[Socket]

I know that this won’t work for everyone, not only because of the outlay, and our first decision, to have solar PV was environmental + financial but I’d do the same again, even though the financial benefit of solar PV is less now. Maybe it will spark conversation.

As soon as we moved into our renovated 60s bungalow 9 years ago we had a 4 kWh solar PV system fitted, which has now paid for itself with generation and export receipts, and savings on otherwise bought electricity. So it’s all profit now.

Then 4 years ago I got my first EV on Motability and switched to dual tariff. I’m sold on them, they’re a much nicer, cheaper, drive, if you can charge at home. If you can’t I wouldn’t have one until away from home charging becomes cheaper. My current EV is the Hyundai Kona Ultimate, as was my first, it’s now bigger than the first, access is better. It’s costing me 2p per mile in winter, unless I trickle charge from any surplus solar, in which case it’s free.

The addition last February was a 9.5kWh home battery, which is first charged from our solar panels and topped up at the nighttime rate of 6.7p when needed.

Within about £100 per annum the income from the solar panels covers our annual electricity bill, including 2,000 to 3,000 miles for the car. The solar, which is now paid for from savings and receipts, cost about £6,000, and the battery £5,000. Because of the battery we are only losing about 5% of our solar generation to the grid.

Incidentally with good insulation our 1,000 sq ft bungalow, kept at 21°, is running at 6,500 kWh per annum of gas at £50 per month.

So if you have the capital, or, as we mainly did, saved up for it, you may achieve running a Motability electric car and home energy from little more than £10 per week plus PIP.

Now let’s enjoy other people’s counter arguments..

Recent cars: Hyundai Kona Ultimate EV; Volkswagen Caddy Maxi wheelchair accessible; Skoda Enyaq iV SportLine; Vauxhall Mokka-E; Kia Soul EV, Hyundai Kona (again)

Topic

[DumfriesDik]

I take heart from this thank you. I am looking into solar and battery just now.

Skoda Enyaq Race Blue

[Rich44]

How much did your battery cost? We’re incredibly lucky got our housing association to fit 4kw of solar panels to the roof.

We live in a 1930s semi at the coast, previous tenants were always smoking weed so never let anyone in to do anything. In 6 months of moving in we got

New roof, new windows, new insulation walls and loft, whole building repointed.

The the oil boiler died and we got a heat pump and rads installed.

Got a disabled facility grant for a driveway at the back as was parking on mud new wet room, kitchen and a small patio with ramp plus no step doors.

Sorry to go on above but wanted to paint the full picture. With all the above our air source heatpump the house sits at 21C all day every day plus lovely hot water.

Between that standard electricity use and the Enyaq charging our bill we pay £150 a month.

The solar panels mean when the sun’s out our bill is zero all day regardless unless charging the car.

I would love to add my own battery but it’s something I’ll have to save for there’s no help for non home owners for any of these things.

Solar and our heat pump is the best thing ever. The safety and freedom from worry those solar panels give is immense, I’d love to add more too maybe one day if I get a battery as I’ll need a hybrid inverter then anyway so….

Anyone in a housing association house, ask you might get told yes, anyone who owns their home I’d say do it if you can you’d have to crazy not to, the new panels are so powerful and reliable

[Socket]

Rich44 wrote:

How much did your battery cost? We’re incredibly lucky got our housing association to fit 4kw of solar panels to the roof. We live in a 1930s semi at the coast, previous tenants were always smoking weed so never let anyone in to do anything. In 6 months of moving in we got New roof, new windows, new insulation walls and loft, whole building repointed. The the oil boiler died and we got a heat pump and rads installed. Got a disabled facility grant for a driveway at the back as was parking on mud new wet room, kitchen and a small patio with ramp plus no step doors. Sorry to go on above but wanted to paint the full picture. With all the above our air source heatpump the house sits at 21C all day every day plus lovely hot water. Between that standard electricity use and the Enyaq charging our bill we pay £150 a month. The solar panels mean when the sun’s out our bill is zero all day regardless unless charging the car. I would love to add my own battery but it’s something I’ll have to save for there’s no help for non home owners for any of these things. Solar and our heat pump is the best thing ever. The safety and freedom from worry those solar panels give is immense, I’d love to add more too maybe one day if I get a battery as I’ll need a hybrid inverter then anyway so…. Anyone in a housing association house, ask you might get told yes, anyone who owns their home I’d say do it if you can you’d have to crazy not to, the new panels are so powerful and reliable

Hi, good background info thanks. The GivEnergy 9.5kWh battery was £5,000 fitted.

Recent cars: Hyundai Kona Ultimate EV; Volkswagen Caddy Maxi wheelchair accessible; Skoda Enyaq iV SportLine; Vauxhall Mokka-E; Kia Soul EV, Hyundai Kona (again)

[kezo]

Highly recommend Fogstar batteries…

[Author]

Replies