Finally have a full months data to look at

Since having the system installed (4kw+5.2kwh) in Jan... I've not been able to get a full clean months data due to a few issues.

Jan: incomplete month.
Feb: Failed dongle, lost 9 days of data
Mar: Too many drops from GivEnergy and some days have zero data at all.
Apr: 30 clear days, with only about 6hrs of data gaps.

So here's the run down for 1st to 30th April 2023

Solar used in the home
209.58kwh
Grid import to the home
105.57kwh
Battery to home
85.15kwh

Total Solar Generation Export
160.88kwh

Now because we are on a fixed rate tariff with Eon until Sept 2023... we've been protected from price rises for now.

Current tariff rate 15.93p per unit
Standing Charge 21.96p per day

Given that there have been a few drop outs, the figures are a rough guide, not an absolute and I've added 30 days standing charge and 5% VAT.

£17.27 + 30 days SC £6.59 =£23.86 + 5% VAT = £25.06

In April we reduced our avg import from just over 400 kwh in Dec, Jan to just over 100kwh. Basically about 65-70%.

The worst day usage has been less than £3 whilst the best day was just 17p.

I do wonder how that's going to change come Sept when we no longer have the safety of that fixed rate deal. I'm disabled, so get some help with cost of living. My mum also lives with me now and so we've been able to use the help to get a nice credit on our account... Should be enough to absorb the price rises over this coming winter... and should actually increase the credit over the next 4-5 months as use continues to be so low.

Based on current figures... I'm estimating a return on investment of 7yrs... and that's not even including any token payments we get for exporting... which I still haven't set up yet because it's worthless at the moment and I try to use as much as I can during the day.

Seriously considering adding another battery when the house is completed (if enough left in the budget)... I can certainly see zero use days coming over the summer... We've had a few days where the battery lasted until 1-2am, and solar was covering the house entirely from 7:30-8am already.

I have solar panels that can generate approx 5.25Kwh max with a 5.2kwh battery (2 x 2.6kwh). So not that much different to your system

Currently my batteries have been enough to see me right through until the solar starts again the next morning.

My panels are south facing (99% efficient).

Some questions:
Would be better for you to increase your panels?
Would your current panels be able to fully charge an additional battery?

Also:
My neighbour had two panel arrays, 6 east and 6 west. His maximum generation is less than mine but his are generating for longer (early and late mainly). He has a single 9.5 Kwh battery and he is currrently able to fully charge it.

So some info to mull over.

Stevef1964

My panels are somewhere between 5-7º off due South and get more evening light than morning.

House useage varies but can easily idle in the 400-600w range during the day... work from home, so there's anything up to 3 computers going 8-12hrs a day. We now cook entirely on electric since having the kitchen redone recently.

When installing the system, it was done to a strict budget of under £10k... simply couldn't afford more. They recommended a 5.2kw system with the 9.5kwh battery... But that was going to be at least £12k. In the end we paid £9200 because of the huge price increases... our neighbour who had their done start of 2022... paid 2k less for a 4.2kw +8kwh system... and has added an extra battery since.

If you simplify things, 160kwh exported over 30 days is an avg of 5.33kwh... or enough to charge another battery... and that's based on April, a typically more cloudy, rainy month.

There are obviously days when we don't get much of a charge in the battery at all, other days we get it charged up early... but have used it all up by 7pm as weather gets bad in the afternoon. We don't charge the battery from the grid at all... except for those times it needs a top off to get it back to 4% overnight... that's a couple hundred watts usually. We rely totally on solar to charge it.

As for generation... we're covering the house from 8am onwards 70% of the time... not if we're boiling kettles of using hobs/ovens. Just the house idling with a few things running... a few hundred w required. Right this minute, generating just 740w and using 507w... so still a trickle into the battery, which is now at 87% because I just cooked lunch using it (was 96% before I started) with the airfryer and microwave being used as well as a kettle.

Doubling the battery or even adding a 9.5 to go with the 5.2 would certainly get the house off grid as much as is possible.

Lot's more work needed on the house... and a dwindling reserve from the sale of the old one... things are far more expensive now and we keep finding new things that need doing. Getting the large garage converted into a bedroom for my mum is the next priority and converting the utility room into a wet room for her... then using the tiny little study downstairs as the new utility room as water/drainage already runs through it. We'll see what's left... if adding a battery and maybe solar hot water is doable... I'll price it up.

I would suggest getting a solar diverter if you have an immersion heater. The solar iboost costs around £300 and is therefore much cheaper than a battery and will save you exporting your excess solar for peanuts.

anthonypar

Sadly, gas combi boiler only... was fitted about 2-3yrs ago... I'm hoping to convert the garage roof space into storage and put a door of the landing into it... Partly insulated... extra joists for load bearing... Perfect spot for a water tank. Could even put the solar/water panels on the garage roof. Not sure how many I'd need... but looking at other installs, 2 seems the average.

I am thinking of getting a hot tub down the road... sounds like the solar diverter would be idea for heating that. One of my neighbours uses most of his excess solar to heat his above ground pool. He earned £30 on the SEG last year.

Anomnomnomaly Based on current figures... I'm estimating a return on investment of 7yrs... and that's not even including any token payments we get for exporting... which I still haven't set up yet because it's worthless at the moment and I try to use as much as I can during the day.

Do it anyway, because then you have more options open to you down the line, if you have a working export MPAN.

I'm on Flux and my electric bill is going negative most days.

Yesterday:
Imported 9.38 kWh off-peak total cost = £1.93
Exported 12.86 kWh total value = £3.91
Total profit = £1.98 (less standing charge).

The weather wasn't even amazing, better than most days, but a good sunny day and that export goes even higher whilst the import remains fairly static. My highest export day was more like £6-7 worth. Looks like today will beat it as I've exported around 20 kWh.

Won't make you a millionaire but I'm hopeful that I can negate all my utility bills for the next 3-4 months via Flux.

Anomnomnomaly

Hi firstly I came across this today and it might be of interest. Claiming a reduction of Council Tax of upto 100% depending on circumstances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpyagS1U22Y&t=275s

The new Ofgem Rates will be announced in June 2023 to take affect from July 23 till Sept 23. These will give you a huge indication where rates are likely to be heading.

Also you can also get some idea how compare to your current rates by looking at the Octopus Wholesale Tracker Rates for your region here.
Just select the Tracker Header and choose your region.
https://energy-stats.uk/octopus-tracker-east-midlands/

Anomnomnomaly He earned £30 on the SEG last year.

SEG doesn't pay a great deal but as @LordHippos suggests, getting it sorted will be a good thing, not least because it means that you do have all the documentation that you are supposed to have following the installation of your system. ALl of these will also be necessary should you ever move house. It'll be much easier to sort DNO agreement, MCS certificate and Electrical Installation certificate now than in a few years time.

Octopus seem to offer the fairest export tariff to it's import customers. EDF offers a flat 5.5p/kWh SEG to it's customers.