Home solar, opinions please

[Coolcats]

Thanks for that but I’ve checked and that calculator doesn’t give sufficient information about when it expects the solar to be generated, which made a real difference to how the savings were calculated when I unpicked some of the spreadsheets. Fundamentally, the rate per kw/h they’ve used is 87% higher than I’m paying today which has obviously inflated the potential savings.
Just doesn’t work for me and I would recommend anyone to look into the detail before assuming it is cost-effective.

Just an update it’s about 11pm just checked the batteries and they are 76% full so they have dropped about 21% since 18:00. Now the house is quiet and the batteries will be topped up at cheap rate. Compare this around December the batteries would be 65-75% drained so you can see the difference it makes.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

All very interesting.
When we first looked at this we were told that we couldn't get enough panels on our roof to make it worthwhile.
There is also, I assume, the assumption that you will be in your current home long enough to get some return on your capital investment.

 

[Coolcats]

All very interesting.
When we first looked at this we were told that we couldn't get enough panels on our roof to make it worthwhile.
There is also, I assume, the assumption that you will be in your current home long enough to get some return on your capital investment.

Regarding how long I will live here, I’m not planning to move at the moment and if I do just think how attractive free energy will be to a prospective buyer along with a nicely maintained home….Reckon it will make top asking price. The house next door has ridge tiles missing ( I got a roofer to give them a price to fix it as my ridge tiles were re- cemented and they didn’t want to pay £300 to have it sorted) inside it’s half wrecked the garden un loved, that house will go for 10,s of k less as someone is going to have to invest.

 

[starquake]

So looks like 2026-7 price floor will be around 6-7p for Solar based on an unexpected auction for the (capacity) market yesterday


^ is the price they'll pay gas generation for non-standby emergency, ie, this is baseload, capacity market for 4 hour notice, we require you to produce power, you get 6-7p.

Looking at the graph you'll see it may be a VERY good thing to have Solar/Wind given the graphing compared with 2020-2023 numbers, and T-1 is where the action happens usually.

 

[Stonemags76]

Does this mean electricity prices are going up again? Sorry, I didn’t understand your graph!

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[Coolcats]

Does this mean electricity prices are going up again? Sorry, I didn’t understand your graph!

Looks like commercial pricing not consumer price

 

[berni109]

Lookup 'gary does solar' on YouTube.
Everything U could wish to know and more.

 

[AJM2]

Lookup 'gary does solar' on YouTube.
Everything U could wish to know and more.

Agreed, I found his videos really helpful when I was trying to get to grips with it all

 

[daventess]

Lookup 'gary does solar' on YouTube.
Everything U could wish to know and more.

I found his videos the day after my install

Might have done some things differently had I found them before, but hey ho.

 

[starquake]

Looks like commercial pricing not consumer price

You really need to understand the electricity market more. Commercial price IS the consumer price, just there is a multiplier applied.
Based on this I'd wager min prices of £0.18 given theres usually a 2-3x multiple in 2028. This auction is the KEY generation capacity market, ie, what is used for when wind doesn't blow and limited sun, so is the baseline cost, T-4 hours for dispatch -> grid says we need X of your gas generation at 7pm you are required to do it for this price if told about it by 4pm.

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[starquake]

Does this mean electricity prices are going up again? Sorry, I didn’t understand your graph!

Yes, baseline prices are up from 4p a unit to about 6-7p a unit in 2028.

Commercial entities pay this price, including the people you buy power from (anyone buying over 10MW fits into large enough to buy this way). There are additional costs on top of moving power from genertaiton to you, but this is the "base" cost of power notified ~ 4 hours ahead to generations. This is the main "capacity" market auction impacting ALL UK domestic supply.

 

[Coolcats]

You really need to understand the electricity market more.

I’m just a consumer I shouldn’t have to understand the energy market no one should The consumer pays per KW that’s the bit we all want to know,