Solar Quote Help Please

[Pocster]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

I was there, filming it.

Shall I post up the video before we need age verification?

 

You’ll need my consent before you post it .

 

oh , go on then ….

[SteamyTea]

6 minutes ago, AliG said:

It costs almost nothing to run a wind turbine during the night (maybe some extra maintenance) so instead of turning them off anything you can sell is almost 100% profit margin.

You can't sell it if there is no demand, and you have to have the capacity to generate at peak demand, why we have around 80 GW of capacity, we really need no more than 60 GW.

Edited February 9, 2022 by SteamyTea

[SteamyTea]

1 minute ago, pocster said:

oh , go on then ….

About time I raised my game and got my first official warning.

 

www.pocsterbikeshed.com

 

 

[Pocster]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

You can't sell it if there is no demand, and you have to have the capacity to generate at peak demand, why we have around 80 GW of capacity, we really need no more than 60 GW.

Hence ToU - it can generate demand when the supplier wants …

[Pocster]

1 minute ago, SteamyTea said:

About time I raised my game and got my first official warning.

 

www.pocsterbikeshed.com

 

 

Link doesn’t work 

[SteamyTea]

18 minutes ago, pocster said:

Hence ToU - it can generate demand when the supplier wants …

Only within very tight bounds, and not when the demand is sated i.e. cars charged up and supermarket freezers very cold.

What cannot happen is a company like Tata Steel decide, on the whim of the DNO to bring in 200 works because 'power is cheap tomorrow'.

 

We are a long way off this yet, demand is probably going to drop because of the high price and people will realise that they have been very wasteful.

[AliG]

27 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

You can't sell it if there is no demand, and you have to have the capacity to generate at peak demand, why we have around 80 GW of capacity, we really need no more than 60 GW.

A fair thing for a generator to think about and to avoid ToU is that if lots of people had batteries then they could buy their electricity at lower prices during the night and they would lose higher priced sales during the day.

 

This will not be an issue for the foreseeable future.

 

Of course if so many people had batteries that they could shift capacity like that to different times of the day then need for peak generating capacity would fall which would reduce costs in the long term.

 

Normally long term costs of commodities are driven by marginal costs of new capacity additions. This would be in the £40/kWh range we are used to historically.

 

At the moment gas provides the marginal supply and gas prices have exploded hence electricity prices have exploded. This is a good argument for a windfall tax on nuclear and wind generators who will be coining it in with no increase in costs.

 

I have done the same sums everyone else has. I need prices above 20p/kWh to justify a Powerwall. So easily justifiable at today's prices but willl they continue.

 

I have been using a return to a price in the 17p range in the long run to do sums. TBH this is just a finger in the air number.

 

Maybe looking at US numbers, less impacted by Russian shenanigans would give a better idea of long term pricing. The current UK gas price future is in the 6-7p/kWh range. The current USA price is closer to 1p/kWh! This is up around 50% in the last year.

 

This suggests that short term issues - Russia, closure of German nuclear capacity have driven European prices to unsustainable levels. Eventually the gas price will return to normal and the price of electric will return to 15p/kWh or less. The cost to charter an LNG ship has gone up massively. People are now ordering ships to move LNG from the US to Japan, China and Europe and arbitrage the crazy price difference.

 

Then that really confuses me is Germany. If they simply came out and said they won't close their remaining nuclear plants at the end of the year that would help considerably. They have backed themselves into a corner.

 

The thing that still makes me laugh is the constant blaming all of this on "green" policies. Maybe if you include German switching off nuclear. But "green" generation would be much less prone to outside influence than fossil fuels.

 

There was plan to build PV in Africa and a cable to Europe. Seems crazy to once again put ourselves at the behest of foreign countries. What if someone attacked the cables! If you do this you would need to distribute the risk.

[SteamyTea]

Renewable Energy Shouldn’t be Blamed for Spiking Energy Prices — It's the Solution

January 24, 2022 By Joel Jaeger, Tatsatom Gonçalves, Arya Harsono and Lori Bird Cover Image by: Karsten Würth

Commentary

 

Electricity, natural gas and oil prices have risen globally in recent months, causing hardship for many people around the world. Europe is at the center of the crisis, with natural gas prices increasing 400% last year, raising household bills and putting multiple energy companies out of business.

Other countries like China, Brazil and the United States have also experienced higher-than-normal energy prices. Global oil prices are at the highest level in seven years. Here, we unpack the causes and the effects of the energy crisis and what that means for the future of clean energy.

COVID-19: A Historic Energy Supply and Demand Shock

The energy crisis has been caused by multiple overlapping factors on both the supply and demand sides, driven by the pandemic. The pandemic caused a market disruption larger than the world has ever seen before.

Energy demand dropped sharply in 2020 during various lockdowns around the world. Prices fell, so fossil fuel production and investment in fossil fuels decreased. In China and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere last winter was especially cold, depleting coal and gas stockpiles. The pandemic also caused energy producers to postpone maintenance and repair work, slowing everything down.

Then, in 2021, as demand rebounded strongly, energy supply was unable to ramp up fast enough, causing the price increases. In normal times, these market forces would have re-balanced themselves toward a price equilibrium, but with COVID supply chain disruptions, shipping delays and protectionism, global trade was inadequate to balance the supply and demand fluctuations and shortages.

On top of all this, and perhaps most crucially, oil and gas producers like Russia and Saudi Arabia reportedly restricted gas and oil production for export to keep prices high and maximize their profits and strategic position.

Clean Energy is Not the Problem. It’s the Solution.

Some commentators have claimed that renewables are the cause of the energy crisis Europe is experiencing. They point out that the biggest spike in European electricity prices coincided with lower-than-average wind generation, but in reality this only temporarily added some pressure on electricity markets. Wind generation in Europe has resumed adequate production; in fact there were record amounts of wind power at the end of the year while energy prices continue to be high.

Based on our analysis, the amount that electricity prices have spiked in a given country does not seem to have a strong correlation to its level of wind and solar energy production.

China, which has about 10% wind and solar electricity, experienced a major electricity crisis. The U.S., at 12% wind and solar, has largely avoided it. Less than 1% of Singapore’s electricity comes from wind and solar, yet Singapore’s wholesale electricity prices spiked by six times in November of last year.

As International Energy Agency (IEA) Director Fatih Birol puts it, the problem is not that there is too much clean energy — it’s that there is too little. The world has been chronically underinvesting in energy supply and transmission infrastructure. Global energy demand has been increasing over the past five years but total spending on energy has been flat.

The mismatch between energy supply and demand is not a sign to slow down the low-carbon transition. In fact, it is a call to ramp up clean energy, energy efficiency, and infrastructure investments to ensure continued reliable and resilient supplies. This would make countries in Europe and elsewhere less vulnerable to geopolitical or economic choices by suppliers.

The Advantages of Renewable Energy

One advantage of renewable energy is that the power prices are generally stable. Once the solar and wind farms are built, all they need is the sun or the wind. In contrast, electricity from gas or coal requires continuous fuel supply, which is vulnerable to disruptions in production and transport.

Fossil fuel price spikes like this have happened before and will happen again. Meanwhile, the costs of solar have dropped 85% since 2010 and the costs of both onshore and offshore wind have dropped about 50%.

For residential or commercial energy users, investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency or other climate-friendly technologies can be a buffer against the market forces that affect fossil fuels. European households equipped with solar panels are saving an average of 60% on their monthly electricity bills during this crisis.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., households heated with electricity will be largely unaffected by the crisis, only expected to see a 6% increase in their bills compared to last year, while households heated with natural gas are expected to spend 30% more.

Increased investment in renewable energy will increase supply and reduce prices. According to the IEA, if the world invests enough in clean energy to reach net-zero emissions, average household energy bills in advanced economies will be lower in 2030 and 2050 than they are today. This is not to mention that renewable energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels.

Challenges Renewable Energy Must Overcome

None of this is to say that the transition to clean energy will always be smooth and easy. As renewable penetration grows, it will be important to invest in solutions that can address weather related variability, such as long-duration energy storage solutions.

Governments also need to expand and modernize transmission and distribution grids to increase reliability, efficiency and accessibility. It will be essential to bolster energy systems with protections against severe weather-related events, such as fires, hurricanes and heat and cold waves.

In the short-term, governments of countries affected by the energy price hikes will need to take measures to assist vulnerable households. This can be done by directly providing money to these households to help with their bills and investing in energy efficiency to reduce the energy burden that consumers shoulder.

Then in the longer term, governments should ramp up investment in clean energy generation and storage. This is the best way to avoid future energy price spikes and address energy poverty challenges.

[Ferdinand]

5 hours ago, J1mbo said:

There is news today that Offgem are opening up 30 minute metering for time of use tariffs more generally very soon. And Octopus are meanwhile offering to "give you free power at certain times if you can reduce your energy use when the UK’s energy mix is dirtiest."

 

This has made me relook at Smart Meters.

 

Not sure, though ... large solar array but still on GFCH.

[SuperJohnG]

6 hours ago, JohnMo said:

 

My installed quote for a ground mounted system with me supplying the mounting Frame was around £5500.

This surprised me I would have thought ground array woukd be cheaper, but when I think about it now it's not as obviously a lot more structure required. 

 

[Nickfromwales]

29 minutes ago, SuperJohnG said:

This surprised me I would have thought ground array woukd be cheaper, but when I think about it now it's not as obviously a lot more structure required. 

 

A few tubs and some ballast. A days work at most. 

 

[Sandybay]

Looking to put in a 4kw solar panel ground mount system, I am planning to buy a system on line, build my ground mount frame, and get a neighbor who is good with electrics to set this up ready for grid connection. 

I have a copy of thecG98 form, does the installer have to be accredited or have a formal qualification? 

 

[Pocster]

One day....

 

https://www.onyxsolar.com/product-services/photovoltaic-glass-solutions/pv-floor

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Sandybay said:

Looking to put in a 4kw solar panel ground mount system, I am planning to buy a system on line, build my ground mount frame, and get a neighbor who is good with electrics to set this up ready for grid connection. 

I have a copy of thecG98 form, does the installer have to be accredited or have a formal qualification? 

 

Over 9m2 area requires planning permission. 

[SteamyTea]

1 hour ago, Sandybay said:

I have a copy of thecG98 form, does the installer have to be accredited or have a formal qualification

Not really, it can be covered by the 'competent person' clause.

It is probably best if they are accredited with Part P. There is a limited scope one that covers PV (well there was when I did it).

AND you do need to notify your DNO that you have installed it. 

 

[Pocster]

21 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Not really, it can be covered by the 'competent person' clause.

It is probably best if they are accredited with Part P. There is a limited scope one that covers PV (well there was when I did it).

AND you do need to notify your DNO that you have installed it. 

 

You would only notify your DNO if it was a new install yes ? . I’m adding extra PV and don’t need to inform DNO 

[ToughButterCup]

1 hour ago, Sandybay said:

... does the installer have to be accredited or have a formal qualification? 

 

No.

However, what's the point of not having a Part P qualified person installing?  If your area is anything like ours, finding a sparky to sign off somebody else's work is like looking for the proverbial. 

As round by us, there will likely be informal networks of people who - while unqualified - have arrangements with Part P lads who routinely sign off their mates work.

They'll be drinking in the same pubs if you understand me..... 

[ToughButterCup]

19 hours ago, AliG said:

....

Then [w]hat really confuses me is Germany

....

 

In Germany , Atomkraft Nein Danke!  Nuclear Power No Thanks has been running for at least 50 years. Its campaign has a much higher profile than its equivalent in the UK. Some might call the campaign relentless - I certainly do.

[SteamyTea]

16 minutes ago, pocster said:

You would only notify your DNO if it was a new install yes ? . I’m adding extra PV and don’t need to inform DNO 

They need to know the total peak capacity. So yes, you need to notify them as far as I know.

Not sure what happens if you go from sat 1 kW to 3 kW, but suspect you do need to.

The DNO is responsible for line voltage, if too much distributed capacity is installed, the voltage can exceed the agreed amounts and disconnect all connect systems. Between 216.2 volts and 253 volts, which is 230 V -10% + 6%.

That defeated the object of having distributed generation.

Edited February 10, 2022 by SteamyTea

[Pocster]

34 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

They need to know the total peak capacity. So yes, you need to notify them as far as I know.

Not sure what happens if you go from sat 1 kW to 3 kW, but suspect you do need to.

The DNO is responsible for line voltage, if too much distributed capacity is installed, the voltage can exceed the agreed amounts and disconnect all connect systems. Between 216.2 volts and 253 volts, which is 230 V -10% + 6%.

That defeated the object of having distributed generation.

Sure thing. My DNO needs to be informed if I wish to have more export potential ( which they've capped ). Adding extra PV and battery on the inverter side means export won't exceed my limit. Installer confirmed this and so did DNO. So in theory you could have a GigaW of PV and equally the same of battery storage. As long as it all connects to the grid via the limited inverter ( 3.66Kw in my case )

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

Over 9m2 area requires planning permission. 

 

Not if you have a hedge / can't be seen from the road...

 

?

[Nickfromwales]

It does if you want an MCS cert for the export payments, Baldric . 

[Thorfun]

2 hours ago, pocster said:

One day....

 

https://www.onyxsolar.com/product-services/photovoltaic-glass-solutions/pv-floor

just make sure you measure it correctly.....

 

......I'll get my coat.

[Pocster]

1 hour ago, ToughButterCup said:

They'll be drinking in the same pubs if you understand me..... 

That's the most disgusting euphemism I've ever heard.

[AliG]

1 hour ago, ToughButterCup said:

 

In Germany , Atomkraft Nein Danke!  Nuclear Power No Thanks has been running for at least 50 years. Its campaign has a much higher profile than its equivalent in the UK. Some might call the campaign relentless - I certainly do.

I did some reading about it. Dogmatic morons if you ask me.

 

You have to make compromises in life all the time. The right plan would surely have been only to turn off the nuclear after it had been replaced by renewables. Not just turn it off abruptly and up your use of fossil fuels.