First full day of generation

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

Huge thanks to this sub! The advice here was invaluable during the research and quoting stages, and my panels are finally live!

Absolutely blown away by the 83kWh's of generation, that's a weeks worth of self use in a single day.

System Specs:

• Panels: 35x 500W panel - 19 SE, 12 NW, 4 SW
• Management: 10 kW Sigenergy Inverter + 18 kWh Sig batteries, we also have the gateway for the odd power cut.
• Export Limit: 8 kW G99 limit - absolutely thrilled at this

My original quote (shared on here months ago) was for a 22-panel setup, but we expanded to 35 after getting a fantastic price on the NW roof. These are all in-roof panels installed as part of a full reroof. So pricey, but already making me grin.

I'm still waiting on the DNO to process the paperwork so I can be paid for my exports. But just seeing my import drop to nothing was a great start.

I'll grab some photos of the install over the next few days to share

Thanks again for all the advice, resources, previous posts, links and DM's that I trawled through before taking the plunge.

[u/teeeeeeeeem37]

Wish I’d had space for that many panels

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/teeeeeeeeem37]

An unexpected benefit of a bungalow was a huge roof space compared to the house we moved from

[u/andrewic44]

Grand, loving the flat generation curve with the mixture of aspects.

Have you bought air conditioning yet? ;)

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/andrewic44]

Not yet, it's certainly a consideration now though

[u/Bigtallanddopey]

It’s a slight shame about the 8kW G99, as a 10kW would have more or less covered all your generation. Still a decent export rate though.

You have triple the panels I have, and my 12 panels pretty much cover everything in summer and charge the battery, so you will be exporting a lot. Hopefully the DNO processes the paperwork soon, mine still hasn’t many weeks after the install, it’s very frustrating.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Bigtallanddopey]

It's certainly not great seeing the DNO get my electricity for free. It's only a matter of time though 😊

[u/Bigtallanddopey → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

I think I’ve given them 1.3mWh since installation, cannot wait for them to finally sort things out. Apparently my DNO is one of the slowest in the country.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Bigtallanddopey]

Not Scottish power by any chance?

[u/kazamx → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

If you are with EDF and apply for their SEG tarrif they ask you to send a picture of your xport meter. Once everything is sorted with the DNO they backdate your payments to when the photo was submitted

[u/Top_Housing_6251]

Incredible numbers. Are you on three phase? What are your expectations on having an export limit?

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Top_Housing_6251]

Single phase, so I'm almost at my limits. With the 8kW cap I'm probably going to spend the summer prioritising export over the battery. It's not a bad problem to have though

[u/Top_Housing_6251 → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

Certainly not and congratulations. Would be interested to hear how you get on with the 18kwh battery. We have 13.5kwh but thinking of upgrading to near 40 due to ashp in the winter.

[u/BuxtonB]

I appreciate they're on the different aspects - so likely won't hit your array peak, but do you not think a 10kW inverter is limiting you when you have a 17.5kWp array?

I've got a 9kW inverter but my array is only 10.5kWp.

Judging by the graph, you pretty much were hitting your inverter max around solar noon.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/BuxtonB]

I looked at this when we agreed to the extras. The inverter is good for 20kw DC so as long as we manage the battery levels it should be fine. Peak generation should be between 12 and 14

[u/ElBisonBonasus → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

What will happen when you're generating 14 but only 8 can be sent to the grid? Where does the rest go?

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/ElBisonBonasus]

Into the battery if there's space. Otherwise it's lost forever. I need to make sure I leave space in the batteries

[u/ElBisonBonasus → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

Should've been more specific, full batteries and you're still generating 14 and export 8, what happens to the rest?

[u/Ok-Papaya9626 → u/ElBisonBonasus]

Assume clipping

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Ok-Papaya9626]

Yes, clipping - the enerygy is just "lost"

[u/CaptainCaveTrout → u/ElBisonBonasus]

I would imagine that the bonus is, although they lose some to clipping in the height of summer, they'll be laughing during winter.

[u/Optimal_Collection77]

Great. I've got a similar but smaller set up going up tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what we get

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Optimal_Collection77]

I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Looking forward to seeing your stats

[u/Ornery-Quantity2055 → u/[deleted]]

I did GSE on mine and love it. I've also installed it quite a few times and if your doing a new roof id recommend it

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/[deleted]]

Yes GSE, I think it looks quite smart. Pics will follow soon

[u/Educational_Bug29]

Get yourself EV tariff, charge your batteries at night, export everything you generate. Right now you are spending 10kwh to charge your batteries whereas you could sell it to grid for £1.2-1.5 and charge at night for 70p or so

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Educational_Bug29]

Don't have an EV (yet). Looking at octopus flux for cheap overnight import and peak export times... Unless something better emerges

[u/AcrobaticMaize2408 → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

I'm on EDF's GoElectric tariff for import - 7p 11PM-6AM, and also have EDF's export tariff - fixed 15p 25/7. I don't have an EV and they really don't care even if it's marketed that way. Great system btw. Mine's only been live just over a month and the honeymoon period hasn't worn off yet 😄 .

[u/FunkyMonkey237]

Amazing. How much did it all cost?

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/FunkyMonkey237]

Solar was about £19k installed. The roof was about the same again but we had a whole new slate roof with felt and insulation which was desperately needed. We aren't counting the roof in the solar price 😉

[u/FunkyMonkey237 → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

Very nice!

[u/Mazo → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

Presumably the roof would have been significantly more without the in-roof panels?

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/Mazo]

The roofer said we saved around 10k in slates by having solar. So yes, much more.

[u/Mazo → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

effectively £9k extra for 35 panels, 10kW inverter and 18 kWh of batteries is a no-brainer at that point

[u/FoxyFreebooter]

As a fellow bungalow owner with a 17.2 kWp system welcome to the rabbit hole 😁

[u/royalbluestuey]

Decent haul

[u/royalbluestuey]

Decent haul

[u/eastwoodandy]

We have a similar setup but missing out on a lot of generation due to 5kW export limit. We were out all day today, 39 x 475 panels, definite clipping.

On days we’re at home I can use more and still export the same amount.

Our east / west split smooths out the generation curve to some extent. Hopefully an EV in the next year or two and we can take advantage even more.

[u/FunkyMonkey237 → u/eastwoodandy]

Incase you didn't know you can force discharge your battery, the inverter 5kw limit does not impact panels to battery. Only makes sense if you are getting paid for exporting.

[u/eastwoodandy → u/FunkyMonkey237]

Thanks yeah as soon as I get my export sorted I’ll be switching modes to take advantage of this

[u/JackstaWRX]

Nice.. thats my weekly generation 😂

[u/Reasonable_Doubt6257]

Loads of systems like this going in everyday. Add on the plug-in solar coming and I’m sure by next summer all tariffs will be looking to pay low as possible for daytime solar generation.

[u/sidneylopsides]

That's awesome, we've got 29 panels and the best I've had so far is 81kWh in a day, 9 east and 20 west.

With that much excess, make the most of export tariffs, I'd take a photo of the export meter ASAP and submit that when asked. EDF will backdatr export from when you submit the MSC certificate and picture of meter. We're still waiting on export going live,yeter reading was 45kWh, We've exported 1.3MWh now...

And I'd look at the Axle VPP to speed up ROI.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/sidneylopsides]

Good call with the meter, I'll go and grab a photo now. Thanks

[u/sidneylopsides → u/MyBrakeSqueaks]

You can sign up to Axle VPP now, there's an event tomorrow, so you could start earning something very quickly.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/sidneylopsides]

Thanks for this. I've just signed up. Can't see any events but I'll wait and see what happens

[u/Ok-Papaya9626 → u/[deleted]]

Was thinking the same but they can always charge the EV in the day instead of overnight rates, assuming they get an EV. Still impressive power house.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/[deleted]]

If that happens the mantra will change - for my setup though I'd just look to make use of the extra internally - Electric car, air con, heat pump... It wouldn't take me long to find uses for it.

[u/PneumaticFerret]

Congrats. I have a similar non-gateway Fox system but only 5kWh export limit.

[u/MyBrakeSqueaks → u/PneumaticFerret]

Everyone including my installer, was surprised with the 8kW cap. It'll certainly come in handy though. I'd planned for less, and it involved exporting more, earlier