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Is it possible to recoup the investment on batteries?

Mars · 2021-03-07T13:35:09Z

Batteries for home energy storage. Are they worth it? This is a question I've contemplated for two years. When we put our solar PV system in, we deliberated for weeks whether to put batteries in. I did countless calculations and I just couldn't see how we would get our money back, especially since our ASHP was/is consuming vast quantities of power, and we don't have a smart metre to avail of off peak tariffs. So we never pulled the trigger. I'm intrigued by Tesla's Powerwall - loads of battery storage with an £8,000 price tag. In 10 years, with a set electricity tariff are we going to get even close to recouping the £8,000 investment. I really don't think we will. And I'm using 10 years as a timeframe, because I think that's the anticipated life of the battery (please correct me if I'm wrong). So I'm opening the floor to everyone. Are batteries worth it in the short- to long-term?

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Duncan Mac

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09/03/2021 3:49 pm

@derek-m please don't get me wrong, I know that Tesla is not for everyone and it is a considerable outlay no matter what your circumstance. I just wanted to put my experience out there for interest.

I just did a spreadsheet on my bills from Octopus from 10/12/2020 to 28/02/2021 and during that period their was one Plunge event when I got an average of 3.42p back per kWh other than that the max I paid was 15.47p and the average was 9p. Total consumption was 855kWh.

hope that helps

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Derek M

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09/03/2021 4:22 pm

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for the data, very interesting.

Like you I take a great deal of interest in energy efficiency and on the plus side save money in the process. At the moment we have a gas boiler, 4kW solar PV and an immersun diverter.

By developing a suitable control system, I have been able to reduce our electricity usage by 50% and our gas usage by 20%. Averaging 4kWh of electricity each day and 50kWh of gas.

The problem with home energy use, is that any system has to cope with such a wide variance in operating conditions, what works fine on a sunny day in Winter, may not work so well on a dark rainy day.

Most people don't want to have to keep making adjustments to their system or their lifestyle, they just want a system that looks after itself. Technology has made leaps and bounds over recent years, but there is still some way to go before there are systems that everyone can afford.

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Bob@Lochinver

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09/03/2021 5:29 pm

totally Agree Derek, what extra system are you using ? Raspberry Pi setup ? to help aid in the collection of data and the control of various devices ?

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Derek M

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09/03/2021 7:52 pm

Hi Bob,

Now that you mention it, I remember looking at the Raspberry Pi several years ago, and thinking that looks useful.

The system I use is an industrial type PID Controller that was purchased for a project, but never used. I have optimised the system so that the controller keeps the indoor temperature at the desired value within +- 0.1C with a slowly varying outside temperature, and within +- 0.2C for larger variations in the outside temperature.

I can bore you with the details if you are really interested.

Have you used the Raspberry Pi? Is it as useful as I think it could be?

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Bob@Lochinver

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10/03/2021 7:43 am

I do plan on using a raspberry pi as a central hub collecting all the data I want to see and controlling the systems I need. There are various options and home hubs based on the platform and they are well supported

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Duncan Mac

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10/03/2021 11:00 am

@boblochinver totally agree with you both and The world need pioneers like yourselves. I'm afraid I am a bit too old to build my own but I am will to give you all the data I can from my system if it will help.

Keep up the great work guys. The planet needs more like you

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Bob@Lochinver

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16/03/2021 10:19 pm

@duncan-mac thats very kind of you to say, but we are never to old to learn and try something new, that is what life is about ! If you dont do it then who will ! I have only just started on this road of trying my best to live a greener life but one that is more interesting and not just to be on automatic pilot and just let life pass you by. Learning about all these new things is interesting and quite often mind boggling but thats part of the adventure !

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Duncan Mac

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17/03/2021 1:02 pm

@boblochinver lol I must agree wholeheartedly but I've looked at thr Raspberry Pie and remembering programming with Basic and Fortran many years ago, I just don't know if I could start a new operating system or programming language. I see they are extremely versatile with loads of add ins. It would be very very interesting to see how you plan to link up power usage with ASHP and Solar generation. Not forgetting battery storage.

i must say that when you start to research these subjects it takes you to some amazing information.

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Derek M

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17/03/2021 1:39 pm

Hi Everyone,

As an alternative to the Raspberry Pi, has anyone considered a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)?

Allen Bradley now produce the Micro 800 range, which with suitable sensors and controls could be used to control your central heating.

It can be programmed using 'Ladder Logic', which is a bit like electronic lego. The program is constructed using predefined 'Function Blocks'.

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Bob@Lochinver

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17/03/2021 3:54 pm

@derek-m Rasp PI have launched the Pico which i think is the same type of thing for like £3 or something !

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Bob@Lochinver

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17/03/2021 3:58 pm

@duncan-mac I’m 53 and remember doing some FORTRAN and COBOL in the Army back in 83. I learnt BASIC as part of my city and guilds back then too. there indeed is a wealth of information out there and I am no expert but I plan on asking the community what I have as a setup and what can i achieve using the technology that we have available. I see the Rasp Pi as the glue that brings disparate systems together and then alters those systems to perform to their maximum level. Would could possibly go wrong 🙂

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Derek M

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17/03/2021 4:20 pm

Hi Bob,

The Micro 800 is more robust than the Pico. See below:-

https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-gb/products/hardware/allen-bradley/programmable-controllers/micro-and-nano-controllers/micro800-family.html

It is possible to get the same functionality as the larger PLC's, without the need to pay the license fee for the programming software, which can be downloaded free of charge.

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