Jules59 wrote: 20 Mar 2026, 9:45pm
I have a 6.6kW solar panel array (the max our roof design would allow), 14.5kWh battery and Zappi 7kW car charger.
Octopus are lowering their tariffs in April.
During the 5 hr night time low rate (5.2p/kWh) we will charge the car , charge the battery, heat the hot water and run the washing machine and dish washer if required.
Even in the dark winter the battery is big enough so that we only occasionally import at the high rate (28p/kWh) . In winter the battery will be down to 10% before it recharges whereas in summer it'll be up at around 90% so doesnt need to much to top it up.
Yesterday (a sunny day in late March) we exported 24kWh at 12p/kWh as we were away from home and only a few electrical things were running , including the pumps for the sewage treatment plant. We imported only 3.4Kwh during that 24 hr period.
Our big issue is the heating oil as there is no gas supply in my neck of the woods, and that has more than doubled in price - so we are trying to eke it out until it gets warmer and then not required until next winter.
I really don't get some of this stuff.
You have a house with an oil boiler and even when you are away it manages to import 3.4 kwhs of leccy?
No car charging involved.
No leccy heating.
But a lot of sewage?!
Average daily consumption (no car or heating)of 15kwh is a big chunk of leccy.
Sometimes it looks from my around 2kwh per day house that most of the benefit comes from off-peak leccy stored in expensive batteries whether car or domestic.
Such off-peak is not always wind energy.
I am unsure if that is the way I want to go.
Using less was always prime aim.
But a fat lot of good it has done me really.
Half my bill is now the standing charge.
I do not have the spare funds or lifespan to make the solar/battery investment now.
The situation where the grid is down, but panels and battery are functioning and full, yet nothing works (because the system needs a functioning grid) really puts one off.
