Roger440

Sounds like i should re-run the numbers. No contraints (at least none i will concern myself with) around the panels. Though id really like to avoid concrete as it would be a bit of a nightmare to get it down there in any useful quantity. Will consider any solution. but 80mph winds are the real problem.

Hmmm, i did do the calcs 🤔. Though i did use AI to assist me. Which could be a problem! The array is 4.5kw. The inverter not sure. Its quite old, though still brand new. Ive worked on the basis of a new one. If i use the old one, its a bonus.

Still no clue how to do multi quote, so bear with me. Not really got into detail on possible inverter set up yet. My priority was a cabling decision quickly to make use of the dry weather for trenching. Im limited to 3.86 because that all you can do without an application. (are we talking cross purposes here?) Given they are already having over voltage issues in summer, and im on a spur feeding 6 properties, some very lightly used (MOD) i cant see approval being forthcoming. Im sure you have posted your financials before, but ive no idea why its so different from memory. Current bill is £280 a month, 9000kWh a year. Heavy in winter, light in the summer due to workshop. A bigger battery, ie 10Kw increases payback as ill never fill it during the winter with a 4.5kw array It will only be useful in summer. Doubling the size of solar and batteries does reduce the payback, but to roughly the same as the current array with 5Kw battery. (the only saving will be the cabling as its already there. If im missing something obvious im all ears, but i cant see it at the moment. Ive not taken into account a heat pump as thats not a certainty, or in the immediate future.

The good news is, i know where the land drains are! I plotted my route accordingly.

The reference to payback was the solar/batteries.

Well, ive been doing most of it using AI, but im lookinng at in excess of 10 years i think. Assuming i buy a battery. Yes, i do have the panels and inverter free, though the inverter wont be much use with batteries. Im looking at over £2k just in cabling, hire etc. The solar array needs to be bolted to something. Thats looking quite expensive too, but undecided on what yet. The field is pretty exposed to the east, north east. (we have planted a hedge along that side) And we are 900ft up. So needs to be pretty well put together, whatever it is. 9000kwh is our current consumption, heavily biased towards winter due to the workshop. So ive got, lets call it £4k on the solar install, and another £2-3k for a battery (5kw) and associated gubbins and connection. So im £6-7k in the hole. Obviously lots of variables around tarrifs and other such stuff, but no EV, so no supercheap overnight rates. Exported limted to 3.86. Playing numbers, at best i might save £400 a year on my electricity bill. If i fit a couple of AC units in future (likely) clearly that will skew things for the better. Havent factored in heat pump. Guess if i do that ill need to increase the size of the system. Otherwise it will be cheaper to run on oil as now. (current price blip excepted). Minor bonus will be only having to run the genny during the day when the electricity supply falls over. Again.

Well i have a digger. But not a narrow trenching bucket. Could buy one, but thats half the hire cost, plus wont be neat like this. Discussion have been had, hence going back to a DC cable. That way i have no real limitations plus allowing for future expansion. Payback is still hopless though. Im still questioning my sanity. It only really makes sense if electricity prices continue to rise much quicker than inflation. My judgement is that they will. If they dont, frankly its pointless.

An expensive way to dig a trench though! I do have someone if i need them. Ill be doing all the work though. Slowly. Mounting the panels in a cost effective manner, than can resist serious wind, and be close to a vertical angle is my current challenge, especially after the increased costs of 100m of DC cable.

No need, they are going in the lake.

After much deliberation, going to run DC. Will add a year to payback time though Cracking on

It does? That is info that has passed my by. Im unclear why the battery would know or care if the inverter is 5 or 100m away? Whilst theres no batteries in my immediate future, longer term its likely.

Im doing exactly what nick suggested. Mines 130m away. Trencher is booked! What is is your thinking around the power cut back up function. Assuming you will have a battery?

Seems to me the very first thing is to accurately asses the level of corrosion in the steels. Ultrasonically maybe? All that seems to have happened is a visual assesment that saw lots of corrosion. Which really doesnt tell you much.

Well, so far, what you describe as nonsense is the current situation, has been for a long time, and theres no proposals to change that. A bit of tinkering on the margins, but thats it. You can describe it as nonsense, but it doesnt make it so. Ref your last paragraph, "could" is doing a lot of heavy lifting. But i also said "could" didnt i? If renewables were free, its irrelevant if the price of electricity continues to climb. Aside from my personal bill, its a fact that theres never been a succesful economy with high energy prices. There are, however, plenty of examples where cheap abundant energy allows an economy to thrive. Out in the real world, people like you spouting about renewables being cheaper will get little support unless that translates into actual price reductions from their current, ridiculous levels.. And the sad thing is, it could, if the will was there. But ill say again, it wont. At least not in the forseeable future. Or probably, my lifetime.

Which is the correct answer. Assertions that renewables will make electricity cheaper are in fact the nonsense. They "could". But they wont.

I have, and i know its at the upper end compared to most of our peers. Especially non domestic. Which is probably actually causing more harm than the domestic price. That is, however, a diversion, because it was you that keeps saying it will get cheaper, but given the market structure, i cant see how. Im still waiting for that explanation.

Thats historic, not future. My question remains. Specifically about what will happen in the future. And we all know the answer, ie, it will keep on going up.

So you keep saying. When will my electricity bill come down by a meaningful amount?

Would you be so good as to enlighten us as to these truthful sources please?

Indeed. The MOD have probably saved me on this occasion, but its forever blighted until they build "something".

You are expending unnecessary energy on BBB. Only his view is correct. All others are wrong.

Being left alone, love it. But, seriously, im really not that worried about when, inevitably, the day arrives niether of us cant drive. Thats what taxis are for. Theres no buses here, nor ever will be, because its utterly illogical to do so. The nearest town (ok, britains smallest town) is 4 miles away, so not going to break the bank. Well assuming you dont want to go out everyday. Ive recently done a 10 day stint without ever leaving the propery. Didnt even realise at the time. A quote i heard somewhere was building a home and a life you dont need to escape from. Trying hard on that front.

They do. Because it keeps them in a job. Whole swathes of government are employed just to keep inventing rules. The difficulty (and cost of course) is what ultimately brought my self build dream to a juddering halt. Hats of to those who fight there way through it all.

Good stuff. Like that.

Would be good to know. Please report back. Sadly, it sounds like the remedials involved chemical injection to prevent damp. Which it wont.