Wind powered free energy this weekend

[GUMPY]

I am truly impressed, the majority of our grid use is off peak charging the car and battery.

That's the thing, I don't have an electric car
Looking back over my export figures I could certainly have charged the car from solar instead of exporting but that would cost me more in lost export at 15p/kWh than charging from the grid.

It's all a balancing act, I hope I'm getting the maximum return, I certainly put enough brain power into it, might have to look at automation 🫣

 

[Buckman]

Our heat pump switches on at 6am until 9am and then again from 4pm until 8pm. Both are peak times, but no chance of the free electric from Octopus. However with winter approaching we will need to start using the tumble drier again so the free electric could be of use.

With all these 100s of thousands of new homes being built and heat pumps being installed surely at the times I mentioned there will be a massive drain on the grid as all the heat pumps will switch on around the same time in the morning? Plus of course these huge data centres being built which requires masses of energy. I wonder if the grid will be able to cope or will black outs become more frequent especially during periods when it is overcast with no wind for long periods?

 

[Oscarmax]

Our heat pump switches on at 6am until 9am and then again from 4pm until 8pm. Both are peak times, but no chance of the free electric from Octopus. However with winter approaching we will need to start using the tumble drier again so the free electric could be of use.

With all these 100s of thousands of new homes being built and heat pumps being installed surely at the times I mentioned there will be a massive drain on the grid as all the heat pumps will switch on around the same time in the morning? Plus of course these huge data centres being built which requires masses of energy. I wonder if the grid will be able to cope or will black outs become more frequent especially during periods when it is overcast with no wind for long periods?

There is guy on the Mobility site, he recently installed a heat pump, solar panel and a Fogstar 30kWh using a grant loan in Scotland, they have a EV car and Octopus Inteligence.

 

[Sam Vimes]

We don't have an EV, Solar Panels, Heat Pump, Gas Boiler, or Electric Heaters (we'll just one 1400W ).

So doing our bit for the environment by not buying them in the first place 😉

 

[Oscarmax]

Our heat pump switches on at 6am until 9am and then again from 4pm until 8pm. Both are peak times, but no chance of the free electric from Octopus. However with winter approaching we will need to start using the tumble drier again so the free electric could be of use.

With all these 100s of thousands of new homes being built and heat pumps being installed surely at the times I mentioned there will be a massive drain on the grid as all the heat pumps will switch on around the same time in the morning? Plus of course these huge data centres being built which requires masses of energy. I wonder if the grid will be able to cope or will black outs become more frequent especially during periods when it is overcast with no wind for long periods?

We took advantage of EV charger grant scheme in 2020 our Podpoint 7 kWh EV charger on £350 all in. Octopus Go I have the best of both world, cheap off peak 8.5 pence to charge the car, and 15 pence export.

The plus side we can run the PHEV on off peak electric until April when we start towing again.

 

[otherclive]

Our heat pump switches on at 6am until 9am and then again from 4pm until 8pm. Both are peak times, but no chance of the free electric from Octopus. However with winter approaching we will need to start using the tumble drier again so the free electric could be of use.

With all these 100s of thousands of new homes being built and heat pumps being installed surely at the times I mentioned there will be a massive drain on the grid as all the heat pumps will switch on around the same time in the morning? Plus of course these huge data centres being built which requires masses of energy. I wonder if the grid will be able to cope or will black outs become more frequent especially during periods when it is overcast with no wind for long periods?

I’ve yet to see any new builds near us with heat pumps. My grandsons new house ( late 2024) is gas fired CH, and the houses still being built on his development are not with heat pumps. Given we are falling short of the house building target of 300,000 per year and barely achieving 200, 000 per year it’s going to be some time before heat pump installations affect the grid supplies.

But there are new inter connectors from Scotland coming south, and a backlog of offshore wind farms requiring connecting to the grid. Near us new solar farms have associated battery storage, some with diesel generation too. In wider UK larger battery storage is also being built, as is the new Hinckley Point C, and Sizewell C in the future. One aspect not to be forgotten is that new electric cars are starting to have the ability to feed power back in to the grid, the new Nissan Leaf, being a good example. There is also a steady rise in home owners installing solar and battery systems which either reduce the load on the grid, or can put power in to the grid. Even today, a relatively low wind day, Gridwatch reports 49% from wind,and gas at 10%. So it’s not all doom and gloom, progress is being made, but not widely reported.

 

[Buckman]

I’ve yet to see any new builds near us with heat pumps. My grandsons new house ( late 2024) is gas fired CH, and the houses still being built on his development are not with heat pumps. Given we are falling short of the house building target of 300,000 per year and barely achieving 200, 000 per year it’s going to be some time before heat pump installations affect the grid supplies.

But there are new inter connectors from Scotland coming south, and a backlog of offshore wind farms requiring connecting to the grid. Near us new solar farms have associated battery storage, some with diesel generation too. In wider UK larger battery storage is also being built, as is the new Hinckley Point C, and Sizewell C in the future. One aspect not to be forgotten is that new electric cars are starting to have the ability to feed power back in to the grid, the new Nissan Leaf, being a good example. There is also a steady rise in home owners installing solar and battery systems which either reduce the load on the grid, or can put power in to the grid. Even today, a relatively low wind day, Gridwatch reports 49% from wind,and gas at 10%. So it’s not all doom and gloom, progress is being made, but not widely reported.

I thought it was now mandatory for new builds to have heat pumps? All the new builds around us have had heat pumps installed whether or not you wanted the heat pump!

Although building targets are not being met, there is probably still that extra drain on the grid in some areas even without heat pumps being involved. You cannot add a thousand homes onto the grid without doing some substantial improvements. In an area not far from us which is currently a rural area or farmland the proposal is to build 2000 homes, but no additional schools or surgeries.

 

[Oscarmax]

In our area they upgrading the underground gas network.

 

[otherclive]

I thought it was now mandatory for new builds to have heat pumps? All the new builds around us have had heat pumps installed whether or not you wanted the heat pump!

Although building targets are not being met, there is probably still that extra drain on the grid in some areas even without heat pumps being involved. You cannot add a thousand homes onto the grid without doing some substantial improvements. In an area not far from us which is currently a rural area or farmland the proposal is to build 2000 homes, but no additional schools or surgeries.

There’s the transition phase for new homes with permits that ends in 2027. So many homes being built now may not be being fitted with heat pumps. My grandsons didn’t offer an option for heat pump or solar panels.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I wonder what constitutes a New Build. If I build a house today but don't install any form of heating but in a years time want to do so - can I put in anything I want?

 

[Tobes]

I was thinking of having panels and battery fitted to our daughter’s house as it has a large south facing roof,but there’s no grants available. Yet I could fit a new gas boiler and get 40% relief as it counts as a renewal, not upgrade.

The current incentive is that solar and battery are 0 rate VAT.