tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post895662587567343578..comments2024-02-13T07:44:24.008+00:00Comments on The Low Carbon Kid: Does PV - solar electricity - work in the UK?DavidKThorpehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-43647873990155910222012-10-06T10:48:26.640+01:002012-10-06T10:48:26.640+01:00Sure, but you wouldn't use that heat to heat y...Sure, but you wouldn't use that heat to heat your water, which is what you use solar water heating for. You would use it to need space. You would not use a ground source or air source heat pump for hot water heating. The COP would be too low. <br /><br />It's not either/or, but both and for solar PV and solar water heating. However if you have a limited budget and a choice, solar water heating presents better value for money because it's cheaper to install assuming you already have an immersion tank.DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-67558430729430059732012-10-05T22:27:03.424+01:002012-10-05T22:27:03.424+01:002y 12/03/2010 comments were spot on eh? Damn I'...2y 12/03/2010 comments were spot on eh? Damn I'm good. You should see what I'm predicting these days - it's shiny. <br /><br />I read your REA article today talking about renewable heat and how we should support it. I disagree with your point. With PV you make electricity which is a high quality energy source. You can power a heat pump with a COP of 2.5+ which allows you to generate heat more cheaply that direct solar heat. Cheaper cheaper is good but the fact that you're storing a product (hot water, hot air) is also very good because you're provided an easy way to manage your on-site power production.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-80491638381911965392011-10-18T22:58:23.688+01:002011-10-18T22:58:23.688+01:00LCK,
just installed my own after much thought. thi...LCK,<br />just installed my own after much thought. this came after roof insul top up to 270 and cavity wall insul was put in.<br /><b>main argument for was that the energy return on energy invested was between 2 and 4, ie we get the energy back, and we actually save carbon.</b><br />I now don't expect my meter to move much as I expect to use as much as I produce.<br />Govt continues to subsidise nuclear at my expense (through tax), but I am using my own money for this.<br />I'm already a Good Energy customer (paying 14.4p/unit) and I have now become one of their generators.<br />I can't see why anybody shouldn't apply under the Green Deal to set up an appropriate investment with an ESCO to have PV installed free of charge and paid back over the six/seven years mine will.<br />As for working at the lower end of the carbon cost abatement curve, I'm now with Dave Mackay (<a href="http://www.withouthotair.com/Contents.html" rel="nofollow">Sustainable energy- Without the hot air</a>) - we've got to get going with this...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-75866055748067916352011-10-17T20:36:12.028+01:002011-10-17T20:36:12.028+01:00i do think there has been a big increase from the ...i do think there has been a big increase from the UK market, lots of church groups, schools and non profit organisations can see the long term benefits to fund raising now to pay their long term bills for energy. <br /><br />I think it would be unfair to suggest that only the already rich can benefit from solar panels in the UK.solar pv panels cardiffhttp://www.wdsgreenenergy.co.uk/cardiff/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-75567578308188080682011-10-06T20:05:59.026+01:002011-10-06T20:05:59.026+01:00Hi David
I have put a couple of installation imag...Hi David<br /><br />I have put a couple of installation images on this website<br />http://pic.atpic.com/2344330/600<br /><br />Hope you or others access them OK<br /><br />Regards<br />BillMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-775052150376709832011-10-06T18:51:30.173+01:002011-10-06T18:51:30.173+01:00Hi David
My array is a 16 panel Samsung 247W. West...Hi David<br />My array is a 16 panel Samsung 247W. West facing bungalow roof, but gets sun from around 10.30 am even October. Sun set today at 6.25 by which time 10.52Kw output, of which 10.42 went to grid. Yesterday cloudy all day but still 4.7Kw output.<br />I have photos but can't see means for loading - any suggestions?<br />Regards<br />BillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-59972890196060512102011-10-06T18:17:24.231+01:002011-10-06T18:17:24.231+01:00That's impressive, Bill. Can I ask the size of...That's impressive, Bill. Can I ask the size of the array. A photo would be very nice too!DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-23843592251231148982011-10-06T16:39:24.857+01:002011-10-06T16:39:24.857+01:00I'm not rich, simply retired with enough to in...I'm not rich, simply retired with enough to invest in a 4Kw pv system. Cost £10.5k. Being retired gives me flexibility to adjust my energy use around the bluetooth display in kitchen telling me how much is being generated. I use microwave to heat water for drinks, to wash and shave.<br />Today 6 Oct sunny spells, WEST FACING array, UK East Anglia I did a 40c wash, part tumble dried, ironed previous wash, hoovered house. Use from grid: 100 watts. Generation by 5pm 8050 watts therefore exported to grid 7950 watts. I could go on but hope I've made my points. I expect to get return on investment(ROI) in 7 to 8 years, and to generate at least 2,500 Kw per annum. <br />BillMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-17523623785179522192011-10-04T11:12:38.055+01:002011-10-04T11:12:38.055+01:00We are a group of volunteers and starting a new in...We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvelous job!<br />Anybody looking for <a href="http://www.morganspencer.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Reception Jobs in London</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-29454366617658147362010-08-11T15:23:39.930+01:002010-08-11T15:23:39.930+01:00The dilemma is a moral one about social equity. Th...The dilemma is a moral one about social equity. The grants are financed by an increase on everyone's fuel bills. So poor people's bills will go up to finance richer people's home improvements. <br /><br />It's more cost-effective to buy green electricity on a tarrif (eg Good Energy) and invest in energy efficiency and solar water heating. See my book for more details.DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-41200642784111922010-08-11T15:08:38.272+01:002010-08-11T15:08:38.272+01:00So here's my dilemma.
I agree with what you a...So here's my dilemma.<br /><br />I agree with what you and Monbiot say about PV being an absurdly expensive way to make carbon cuts this far from the equator. I agree that we should be subsidising the cheaper options.<br /><br />But now that FiTs exist, what's the ethics of taking it up? <br /><br />Would refusing to fit FiT-subsidised PV make the government more likely to fund the more effective technologies? Or would it just leave us on the fossil based grid with no PV?<br /><br />This isn't like the government paying us to install coal fired systems or something, it's something that will pay back its carbon debt fairly quickly and reduce a household's emissions. But it is supporting a system that shouldn't exist.<br /><br />I genuinely have no set position on this and am keen to hear what well-informed others think.<br /><br />Merrick<br /><br />PS. Only just found your blog whilst searching on the PV thing. Like it a lot and have added you to my blogroll.merrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959849087751101034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-71759866544241096712010-03-21T17:36:36.192+00:002010-03-21T17:36:36.192+00:00Some more thoughts on the discussion about PV and...<a href="http://www.energynumbers.info/german-pv" rel="nofollow">Some more thoughts on the discussion about PV and British and German feed-in tariffs</a>Andrew Smithhttp://www.energynumbers.info/german-pvnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-13361243507046961222010-03-14T11:10:22.339+00:002010-03-14T11:10:22.339+00:00My (lengthy) comments here:
http://notesfromother...My (lengthy) comments here:<br /><br />http://notesfromotherside.blogspot.com/2010/03/slippery-slopes.htmlCraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753056386255047108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-67121863468943728192010-03-12T20:46:03.581+00:002010-03-12T20:46:03.581+00:00David
I'm only talking about price. Four year...David<br /><br />I'm only talking about price. Four years ago is a very long time ago in terms of price data. You wouldn't use prices of flatscreens from 4 years ago to compare current TVs? PV is roughly similar.<br /><br />The technology change has been significant at the leading edge but these developments are only starting to filter into the market. Efficiency won't change your kWh/kWp performance so it's irrelevant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-29017182426513122032010-03-12T20:20:09.234+00:002010-03-12T20:20:09.234+00:00I used UK figures based on actual monitored system...I used UK figures based on actual monitored systems. They may be four years old but there is a real paucity of monitored data - in many areas of renewables and building performance. It appears that your link is not to independently monitored system data but to industry performance in Germany. Besides, four years is not so long, and PVs haven't got that much more efficient in the meantime. The simple fact is that there is not enough sunshine in the UK, unless PV becomes much much more efficient at converting sunshine to electricity in the middle of winter.DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727745.post-37520766105491527652010-03-12T16:53:01.150+00:002010-03-12T16:53:01.150+00:00Jim
Germany has a thriving PV market with similar...Jim<br /><br />Germany has a thriving PV market with similar insolation levels and a comparable FiT rate. Most of the installations are in the sunnier southern region and it's fair to expect a similar development pattern in the U.K. - See Insolation Map(http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/download/PVGIS-EuropeSolarPotential.pdf)<br /><br />You shouldn't use statistics from 4 years ago. The pace of technology change demands that you use fresh statistics. Here's a decent site. (http://en.solarwirtschaft.de/home/photovoltaic-market/german-market.html). The German version of the page has november data and it should be updated shortly with the december numbers. Take a look at how the system prices plummeted in 2009. How low do they need to go before people start taking this technology seriously? 2500 Euro/kWp? 2000 Euro/kWp? They should reach these price points over the next few years. <br /><br />Your 5 year payback example is too agressive. The FiT structure in Germany is designed to produce an 8% Internal rate of return. They have 9 Gigawatts of PV installed so the system definately works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com