Our Head of Commercial Car Chargers Simon provides a great overview of the Rolec EV Open Charge for commercial use. As Simon points out, there are some considerations to take into account such as single phase versus three phase installation.
Solar PV Panels - Power or Pain
For those that have thought about getting Solar PV Panels installed but have not quite got around to taking the plunge, we thought it might be helpful to be upfront and outline some of the potential issues. Are they a great power generator or too much of a pain to be worth the hassle?
We’ve asked our Solar PV Specialist Engineer to give us the low-down…
How Reliable are Solar PV Panels?
On the whole the actual panels themselves are usually very reliable. Obviously there are things that can go wrong, but this tends to be with the inverter rather than the solar panels.
What is the Inverter?
The inverter is an essential part of the solar panel infrastructure and converts the DC (direct current) voltage generated by the panel, into AC (alternating current) voltage that is utilised by the home or workplace.
What are the Unlikely Problems that Could Occur?
Issues with solar panels tend to be few and far between, but when they do occur they tend to be one of the following:
The glass on the panel has a crack or is broken
The panels are not producing electricity
The generator meter is not working
Panel performance is reduced
Electrical connection is poor
Accumulation of dust, dirt, and sand from the wind and rain
Are there any Proactive Measures that can be Taken to Ensure Optimum Performance?
It is important to schedule in some time periodically to assess the panels and the immediate environment where they reside. For example, you might find birds nesting under the panels, or damaged roof tiles shadowing some of the panels. Trees can also cause shadowing, especially if it has been a while since the panels were installed.
How Much Power can the PV Panels Produce?
There are quite a few variables that can have an effect on power production. Some of these variables include where you live, the amount of ambient light available, the angle the panels are installed at, the power of the panels (because these can vary), and other variables like broken tiles and trees causing shadows as mentioned above.
However, if you were to install eleven solar panels (all south facing), you could expect to generate 4KW of which 3KW will be usable energy. Appliances in your home that are permanently on such as fridge freezer, lights, TV, router can be taken care of with the energy produced from solar, and any surplus can be stored in battery storage.
Conclusion
With maximum reliability, it is worth investing in solar panels. Not only are they very reliable but there are things you can do proactively to ensure continual maximum efficiency.
A set of eleven is enough to run your ‘everyday’ items in your home, but this doesn’t include kettles or ovens which often use a large spike of electricity and so will take the power from the grid.
Ultimately, it is about saving money with rising energy costs but its also about doing your bit for the environment. With the reliability being high and the power providing real benefit it is definitely worth considering.
Compact Battery Storage Solutions
Battery storage solutions can fit neatly on the side of a wall such as the wall of a garage. This example is of a recent installation in Hampshire showing a GivEnergy inverter and battery storage solution.
Neat and Compact
As you can see, the battery sits neatly against the wall with the inverter above. The latest batteries are compact but can also be added to at a later date with additional batteries, so they become modular rather than redundant if storage capacity requirements increase.
Smart Technology
Utilising online connectivity via an GivEnergy app or cloud, the inverter controls how the battery is used, where it receives its charging power from (solar energy or mains) and when it discharges.
Reducing Reliance on the Grid
As this configuration of solar PV, battery storage, and car charging unit is installed on a new housing development, the installation can often start off as a ‘box-ticking’ exercise to meet with development requirements for green energy, but quickly becomes more valuable as it becomes clear that it can offer real value i.e. storing solar energy for use in the house, reducing the reliance on the grid.
Start Saving with Greener Energy Today
With fuel prices and energy prices on the rise, there has never been a better time to look at green energy solutions such as solar PV panels. UK Green Energy Installations can work with you to ensure you invest in the best panels for your business or household. Consider battery storage and electric car charger installation at the same time, so you can absorb it, store it, and use it!
Future-Proofing your Electric Car Charger
If you’re thinking of installing a car charger soon or in the future, it is worth considering future-proofing it. This means ensuring that the charger can be integrated with both solar panels and battery storage.
Why?
Charge your car directly from the energy generated from your solar panels i.e. with the Zappi car charger.
If you don’t have solar panels, you could charge your battery storage solution during off-peak and charge your car anytime of day or night i.e. during peak rate and only pay off-peak rate.
With energy prices on the rise, it is worth taking extra steps to save money and decrease your carbon footprint even further.
You're in Control with the GivEnergy app
Making those fine adjustments to maximise both your cost savings and flexibility around your daily routines has never been easier, with the user friendly app from GivEnergy, a British battery storage manufacturer.
The mobile app
The mobile app from GivEnergy (shown above) is mainly for monitoring usage anytime of day including:
Checking how much energy is being produced from your solar panels (if you have them installed)
How much charge the battery has
What it’s status is i.e. whether its charging or discharging
What proportion of energy is being generated from green energy
What energy is currently being consumed
The desktop app
The desktop app is designed to provide additional functionality including:
Setting the battery for charging and discharging
Grid reliance
and any alarms and information from the inverters