Solar options for home in 2022

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#3306580 7-Nov-2024 12:15

Yeah, we would've gone to 14 panels and at the time we didn't have the i3.

If we are to rethink it, we will definitely be looking to generate more power and to have it handle the HWC and EV. Although the car is never there during the day, except for the weekends, so I'm not sure how much it be get charged during the week.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3306584 7-Nov-2024 12:38

martyyn:

Yeah, we would've gone to 14 panels and at the time we didn't have the i3.

If we are to rethink it, we will definitely be looking to generate more power and to have it handle the HWC and EV. Although the car is never there during the day, except for the weekends, so I'm not sure how much it be get charged during the week.

The target to maintain is to consume as much of your generation as possible, by way of household use, or storing it in an EV, battery or HWC (as heat). The electricity you self consume offsets what would otherwise need to be purchased at grid price including GST so presents the best return you can get for your production. That is why components that automatically prevent export by way of diversion (to HWC, EV, battery) make so much sense over less intelligent timer based strategies.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

RobDickinson

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#3306618 7-Nov-2024 14:36

Liking this desktop app

SumnerBoy

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#3306624 7-Nov-2024 14:58

Is that the built in dashboard on the new PW3? Does it host it itself or is there a cloud service you use?

RobDickinson

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#3306627 7-Nov-2024 15:05

nah windows 3rd party app.

Theres a connection to the gw2 but I have not done that yet

SumnerBoy

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#3306629 7-Nov-2024 15:06

What is the name of the app?

RobDickinson

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#3306632 7-Nov-2024 15:11

Powerwall companion

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n3m45c4zcj4?hl=en-us&gl=NZ

HarmLessSolutions

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#3306730 7-Nov-2024 20:37

Today's data demonstrates the benefit of smart devices (HWC diverter, Evnex solar diversion) in optimising self consumption of generation (96% own consumption).

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

dukezoid

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#3306898 8-Nov-2024 12:35

Speaking of diversion, anyone checked out the Ali offerings?

e.g. 3.6kW 'PVmate' https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004829132599.html

HarmLessSolutions

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#3306965 8-Nov-2024 13:38

dukezoid:

Speaking of diversion, anyone checked out the Ali offerings?

e.g. 3.6kW 'PVmate' https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004829132599.html

Seems like it's built to a budget. From the 3 star review "Works but only drives from 600W and often loses the WIFI connection with in plus a refreshment every 8 seconds and things happen in 8 seconds. In the clear I advise against."

Other cautions would be Wifi frequency compatibility in NZ, powered by battery so ongoing monitoring to ensure that it's going, dodgy display (5 star review) and built integrity.

Paladin by contrast is NZ made, built to last with great support and wired connection to CT clamp on mains. Also microsecond mains monitoring so virtually no lag in chasing export levels.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

JimmyH

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#3307010 8-Nov-2024 17:18

Is there any recent modelling on the economics of solar. I have looked at installing it several times over the last 6-7 years, but every time I built a spreadsheet the numbers didn't work. And they were a long way off working, not just a little bit. Particularly given:

We are generally out during the day on weekdays, so likely wouldn't be around to use much of the power as it's being generated.
Our heating and hot water are mains gas, which limits the use we can make of power - and replacing those with electric currently isn't on the radar, it would cost a fortune, and given any reasonable cost of capital the payback period would be "never".
The rates for selling to the grid seem unreasonable. I know that power companies are trying to make a profit, and it would be silly to expect them to buy from me at the same rate they sell to me. But the purchase rates seem to be unreasonably out of line with both sell prices and spot market prices.
Battery prices seem uneconomic - and NZ battery prices seem to be much higher that householders pay in the US.

Or is my information out of date, and is it time to take another look at a solar fit-out?

fastbike

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#3307017 8-Nov-2024 17:51

JimmyH:

Is there any recent modelling on the economics of solar. I have looked at installing it several times over the last 6-7 years, but every time I built a spreadsheet the numbers didn't work. And they were a long way off working, not just a little bit. Particularly given:

We are generally out during the day on weekdays, so likely wouldn't be around to use much of the power as it's being generated.
Our heating and hot water are mains gas, which limits the use we can make of power - and replacing those with electric currently isn't on the radar, it would cost a fortune, and given any reasonable cost of capital the payback period would be "never".
The rates for selling to the grid seem unreasonable. I know that power companies are trying to make a profit, and it would be silly to expect them to buy from me at the same rate they sell to me. But the purchase rates seem to be unreasonably out of line with both sell prices and spot market prices.
Battery prices seem uneconomic - and NZ battery prices seem to be much higher that householders pay in the US.
Or is my information out of date, and is it time to take another look at a solar fit-out?

I did some extensive modelling, based on 10 months worth of real time consumption data to 2 min resolution. I also found a close by site with 15 min resolution production data, which I could refactor to account for differences in array orientation,tilt and size (used the Niwa SolarView data to provide monthly refactor numbers which went from 1.3 in winter to 2.0 in summer for a system which is twice the size of the reference site).

I decided a battery did not work economically. I accounted for a small amount of time shifting of loads to use the power we generate. I also got a contract from Meridian which effectively pays us the same rate for feed in tariff as what we can buy from them at night - they have guaranteed the import and export rates for 5 years.

I also found an installer who has allowed me to do a large chunk of the work, including 95% of the roof work, core drilling through concrete walls etc. I also found a supplier for rails and quality panels that has given me reasonably sharp prices.

My budget was $15k for a 10kW system. I am just a little over that. My annual return is $3200. So I have a 5 year cash payback, after that I get free power all year round even with a large electric heating load in the winter as the summer credits will cover the winter bills. Commercial quotes were around $30k.

When the Meridian contract expires I will look at the situation and see if a battery makes sense at that point.

I also know some folk who have skipped the solar part and gone straight to an AC battery which they charge using free power available on some plans e.g 9pm to midnight with Contact. Not sure how that would work out, you might need 3 phase to pull enough power out to cover the other 21 hours. Also those plans are too good to be true so are likely to be altered which would be a pain if they were an integral part of your payback calcs.

Otautahi Christchurch

HarmLessSolutions

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#3307032 8-Nov-2024 18:22

First part of an interesting video log by Gavin Shoegridge who does the Ecotricity EV reviews on his recent solar installation. Gav seems pretty chuffed with his new set-up. A few question marks for me in the decisions made but best judged for yourselves.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

thewabbit

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#3307039 8-Nov-2024 18:41

dukezoid:

Speaking of diversion, anyone checked out the Ali offerings?

e.g. 3.6kW 'PVmate' https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004829132599.html

There are also these options from a company called IAMMETER

https://www.iammeter.com/newsshow/blog-scr485-20240613
https://www.iammeter.com/products/wifi-power-controller

Jase2985

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#3307057 8-Nov-2024 19:08

JimmyH:

Is there any recent modelling on the economics of solar. I have looked at installing it several times over the last 6-7 years, but every time I built a spreadsheet the numbers didn't work. And they were a long way off working, not just a little bit. Particularly given:

We are generally out during the day on weekdays, so likely wouldn't be around to use much of the power as it's being generated.
Our heating and hot water are mains gas, which limits the use we can make of power - and replacing those with electric currently isn't on the radar, it would cost a fortune, and given any reasonable cost of capital the payback period would be "never".
The rates for selling to the grid seem unreasonable. I know that power companies are trying to make a profit, and it would be silly to expect them to buy from me at the same rate they sell to me. But the purchase rates seem to be unreasonably out of line with both sell prices and spot market prices.
Battery prices seem uneconomic - and NZ battery prices seem to be much higher that householders pay in the US.
Or is my information out of date, and is it time to take another look at a solar fit-out?

Batteries still dont make sense for most.

Sell back rates depending on provider are actually pretty good, most are 12-17c, you just have to watch the import rates as thats where they will make their money from you.

As you have mains gas and are unlikely to change solar really isnt for you until gas prices get up there. You really need as much as you can on solar, to either use directly or be able to shift the usage.

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