John a Stephens, largest PV in the E Mids

23 Dec '10: John a Stephens, one of the East Midlands largest builders merchants have gone one better by having the largest PV array in the East Midlands, as reported in a Nottingham Evening Post.

It is reported here, not only because it's the largest, but it's  installed by EvoEnergy, one of the Rushcliffe Solar sponsors, and because the managing director of Stephens lives in Rushcliffe and had his house done first, with 21 panels.

Ken Clarke and FIT

18 Nov '10: DNC writes: Tomorrow, Friday, I am having Tea and a photoshoot with Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP, who is supporting National Energy Action's Warm Homes campaign 2010. This particular visit is because of Rushcliffe Solar's work in Rushcliffe, and NEA have nominated us to take part in this at the house of one of RS's 'clients', who recently had her roof fitted with PV panels by EvoEnergy.

....and by the way,

THANKYOU to Good Energy for finally making the Feed in Tariff payment! this is very welcome, before Christmas! A Tax free £1015 just landed neatly in my account, the FIT amount from April 1 to October 1.

Installation in West Bridgford

13 Oct '10: One of the first people to come to our outdoor solar surgeries in July, let's call her Ms JJ, is now happily living underneath 14 solar PV panels. These were installed by EvoEnergy some time in September. We, the team of Rushcliffe Solar, wish her many years of happy FIT payments and reduced energy bills!

Open Day at Peveril Solar

15 August: We had the EvoEnergy open day on Sunday. I forgot to count, but estimate that about 20 people called round. Appropriately, it was a nice sunny day, with about 14 kWh harvested. Nicola, Jessica and Aidan joined us from Evo.
  We started the session out on the field looking at the house from the south east. Everybody arrived at 12, and nobody came later, so it became a single long session with plenty of time for questions.

Most people were there for their interest in Photovoltaic, but there was also interest in the Surya sunboxes for those who were considering heatpumps, especially now that I am more aware of their performance, and contribution.

Open day at Peveril Solar

We have an Open Day on Sunday AUGUST 15 at the Peveril Solar house. Visitors can call between 12 and 2 pm. The focus is on Photovoltaic systems - home generation - how it might fit, how the feed in tariff works, what it might cost, how the payback will work, what the maintenance and management involve.
There will be experts on hand to explain anything. Let's hope we have a sunnier day than the ones we have had in the second half of July.

As I don't want to put the address directly on the blog, please email RushcliffeSolar@gmail.com to warn us that you would like to come and we will give the address detail. We would prefer people to come all at the start, 1200 if possible. So, if you arrive later, we may have started without you. Refreshments are provided.
(By the way, I am giving up the Forest-Leeds first game of the season for this.... )

This house offers:
• 4 kW Photovoltaic roof, the largest possible under the Feed in Tariff, with 22 panels.
• Ground source Heat pump, drawing from twin 48m boreholes.
• Uniquely designed and built Solar thermal panels that heat the ground under the house, hence heat the house.
• Light Tube bringing sunshine into the centre of the house.
• Induction Hob, cooking technology that is highly energy efficient.
• Liquid circulating Underfloor heating
• Cuban style micro-farm for vegetable growing.

The open day is organised by EvoEnergy, and is mainly directed to their customer or enquirer base. May I say before any of our sponsors get a little bit worried that it is Evo, it was first arranged back in June some weeks before Rushcliffe Solar commenced.

We shall of course mention the other main systems in the house, the Ground Source Heat Pump and the Surya Sunboxes augmenting the pump, but only for those who are interested. It is difficult to adapt an existing house to a GSHP (most go for Air Source), but for Newbuild houses, Ground Source is a more thorough solution - and if you have a GSHP, it's my belief you should hybridise the sources.

Thanks to EvoEnergy for helping us start

21 July: We are most grateful to EvoEnergy for helping us get the RS campaign going. Knowing that we would maintain a completely even handed supplier list, but recognising that a campaign like Rushcliffe Solar could only be good for the whole industry in the region, EvoEnergy treated our staff to a good training course into the secrets of PV installation and pricing. The idea was for us to be a form of Quantity Surveyor for PV installation - knowing industry prices, but being neutral as to who would be contractor.  We also reduce the overheads of the PV suppliers, because the customers are well informed in advance about the Feed in Tariff, the possibilities for their house, and the complicated calculation for Payback.
One very important thing for the course was to deliver ideas about costs that would not mislead people - too high and they would be quite put off, and too low, and they would suffer disappointment when they saw real quotations. We base our price estimates on the use of good quality Sharp NU185 panels.
(Beeston, Chris Brooke on 08448 150 200)

PV Costing Seminar at EvoEnergy

24 June: Some of the Rushcliffe Solar team went for a 2 hour seminar with EvoEnergy today, working up a formula for providing safe but independent budget estimates of installations. The idea is to be able to give people an idea of payback before they get into the more complicated business of seeking three tenders from suppliers etc.
Income would be based on the amount of PV installed, where it is on the building, and the Feed in Tariff. Cost is affected by currency, volume manufacturing, scaffolding, building shape etc, but we managed to agree with EE a 'ballpark' figure for varying sizes of installation, up to a maximum of 4kW installed. Payback is a ratio of cost to income.
In the photo: Yu Wei Luo (UoN), Tim Saunders (EST), Chris Brookes (EE) and David Nicholson-Cole (UoN)

Does your meter go in reverse?

19 April : Some people ask if the meter will literally 'go in reverse' if you have a good day of photovoltaic generation.  Mine doesn't, it remains static during the day and only moves forward if we do some ironing or use the kettle a lot, or the heating has to be on. After sunset, it rolls along as a normal one would. Chris Brook of EvoEnergy has provided me with an answer:

"Whether your meter works in reverse depends on the type of meter installed. Old style mechanical meters will run in reverse and people with these will get an extra, though unintended, financial benefit. If you have a more modern electronic meter this will accurately record the units of electricity you import from the grid. It will be stationary if the amount of energy you are producing exceeds your current demand. Your [OfGem] generation meter will tell you accurately how much you have produced. In terms of what you export, this will only be measured accurately if your electricity supplier installs an import/export meter. The only energy provider currently doing this is Scottish and Southern Electricity. Other major providers intend to estimate how much you have exported based on the amount generated. As far as we know most are going with a generous 50/50 estimate.

Energy you produce will flow to its nearest point of use. If there is demand within your home this will be nearest. If you produce more than you currently demand the excess will flow to its nearest point of use via your mains electricity cable. In all likelihood there will be demand from one of your neighbours and this is where the electricity will be used. The electricity flows via the grid to your neighbours."

In this way, there is no transmission loss. There are no substations or transformers to go through, which eat energy at the change over. It is another reason why the generous Feed in Tariff can be justified. For every kilowatt used by your or your neighbours, it is saving the heat equivalent of 3 kilowatts of coal in a distant power station.