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Yes, tied to the grid. Simply hooked up to a dedicated breaker circuit. This is in The Netherlands, which means you don’t need a permit to install or connect so

by jstsch 5y ago

Yes, tied to the grid. Simply hooked up to a dedicated breaker circuit. This is in The Netherlands, which means you don’t need a permit to install or connect solar. Practically everyone here has a meter which records power usage and return. Currently, what you return is subtracted from your usage (yearly cumulatives) as an incentive to install domestic solar, although that arrangement will probably be phased out step-by-step after 2023.

jandrese 5y ago
> Practically everyone here has a meter which records power usage and return. Be aware that this is not common in the rest of the world. Most meters are non-directional, which means if you hook a solar panel up to it and then produce extra power, the power company will read it as if you consumed that power from the grid. Effectively you pay the power company for every extra watt generated. Part of the solar install involves calling up the power company to have them come out and swap the meter. Requirements to install Solar vary by community, state, and nation. It even matters where you install the panels. Ground mount and non-inhabited structures (sheds) and often more loosely regulated than rooftop arrays. Even if you are planning to do it yourself it is worth it to call a local installer and discuss the process and local laws. You may need to get permission from the HOA, town, county, power company, state, and even federal government depending on where you live.
- Syonyk 5y ago
  > Most meters are non-directional, which means if you hook a solar panel up to it and then produce extra power, the power company will read it as if you consumed that power from the grid. Smart meters can be configured either way, though the one I'm familiar with from talking to the various inspectors and such (our type) has two different registers, one that counts "net energy" and one that counts "total energy passed through" - counting up in both directions. I imagine if you're not on a net metering agreement and those two begin to differ, you'll have a visit from a power company truck at some point. They're quite clear in the various rate schedules that if you've got non-permitted solar installed, they'll come turn it off, and if they can't easily do so, they'll simply take their meter (disconnecting you entirely from the grid). (mountain west United States)
- MaKey 5y ago
  I have a hard time believing that. The old meters I know will just stop when you generate more power than you use or even run backwards. (Europe with 3-phase power)
- kwhitefoot 5y ago
  > Most meters are non-directional, Really? Can you provide a link? I imagine quite a lot of installations are still using old fashioned rotating disk meters. These are quite definitely bidirectional unless fitted with a ratchet that prevents them running backwards. I only got a smart meter a couple of years ago here in Norway and we are way ahead of most countries.
  - jandrese 5y ago
    https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-tie-a-solar-panel-to-the-grid-without-net-meter https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-tie-a-solar-pane... https://www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/solar-panels/after-my-solar-system-has-been-installed-do-i-need-a-new-electricity-meter https://www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/solar-panels/after-my-solar-... https://www.synergy.net.au/Your-home/Help-and-advice/Solar-credits-and-upgrades/Do-I-need-a-new-meter-to-install-solar-and--how-do-I-arrange-this-Resi https://www.synergy.net.au/Your-home/Help-and-advice/Solar-c... https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-buying-diy-solar-panels#final-inspection-grid-connection https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-buying-di... The old spinning disk meters can run backwards, but newer electronic meters are apparently dumber unless they are specifically made to be bidirectional (so called "Net Meters").

by jstsch 5y ago

jandrese 5y ago

> Practically everyone here has a meter which records power usage and return. Be aware that this is not common in the rest of the world. Most meters are non-directional, which means if you hook a solar panel up to it and then produce extra power, the power company will read it as if you consumed that power from the grid. Effectively you pay the power company for every extra watt generated. Part of the solar install involves calling up the power company to have them come out and swap the meter. Requirements to install Solar vary by community, state, and nation. It even matters where you install the panels. Ground mount and non-inhabited structures (sheds) and often more loosely regulated than rooftop arrays. Even if you are planning to do it yourself it is worth it to call a local installer and discuss the process and local laws. You may need to get permission from the HOA, town, county, power company, state, and even federal government depending on where you live.

Syonyk 5y ago
> Most meters are non-directional, which means if you hook a solar panel up to it and then produce extra power, the power company will read it as if you consumed that power from the grid. Smart meters can be configured either way, though the one I'm familiar with from talking to the various inspectors and such (our type) has two different registers, one that counts "net energy" and one that counts "total energy passed through" - counting up in both directions. I imagine if you're not on a net metering agreement and those two begin to differ, you'll have a visit from a power company truck at some point. They're quite clear in the various rate schedules that if you've got non-permitted solar installed, they'll come turn it off, and if they can't easily do so, they'll simply take their meter (disconnecting you entirely from the grid). (mountain west United States)
MaKey 5y ago
I have a hard time believing that. The old meters I know will just stop when you generate more power than you use or even run backwards. (Europe with 3-phase power)
kwhitefoot 5y ago
> Most meters are non-directional, Really? Can you provide a link? I imagine quite a lot of installations are still using old fashioned rotating disk meters. These are quite definitely bidirectional unless fitted with a ratchet that prevents them running backwards. I only got a smart meter a couple of years ago here in Norway and we are way ahead of most countries.
- jandrese 5y ago
  https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-tie-a-solar-panel-to-the-grid-without-net-meter https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-you-tie-a-solar-pane... https://www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/solar-panels/after-my-solar-system-has-been-installed-do-i-need-a-new-electricity-meter https://www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/solar-panels/after-my-solar-... https://www.synergy.net.au/Your-home/Help-and-advice/Solar-credits-and-upgrades/Do-I-need-a-new-meter-to-install-solar-and--how-do-I-arrange-this-Resi https://www.synergy.net.au/Your-home/Help-and-advice/Solar-c... https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-buying-diy-solar-panels#final-inspection-grid-connection https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-buying-di... The old spinning disk meters can run backwards, but newer electronic meters are apparently dumber unless they are specifically made to be bidirectional (so called "Net Meters").