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Don't really see why people with solar that are connected to the grid actually want to install batteries at all. There's the cost, fire risk, and just the simpl

Don't really see why people with solar that are connected to the grid actually want to install batteries at all. There's the cost, fire risk, and just the simple alternative of selling excess production for free/discounted grid usage at other times. You're still saving the planet to the same degree, and doing it more cheaply too, with fewer things to go wrong.

lightedman 3y ago
"Don't really see why people with solar that are connected to the grid actually want to install batteries at all." Power load smoothing, emergency backup. I been through a couple of natural disasters, and you quickly realize storage of power is just as key as power generation.
- tuukkah 3y ago
  To reduce the storage needs, I think most people could be flexible with their power usage during emergencies, high prices or bad (local) production. For example, I can typically postpone big-screen movie nights, doing the hoovering/laundry, cooking in the (electric) oven, heating the (electric) sauna. For one day every now and then, it's no problem to turn off the convenience heating of the bathroom floor either. You can check your power consumption during sleeping hours to get a base level. Then, on a normal day, I use 3 to 10 kWh but can fairly painlessly cut it down to 1.5 kWh if needed, which would be more feasible to store in a battery.
forgotusername6 3y ago
In the UK feed in tariff is terrible. There's almost no point at the moment in generating more than you use because you get so little for it. Some of the biggest suppliers are only paying ~4p to feed in compared to the average price of 34p per kWh.
- guiriduro 3y ago
  Arguably the UK/NL isn't so great for individual solar production anyway. But there are still good options: buy from a on/offshore wind provider, hydro too.
- mattferderer 3y ago
  US is similar in some locations (I can't speak for all as I'm sure it varies greatly). I pay a connection fee to use the utility that some months cost more than I pay for electricity. On average half my bill is a fixed connectivity fee. I will say though we have amazing service that rarely ever goes out & all the lines are underground.

lightedman 3y ago

"Don't really see why people with solar that are connected to the grid actually want to install batteries at all." Power load smoothing, emergency backup. I been through a couple of natural disasters, and you quickly realize storage of power is just as key as power generation.

tuukkah 3y ago
To reduce the storage needs, I think most people could be flexible with their power usage during emergencies, high prices or bad (local) production. For example, I can typically postpone big-screen movie nights, doing the hoovering/laundry, cooking in the (electric) oven, heating the (electric) sauna. For one day every now and then, it's no problem to turn off the convenience heating of the bathroom floor either. You can check your power consumption during sleeping hours to get a base level. Then, on a normal day, I use 3 to 10 kWh but can fairly painlessly cut it down to 1.5 kWh if needed, which would be more feasible to store in a battery.

forgotusername6 3y ago

In the UK feed in tariff is terrible. There's almost no point at the moment in generating more than you use because you get so little for it. Some of the biggest suppliers are only paying ~4p to feed in compared to the average price of 34p per kWh.

guiriduro 3y ago
Arguably the UK/NL isn't so great for individual solar production anyway. But there are still good options: buy from a on/offshore wind provider, hydro too.
mattferderer 3y ago
US is similar in some locations (I can't speak for all as I'm sure it varies greatly). I pay a connection fee to use the utility that some months cost more than I pay for electricity. On average half my bill is a fixed connectivity fee. I will say though we have amazing service that rarely ever goes out & all the lines are underground.