Microgenerator

Slightly ahead of schedule, our solar PV panels and kit have been commissioned. They finished yesterday, and the system's managing to generate today, despite bad weather, which is pleasing.

PV Panels being installed (© Philip 2011)

It's a full 4kWp system of Sanyo HIT panels, coupled to an SMA Sunny Boy inverter. The FIT application (for microgeneration payments) is being processed, but as of today we should now be electricity-negative (we ought to generate about twice as much electricity as the house consumes). Of course, because we use power overnight, and when it's gloomy, we can't match supply to demand, meaning we'll still pay for electricity — but the power we generate will find a use elsewhere.