Solar Panels and GivEnergy Home Battery - BIGGEST REGRETS ONE YEAR ON!?

Summary

In this video, the creator reviews their solar panel system after one year of operation. The system, installed in December 2022, has exceeded performance expectations, generating 4,870 kWh in its first year. The creator discusses key benefits such as significant savings on energy costs, exporting excess solar power to the grid, and utilizing the Octopus Flux and Intelligent tariffs. While happy with the setup, they reflect on potential upgrades, such as switching to a more powerful inverter, adding more panels, and installing a heat pump for greater energy efficiency. Overall, the system has proven cost-effective, with plans for future enhancements.

Takeaways

• 😀 2023 was a successful year for the creator's solar, EV, and YouTube journeys, with a focus on solar panel performance, financial returns, and overall satisfaction with the system.
• 😀 The solar system installed consists of 16 395W panels (6 east-facing and 10 west-facing), a 5kW hybrid inverter, and a 9.5kWh battery, with a total system size of 6.32 kW peak.
• 😀 The system performed slightly better than expected, generating 4,566 kWh over the year, surpassing the estimate from the PVGIS tool (4,531 kWh). June was the peak month with 41.2 kWh generated in a single day.
• 😀 Winter generation was lower than summer, but the system was still able to export excess energy back to the grid, especially during peak periods in the evening with west-facing panels.
• 😀 The creator switched to an Octopus Flux tariff in March 2023, which offered better rates for exported energy, especially during peak evening hours (4-7 PM), significantly benefiting financially.
• 😀 In September 2023, the creator switched to the Octopus Intelligent tariff, which provides a low overnight rate for charging the EV and battery, resulting in further savings.
• 😀 After the first year, the system's payback was slightly higher than expected, with £1,551.41 saved (compared to the forecast £1,252), and the payback period is expected to be around 6-7 years.
• 😀 The creator's solar system has offered flexibility, including the ability to export power to the grid or use it for personal consumption (e.g., EV charging), which adds both financial and environmental benefits.
• 😀 The system's return on investment (ROI) is impressive, with an annualized return of around 14%, a much higher return than traditional savings accounts or investments.
• 😀 One minor regret is the choice of a Gen 1 inverter instead of the more powerful Gen 2 or Gen 3, which would have provided additional flexibility, especially during high-demand situations like saving sessions and peak energy use.
• 😀 Looking ahead, the creator is considering the installation of a heat pump and an additional 9.5 kWh battery, especially with the VAT removal on batteries in 2024, to further improve energy efficiency and sustainability in the home.

Q & A

What system was installed for the solar power setup?

The solar system consisted of 16 395W Trer solar panels, a Give Energy 5 kW hybrid inverter (Gen 1), and a Give Energy 9.5 kWh battery (Gen 2). Six panels were installed on the east-facing roof, and ten on the west-facing roof, totaling a 6.32 kW peak system.

How did the actual solar generation compare to the predicted generation?

The actual solar generation exceeded the predicted estimate slightly. The expected generation was 4,566 kWh, while the actual generation was 4,877 kWh, which was close to the predicted values, with no significant deviations except in the summer.

What was the best month for solar generation?

The best month for solar generation was June, where the system generated 41.2 kWh in one day. This was due to favorable weather conditions, particularly plenty of sunshine during that month.

What challenges did the solar system face throughout the year?

The main challenge was during snowy weather, where on December 3rd, the panels were covered in snow, resulting in zero generation for that day. Additionally, the system sometimes drew power from the grid when demand exceeded the battery’s output capacity.

How did tariff changes impact the solar system’s financial performance?

The switch to the Octopus Flux tariff allowed for higher export payments during peak generation hours (4-7 PM). The higher export rate in the summer (up to 35p per kWh) contributed to significant financial savings. Later, the user switched to the Octopus Intelligent Tariff, which offered a cheaper overnight rate to charge the EV and home battery.

What financial benefit did the solar system provide in the first year?

In the first year, the user saved £1,551.41, exceeding the initial prediction of £1,252. This included both savings from self-consumption and the financial gains from exporting energy back to the grid.

What was the expected payback period for the solar system?

The expected payback period for the solar system was around 7 years, based on initial calculations. However, with the higher-than-expected savings, the user anticipates the payback period to be closer to 6 to 7 years.

Would the user recommend installing solar panels?

Yes, the user highly recommends installing solar panels and a home battery, especially the Give Energy equipment, which has worked flawlessly. The flexibility in energy usage and financial benefits are significant positives.

What would the user have done differently in terms of the solar system setup?

The main regret was choosing the Gen 1 inverter instead of the Gen 2, which would have allowed for a higher discharge rate from the battery. The user also considered adding more panels to cover winter usage, but ultimately chose not to due to the need for a larger inverter and potential cost concerns.

What are the user’s plans for the future regarding energy usage?

The user is considering installing a heat pump to replace the gas boiler, which would increase electricity consumption. They are also looking into adding another 9.5 kWh Give Energy battery to further optimize energy usage and cost-efficiency, especially with the VAT removal on battery installations from February 2024.