Solar PV, Aberdeen and me - Update 1
Sep 082016The install consisted of 12 BenQ PM096B00 panels, each equipped with a optimiser unit, all tied to s Solaredge SE3680 4Kw Inverter. The total installed capacity is rated at 3.96KWp or 8.54 KWac.
Plugging these stats together with the southern angle, plane elevation and shading factors, the Annual Solar PV Yield was predicted via the MCS method and PVsol simulation to be around 3277Kwh per year. Factoring in panel degradation, energy price inflation and the guaranteed FIT tariff (12.03p/kWhr) and export tariff rates (4.85p/kWhr), I am predicted a return of just under 12k over the next 20 year period. The system cost about £6.5k to install with the 20yr kit warranty. O/c this payback is realised over the long term with both the FIT payments as income and cheaper electric bills.
The predicted and actuals over the past month are below:
| *Month last updated |
Est. Generation | Est FIT, Export income & Savings | Actual | |||
| Month | kWh | % of total | Month | Quarterly (Running total) |
kWh | % of Est |
| Jan | 166 | 2.83% | £20.35 | 10 | - | |
| February | 166 | 5.08% | £36.52 | 187 | 111% | |
| March | 304 | 9.27% | £66.67 | £123.54 | 310 | 102% |
| April | 367 | 11.21% | £80.68 | 393 | 107% | |
| May | 440 | 13.43% | £96.65 | 502 | 112% | |
| June | 432 | 13.19% | £94.87 | £395.45 | 482 | 110% |
| July | 417 | 12.71% | £91.45 | £262 Paid from SSE, est. £133 saved on bill | 430 | 103% |
| August | 381 | 11.63% | £83.66 | 460 | - | |
| September | 292 | 8.90% | £64.04 | £634 | ||
| October* | 211 | 6.43% | £46.30 | est. £230 due from SSE (tbc) | ||
| November | 122 | 3.71% | £26.72 | |||
| December | 53 | 1.61% | £11.56 | £719.47 | ||
| YEAR | 3277 | 100.00% | £719.47 | £719.47 | ||
Happily, so far I have generated more per month than the estimated - an average of 108% infact. This can only be a good thing but I have yet to compete the estimated bill savings against reality, which may eat up the extra 8% gain. Only time will tell. (updated Oct 5, 2016)