Part ownership of a Ripple Wind Turbine, fancy it?

[MrPablo]

Ok, so I'm understanding that the ability to increase your annual usage on the Ripple system simply enables you to buy shares in any future schemes, but no option to increase existing holdings.

Great, that focuses the mind a bit - time for some good number crunching tomorrow I think...

[Joeboy]

Ok, so I'm understanding that the ability to increase your annual usage on the Ripple system simply enables you to buy shares in any future schemes, but no option to increase existing holdings.

Great, that focuses the mind a bit - time for some good number crunching tomorrow I think...

Yes, up to 120% limit of personal usage or 7MWh without proof of consumption.

[Krill]

Ok, so I'm understanding that the ability to increase your annual usage on the Ripple system simply enables you to buy shares in any future schemes, but no option to increase existing holdings.

Great, that focuses the mind a bit - time for some good number crunching tomorrow I think...

MrPablo, are you willing to share your views?

I ran some rudimentary numbers, and here is the write up.

595W panels*8, £117 inc vat per item: £936

Either: Victron SmartSolar 150/60*2, £283 inc vat per item,: £566 (note, two rows of four panels, this would require each row to be split into two strings of two panels).

Or: Victron SmartSolar 250/100*1, £502 inc vat per item: £502. (note, two rows of four panels, doubled up).

Or: Victron SmartSolar 250/60*2, £335 inc vat per item, £670 (note, one row of four panels per charger).

Cables, fixing etc: £300 allocated

Timber for pergola alteration: ~£150

labour: free, brother in law is a builder and joiner and he owes me a favour, but consider beer money and feeding time...it looks like limited change from £2250, probably budget £2500 for everything.

Given the none ideal positioning, this would give me a 4.76kWp DC connected system to charge my batteries in the summer, which covers my overnight usage and allows peak rate export; this would run along side the AC coupled system which would cover daytime power use and normal rate export. In winter, it would give limited out put, but would keep the batters topped up and help reduce over night, cheap rate charging.

I suspect that this would give me something like 80% of the power output from the AC coupled array due to better shading on the pergola roof in the summer (call is 3.2MWh) and maybe 50%, probably 40% of the winter output (call that 0.4MWh).

This would reduce my expenditure in summer by reducing cheap rate export, (which right now is an unknown amount, but because it is limited by battery size I know it can't be more than £2.25/day) and my shifting export to the high rate time (just assume the battery is emptied for sake of calculation, on Flux it's about the same as saving the battery to run over night off grid) generates £3/day, minus what I use overnight which isn't covered by the bit of AC coupled solar production, plus any forced export at normal rate to keep the panels working. My system is not limited by the AC coupled inverters but by the grid export limitation of 6kW, but for the sake of this scenario, it shouldn't be an issue.

£3/day for 180 days of the year is £540. Ignore the winter production, it just doesn't matter. To double check these figures, 3.2MWh exported at Flux max rate is £768, that amout exported at normal rate is £448, so this feels realistic.

The equivalent amount invested in Whitelaw Brae is expected to generate £170 in the first year. £190 for the full £2500.

From a financial perspective, it's close to a no brainer: invest in the DC coupled system if you have a large enough battery stack to take it. No tax risk, especially important if a higher rate tax payer, less important if retired, but you can't take it with you if you move (without a bit of effort, two thirds of the equipment by cost could be removed if you wanted).

All this to say, plastering solar panels on every available surface like nowty does is actually the right way to play it if you never plan to move, and then invest when the opportunities arise with spare cash lying around.

Unless your wife says "No", in which case

[nowty]

All this to say, plastering solar panels on every available surface like nowty does is actually the right way to play it if you never plan to move, and then invest when the opportunities arise with spare cash lying around.

My solar PV bungs with FITs and paid export should now clear almost £5k a year tax free. Then there is the tax free benefit of free energy so thats another £1k or so. My Ripple rebates this year on a combined GF and KH should also come in just under the tax interest threshold so thats another £1k tax free.

So effectively pays for all my entire household bills.

Your right of course, I can never move.

[resybaby]

Your right of course, I can never move.

Less of the negative waves Moriarty

You just need to move somewhere with a larger roof, more sheds and more fence panels

[nowty]

Your right of course, I can never move.

Less of the negative waves Moriarty

You just need to move somewhere with a larger roof, more sheds and more fence panels

Thats an excuse to,

[MrPablo]

Ok, so I'm understanding that the ability to increase your annual usage on the Ripple system simply enables you to buy shares in any future schemes, but no option to increase existing holdings.

Great, that focuses the mind a bit - time for some good number crunching tomorrow I think...

MrPablo, are you willing to share your views?

I haven't had a chance to sit down and do proper number crunching yet.
My situation is a little different than yours as I don't get paid for any export. I haven't sorted out the £250 application with Octopus, plus I don't have the electrical certificates they would like.

I am pondering all the options. I need to keep cash free for the heat pump & DHW cylinder plans, plus replacing my 17yr old car now that I have a baby to wrestle in.

If I got paid for export then I'd probably just AC couple another array on the house roof, employing a local roofer to do the work I didn't trust myself with. As you say, it's more effective building up your own virtual battery.

[nowty]

I cannot buy into WB (P4) cos I’m well over the limit and no more excuses is going to cut it. However my elderly mum will be investing the max 7MWh worth for inheritance tax planning so my brother and I might legally inherit it it tax free if she lives for another two years. If you inherit it, the 120% limit seems to be overlooked.

I thought I would review the share offer document as it has an extra risk factor for curtailment for WB, hence the low capacity factor, even lower than GF even though it should be as windy as KH. We know GF does not have curtailment issues as its too small but I have not heard one way or the other about KH so time will tell whether KH will perform to the quoted high capacity factor or not. The other risk which affects both KH and WB is the quoted risk of the REMA consultation which may locationally lower the wholesale price or increase the transmission costs. GF will likely be neutral and DW may even benefit.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... nsultation

The other thing I have not heard anyone mention is that WB has planning permission for batteries which may lower the risk of curtailment.

I am updating the info I posted the other week with the latest info from the share offer which seems to have been revised a little and I have tinkered with the asset lifetimes to be as consistent as possible.
https://camelot-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/view ... 951#p43951

The cost of 1 Watt on a single full payment basis,
GF - 173.23 pence
KH - 185.48 pence
DW - 107.58 pence
WB - 176.60 pence

1 Watt will generate the following kWh in an average year based on the share offer projections.
GF - 2.67233 kWh
KH - 3.17320 kWh
DW - 0.98038 kWh
WB – 2.42027 kWh

1 Watt will generate over its asset lifetime, I am taking 30 years for wind and 40 years for Solar. This is the lifetime that Greencoat Wind (UKW) and Bluefield solar (BSIF) which are the UKs largest investment companies use to value their wind and solar portfolios.
GF - 80.17 kWh
KH - 95.20 kWh
DW - 39.22 kWh
WB - 72.61 kWh

Cost of each kWh generated over its likely asset lifetime (based on capital cost but excludes operating expenses). Bear in mind the operating cost of solar is lower than wind which will be a larger factor if wholesale prices are lower and might make DW the overall winner. DW is also in the South so might benefit from the REMA consultation (locational pricing).
GF - 2.16 pence
KH - 1.95 pence
DW - 2.74 pence
WB - 2.39 Pence

[Joeboy]

Some mighty workings out there Nowty!

I seem to remember that KH is open to curtailment. Good news on WB having battery storage potential.

We are maxed out so now avid bystanders! Might swap out DW for some WB in a few years.

[AE-NMidlands]

I have nothing showing for GF on 11th, 19th and 20th now... Is this comms again, or is it actually broken?