about £900. So despite an expensive outlay it will pay back relatively fast.

Panels do make other things possible. I have an in-line immersion ready for the kids pool come summer time

That's a mighty impressive size of set up Andy, I think there is maybe a zero missing on your new addition? I have local environmental restrictions that massively curtail any production at this time of year (a small forest), little sight line to the sun until the leaves are off. In saying that there is still power coming in from the PV. I agree on the Nov-Feb being pretty much of no use. I hope my 9kWp system will produce 100kWh this month! Any photos?

You know about the Ripple Wind Turbine? It will be contributing around 8p per kWh owned and generated in Wales from about Xmas. There is a second Turbine in the offing. Might appeal to you and offset that Winter battery charging cost?

I will show him your figures, thank you.

[Fintray]

1000sq metres divided by 1.6 (approx. size of 320W panel) = 625 panels x .32kW = 200kWp, he's gonna need a bigger mains fuse.

[Joeboy]

1000sq metres divided by 1.6 (approx. size of 320W panel) = 625 panels x .32kW = 200kWp, he's gonna need a bigger mains fuse.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, I'm just hoping to get across that nobody ever wished they put less PV on. If he goes large now it will cost less at the beginning on average and he'll hit the ground running.