4 replies to this topic

[Photon Utilities]

This is just a brief intro into solar PV and how it works here in the uk if anyone is interested.

Solar Energy involves harnessing the power of the sun and converting this into electricity for use around the home (and export back to the "Grid")

• Multiple Solar Panels are linked and connected to an inverter in your loft
  
• Generation Meters link from the inverter to your incoming electricity supply/meter
  
• Solar energy produced in daylight hours is used for household appliances with surplus fed back to the Grid
  
• If your domestic energy requirements exceed that generated through your solar panels, you automatically "top up" from your normal electricity supply as required
  
• During night-time, your electricity use comes as normal from the Grid

Here in the UK we have a (FIT) Feed-in Tarrif, Under the FITs Scheme you will need an additional electric meter (a "total generation meter") which will measure the amount of electricity that your Solar Panel system is generating and feeding back into the grid. You will also need to provide your energy supplier with these meter readings every quarter in order to receive payment from them under the scheme.

[jasserEnv]

I think solar panels work the same everywhere . Your title was amusing since it seemed the laws of physics were different in the UK.

With regard to the FIT programs, they are fairly common although many jurisdictions don't trust individuals to record the numbers so many of the meters are connected wirelessly in order to retrieve the readings. Friends of mine have a solar installation covering their roof and they have an inbound and outbound meter so it is understood what they are using and what they are generating.

[Photon Utilities]

Hi jasserEnv

You may be right about the laws of physics

It was put in layman's terms for the less technically minded, and people that are fairly new to Solar PV.

The above is just a brief explanation of how PV works; the UK reference was so you know where we are.

In the UK we use a calibrated meter connected to the PV circuit which is the same as the grid connection meter. Wireless monitoring is optional extra for domestic users and is not as accurate as the meter itself as they are connected "wirelessly" to the inverter that is not calibrated or Ofgem approved.

We have not yet implemented smart monitoring throughout the UK so in most cases 50% of your total generation is paid out for exporting to the grid and a fee for you total generation is paid at a higher rate.

[jasserEnv]

Are there any efforts to get smart monitoring in place? I would think that the current system with two part pay outs could lead to some inefficiencies in the payment system. I am guessing that it benefits the home owner at this point but since this is subsidized, it would affect the total number of installations that the government could support.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Nice.
http://img.thesun.co...82_1399517a.jpg