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[Sticky] Tell us about your Solar (PV) setup

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(@boblochinver)
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I have just installed a new solar array on my south facing roof on the 29th Jan 2021 so all very new for me but my setup is as follows: 12 x JASolar 455w Panels (5.46kWp south facing array) Enphase Microinverters IQ7+, Lux AC ESS 3.6kW Inverter, 2 x 2.4kwh = 4.8kWh Aoboet Battery storage, and while I am on the Octopus standard tariff at the moment I am awaiting an install of a smart meter to take advantage of the better rates for charging my batteries outside of the solar charge day and to export my excess back to the grid. Based in Lochinver far North, west coast of Scotland 

My first month of solar production was from my Enphase system for February was 294kWh which I guess is okay 🙂 


   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
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We have 22 JA 280W south facing panels delivering 6.16kWh worth of power, along with a 6kW inverter from SolarEdge. The pitch of our roof is about 35-degrees. No battery storage at this stage. 

We produced 6.166mWh of power in 2020, taking our overall total to 11.307mWh since installing the panels in February 2019. We're pleased to say that this has prevented our household from pumping a staggering 2,920.28 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere in just over two years.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU

Follow our sustainability journey at My Home Farm: https://myhomefarm.co.uk


   
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(@boblochinver)
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Posted by: @editor

We have 22 JA 280W south facing panels delivering 6.16kWh worth of power, along with a 6kW inverter from SolarEdge. The pitch of our roof is about 35-degrees. No battery storage at this stage. 

I often think that I would have been better with a slightly bigger inverter to really take the full benefit of the solar production but they suggest you downsize the inverter. I was told that its due to the fact I cant export to the grid more than 3.6kWh. I need to look into it but over time the panels will depreciate and it will more more effective setup.  Curious to know how much you produced from solar this February ?


   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
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We've had some truly awful and overcast weather in January and February Bob. In February we could only muster 270.34kWh, so you've outperformed us.

In March last year, we did well over 500kWh, but given how overcast and grey the weather has been so far, I don't think that's very likely this year. But let's see. In May last year, we set our record for production clocking just under 1mWh of power in one month. It was a bumper month.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU

Follow our sustainability journey at My Home Farm: https://myhomefarm.co.uk


   
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(@boblochinver)
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@editor Mars maybe my 294kWh isn’t so bad then all things considered, there were 4 days in a row that i was getting a daily circa 21kWh and that was the inverter capping it at 3.5 so i expect maybe in summer on good longer days I could see maybe 30 to mid as high as 40Kwh per day ? Maybe but i think my inverter will be what restricts me. The good thing is the way its all matched up I shouldn’t see much degradation over the years with the output. 


   
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(@nigel42)
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Hi

Although not live yet here is my set up and the email from the installer with his predictions!! In a few months I can come back to this post and see if he right! 

I am in Sutton Surrey with 5 panels on a South East roof and 7 on a south facing roof. 

 

Email,

We have installed 12No. of 355W LG panels which means you have a 4.26kW output and a rough generation of 3,300kWhr per annum.

 On a perfect day you would likely see around a 3.8kW peak and assuming we have around 8 hours of uninterrupted sunlight, you would get around 30/35kWhrs in a single day

 The inverter for the PV system is Sofar 3.6 KTLM G2 Single Phase Dual MPPT Inverter with DC - wifi included

 The SOLIC 200 is also already on site which is your Solar Immersion diverter.

 


   
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(@boblochinver)
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@nigel42 That looks like a good setup and similar to mine (12 Ja solar panels at 455w = 5.46kw) but I suspect as the inverter is 3.6 like my one then you hit the cap of production or about 3.5kwh at any one time due to the inverter not being able to do more. This is a good thing though as you are maximising the panel array to its fullest. So far my highest production for a day was 22.7kHw on march 2nd which for the far north west of Scotland is pretty good. I suspect on sunny longer days it will hit the 30 and above easily. Are you adding a battery to your solar array or waiting to see how it all performs first ? 


   
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(@duncan-mac)
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@boblochinver you may be interested in this Graph its how my system has performed since 01 removed link

Again this is a 14 x LG 380watts giving 5.32kW.

Similar to you I think


   
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(@boblochinver)
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Posted by: @editor

We've had some truly awful and overcast weather in January and February Bob. In February we could only muster 270.34kWh, so you've outperformed us.

 

If this was a competition I'd be happy 🙂 the bottom line is even with exact same setup different areas are going to have better or worse days of performance. It is about incrementals and how to maximise the production in the most efficient way possible. 


   
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(@nigel42)
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@boblochinver Hi I want to see how it performs 1st. But I will seriously look at battery within 2 years especially if we go down the EV route.


   
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(@derek-m)
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Hi Guys,

I have had solar panels for 10 years and feel it was one of the best investments that I made.

I have a 4kW system (the maximum domestic system at the time), consisting of 16x250W panels feeding a 4kW SMA Inverter. The panels have generated everyday since they were installed, 30Wh lowest (a black rainy November day), and just over 25kWh was I think the highest. The main problem with solar is the Sun will persist in staying low in the Winter, and those pesky clouds keep appearing out of nowhere.

Although my panels are on an East facing roof, they still manage approximately 3000kWh per annum. I was a little skeptical at the time when companies were claiming a 50% reduction in electricity consumption, but that was the case for my wife and myself.

Now we enjoy free hot water from Spring through to Autumn and a 20% reduction in gas consumption. Plus a lovely Fit payment every 3 months.

Total no brainer.

P.S. The best generating month over the past couple of years has been May.


   
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(@nigel42)
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@derek-m. Hi, whereabouts in the country are you? 


   
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