Generator or Inverter for residential use?

AchmatK

AchmatK

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Saba'a said:
www.businessinsider.co.za

You can sell excess solar power back to govt – but it may take around 7 years to break even | Business Insider

The time it takes to pay off a solar system is decreasing, but private producers who wish to feed the grid need to be aware of additional municipal costs.
www.businessinsider.co.za www.businessinsider.co.za
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It's not even about breaking even anymore.

Solar panels + batteries + inverter + installation and maintenance over 10 years is cheaper than buying from Eskom or the municipality without even needing to sell anything back.

My cost to generate is under R1.60/kWh vs R2.17/kwh for the lowest tariff from CoCT.
 
AchmatK

AchmatK

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The way I see it, electricity is a basic need with the only source being your local municipality or directly from Eskom. They determined the price and there was very little that consumers could do besides from adjusting their usage according to what they can afford. For many this will be the case for many years to come.

With the solar and batteries getting cheaper, consumers now have an option. Continue being extorted by the utility company or self provision.

Eskom has priced themselves out of market and its only going to get worse for them. Every homeowner living in a freestanding house should seriously consider going solar if they have the roof space.

R2.50/kwh average this year becomes R2.75 next year, R3.10 the following year and in 10 years over R6/kwh whereas my cost is fairly fixed even with maintenance and battery replacement. Panels and inverter should last 20 years.
 
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wingnut771

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signates said:
The way I see it, electricity is a basic need with the only source being your local municipality or directly from Eskom. They determined the price and there was very little that consumers could do besides from adjusting their usage according to what they can afford. For many this will be the case for many years to come.

With the solar and batteries getting cheaper, consumers now have an option. Continue being extorted by the utility company or self provision.

Eskom has priced themselves out of market and its only going to get worse for them. Every homeowner living in a freestanding house should seriously consider going solar if they have the roof space.

R2.50/kwh average this year becomes R2.75 next year, R3.10 the following year and in 10 years over R6/kwh whereas my cost is fairly fixed even with maintenance and battery replacement. Panels and inverter should last 20 years.
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Imagine how long the batteries will last if one only uses them for loadshedding?
 
AchmatK

AchmatK

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wingnut771 said:
I'll be turning my meter backwards erasing last nights usage.
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To be honest, they can remove my spinning meter. I'll just increase my battery bank which would still be cheaper than buying from Eskom or the municipality.

I think at 8 batteries I will have price parity with CoCT but this will only be for a year after which their prices will increase and it would again be more expensive than my solar storage system. 8 batteries would also give me 48 hours running from batteries only.
 
Speedster

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signates said:
To be honest, they can remove my spinning meter. I'll just increase my battery bank which would still be cheaper than buying from Eskom or the municipality.

I think at 8 batteries I will have price parity with CoCT but this will only be for a year after which their prices will increase and it would again be more expensive than my solar storage system. 8 batteries would also give me 48 hours running from batteries only.
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If you're able to spin backwards you can use the grid as the biggest battery ever. No need to spend anything on batteries, except a small one to keep you going through night time ls.
 
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wingnut771

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Speedster said:
If you're able to spin backwards you can use the grid as the biggest battery ever. No need to spend anything on batteries, except a small one to keep you going through night time ls.
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When I'm up and running, I'll keep batteries at 50% and just use the grid at night and feed in during the day to end up with 20 units used on the meter like @signates, just to keep out of trouble going negative. Then when the loadshedding forecast is gloomy, I'll increase to 100%. LFP kept at 50% will last forever (within reason). When they finally make it reasonable to feed in (not this R12.36 per day charge and 20c on the Rand BS double dipping) and start with time of use peak/off peak rates, then will consider increasing battery storage to feed in during peak time rates aswell when the sun isn't shining.

I wish we can get to a level of being able to earn a living from residential SSEG, as at the moment, work is few and far between (no reliable income).
 
AchmatK

AchmatK

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wingnut771 said:
When I'm up and running, I'll keep batteries at 50% and just use the grid at night and feed in during the day to end up with 20 units used on the meter like @signates, just to keep out of trouble going negative. Then when the loadshedding forecast is gloomy, I'll increase to 100%. LFP kept at 50% will last forever (within reason). When they finally make it reasonable to feed in (not this R12.36 per day charge and 20c on the Rand BS double dipping) and start with time of use peak/off peak rates, then will consider increasing battery storage to feed in during peak time rates aswell when the sun isn't shining.

I wish we can get to a level of being able to earn a living from residential SSEG, as at the moment, work is few and far between (no reliable income).
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When are you planning on installing your system?
 
AchmatK

AchmatK

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wingnut771 said:
Moving into a new house 1 April. Probably Aug/Sept when transfer goes through.
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You going for the 8kw if I recall correctly.

I should then have a years worth of data which should be interesting to compare your progress even though you're in different part of the country. My panels went live on 1 August.
 
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wingnut771

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signates said:
You going for the 8kw if I recall correctly.

I should then have a years worth of data which should be interesting to compare your progress even though you're in different part of the country. My panels went live on 1 August.
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Yeah, 8kw, with 24 (6x4) x 440W art solar. Panel is 41.1V & 10.71A so 41.1 x 6 = 246.6V and 10.71A x 2 = 21.42A. Will that be an issue with 18A controller? Trying to factor the many overcast days over here in durban.
 
AchmatK

AchmatK

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wingnut771 said:
Yeah, 8kw, with 24 (6x4) x 440W art solar. Panel is 41.1V & 10.71A so 41.1 x 6 = 246.6V and 10.71A x 2 = 21.42A. Will that be an issue with 18A controller? Trying to factor the many overcast days over here in durban.
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The inverter will clip the amps to 19A even though its rated at 18A. Screenshot_20210206-194716_SOLARMAN%20Smart.jpg
 
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