Good Energy

[billt]

I don't really understand why you would waste a large amount of capital to install a system that's 3 times bigger than you need!

If the system is sized to match your consumption reasonably well it seems likely that the Good Energy scheme will be as economically viable as the nPower scheme. It looks as if it should be easier to administer. If you have a solar thermal system Good Energy will pay you HotRocs as well.

[Ivan]

I don't think you've understood the point I'm trying to get across. My system isn't sized 3 times bigger than I require - in fact it's 2.5x smaller than I require

My system hasn't been installed for a year yet, but it's very likely to produce no more than 40% of our electrical energy requirements. However, the nature of PV is that it is produced during a relatively short period of the day, typically, when consumption at home is low. It's also produced preferentially in the summer, rather than evenly throughout the year.

Despite my PV system being rated to produce only 40% of my annual requirements, 66% of the power produced between May and October has been exported.

[StBarnabas]

I am in a similar position. With no gas and a GSHP etc I need energy in winter - not in summer. Wind would be a better technology for me but being buying a suitable plot for c. 3 years. I am still very technically happy with my PV system - though what the new years legislation will bring I don't know.

[Justme]

However, the nature of PV is that it is produced during a relatively short period of the day, typically, when consumption at home is low.

You need some timers. Just like people do to use more E7 power you need to max your sunlight power usage.
You freezer will work fine on a timer. Once you find the balance between the number of hours it needs & the spread through the 24 hours you can move most of that time to the peak PV hours. You can even do the same to the fridge but to a lesser amount. Then its the washer & dishwasher (I know there are some manual hot water fill issues with that). There must be other stuff that can also be on a timer to use more of your PV.

[Ivan]

I take the easy option - use the grid as a battery with 150% efficiency (in financial terms)!

Actually, in energy terms, it makes sense for me to export as much as I can  as daytime energy demands are high (offices, industry etc) and the carbon cost of supplying daytime power is also high. I can buy back electricity late at night when there is little demand - eg my dishwasher often goes on a 1am (no need for a timer!) and I'm using the otherwise wasted spinning reserve. Of course, if I had any sense, I'd get E7 and be rewarded for these efforts.

[StBarnabas]

I take the easy option - use the grid as a battery with 150% efficiency (in financial terms)!

Actually, in energy terms, it makes sense for me to export as much as I can  as daytime energy demands are high (offices, industry etc) and the carbon cost of supplying daytime power is also high. I can buy back electricity late at night when there is little demand - eg my dishwasher often goes on a 1am (no need for a timer!) and I'm using the otherwise wasted spinning reserve. Of course, if I had any sense, I'd get E7 and be rewarded for these efforts.

Yes Ivan
Get E7!  Dishwasher goes on about 4:00 am GAHP between 2:00-4:00pm  if solar not high enough - but ther are some E9 tarriff's I believe? Anyone on one?
 

[Moxi]

I've signed up with SSE for the 28p tariff and we try (very easily) to export as much day time solar as possible, this way approx one unit exported pays for two night time units.  Generally this should result in no net payment eg income = outgoing, however based on very early production rates I'm anticipating a net overproduction in a year which will yield BEER money 

Well thats the plan anyway........

BTW clear blue sky's (some cirrus strata) for last two days yielded 6kWh per day from 1.44kWp.

Moxi

[martin]

that'll be "St Luke's Summer" that's done that.......... (an old-fashioned name for a period of fine clear weather in October - St Luke's day on the 18th!)

[StBarnabas]

Sadly no such luck here - heavily overcast all day and only about 1.5kWh....

[KenB]

I see that Good Energy are now getting involved with biogeneration schemes - from their website

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is installing a CHP system that will be fueled by waste wood and will provide electricity and heat for the site. The surplus electricity they generate will be sold to Good Energy. For more information see the case study at the end of this document.

It's a 100kW Talbotts gas turbine system fuelled from woodchips/woodgas. More details here:

http://www.cat.org.uk/news/news_release.tmpl?command=search&db=news.db&eqSKUdatarq=37160



Ken

[charlieb]

if only Talbotts could persuade me that gas turbine will last then I'd consider mortgaging my flat (and some) to buy one of these.  Long term thinking is all about a woodchip CHP on the farm.  Ideas for heat loads?  (microbrewery, farm shop, greenhouses, steading offices...)

[Ivan]

Any idea of price? I phoned them, but they didn't know     

[renewablejohn]

Ivan

3 years ago I was quoted 250k for the 100kw machine however after further investigation it required 15kw just to keep it going and the net 85kw was maximum theoretical output. 2 years later I was at a conference in Leeds where the Talbot machine was discussed and the average output was less than 50kw. I am so pleased that I did not follow this method of generation.

Charlieb

I also had concerns of the turbine spinning at 85000 rpm compared to my generators at 800 rpm.