Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:18:06 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300621#Comment_300621 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300621#Comment_300621 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 12:49:54 +0000 geoff_forwood
So, with a spare south facing roof that can hold around 4-6kWH of solar PV, I would like to replace the turbine with PV and feed into the same inverter. Both produce DC electricity.

The output from the turbine starts producing electricity from a nominal voltage of 270V up to a maximum of 600V, I understand. The solar PV panels I have looked at are rated at around 400W and generate up to 38V. So if I were to install 15 of these panels in series then my understanding is that they would produce a maximum of 6KW at 570V (I am not an electrician but studied A level physics many years ago and asked my friendly electrician (who does not install solar PV) and he believes my logic is correct).

The only other main doubt I have would be regarding the output curve of each generator (which I can't seem to find for any specific products) - i.e. the shape of a graph showing wind speed/brightness(lumens?) on the x-axis and voltage output on the y-axis and the way the inverter (SMA 6.3KW Windy Boy) might be optimised to the output of the wind turbine. If those graphs for the turbine and the PV are similar in shape then I see no issue of replacing the feed into the inverter to the PV (or even if the PV graph is steeper (i.e. higher voltage generated at lower light levels than the proportional level of wind speed that the turbine would require).

At this stage I don't want to install batteries but would like to consider adding some later once we work out how much more we could save.

I also don't know who could carry out this installation - my understanding is that the glut of solar PV installers want to fit a complete package including the inverter rather than just a partial install like this.

Any help or advice gratefully received.

And if I find a suitable solution does anyone want to buy my old wind turbine?

Thanks,

Geoff]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300623#Comment_300623 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300623#Comment_300623 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 18:42:49 +0000 revor Posted By: geoff_forwoodI also don't know who could carry out this installation - my understanding is that the glut of solar PV installers want to fit a complete package including the inverter rather than just a partial install like this.

I do not know about your inverter but it looks like from the name it is designed for a wind turbine. Given its age I would be tempted to sell the turbine and inverter together and get a new system when you will more get someone as you state to do the complete job. If you are considering a battery in the future make sure the inverter you get is compatible with a battery addition as otherwise you could be in for a new inverter. I would be interested in the turbine but my system does not lend itself to adding wind, did not do my homework.
I have a friend who might be interested in your old kit I will pass your post on.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300624#Comment_300624 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300624#Comment_300624 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 18:52:49 +0000 revor http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300625#Comment_300625 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300625#Comment_300625 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 19:07:10 +0000 philedge http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300629#Comment_300629 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300629#Comment_300629 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 22:19:26 +0000 geoff_forwood
I am hoping that the names 'Windy Boy' and 'Sunny Boy' were simply marketing names for the same product. Whether there is different configuration to optimise for the energy source I have no idea, hence the question about the output curve (you'd think the technical specs of any product like this would include such a thing but I haven't found it).

The existing PV is on a different roof of a different building with it's own inverter (3KW) and is subject to generous FiTs (which the new solar wouldn't so it needs it's own inverter and generation meter setup.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300631#Comment_300631 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300631#Comment_300631 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 07:10:18 +0000 Gareth J
That's a shame to hear that the turbine isn't performing well, do you mind sharing your location and annual output?

If it's still in place and working, when it does work, you could consider adding your second solar array but keeping the turbine connected too. An export limitation can easily be put on the solar side which should satisfy the DNO through g99.

I could potentially be interested in the turbine if you do sell.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300637#Comment_300637 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300637#Comment_300637 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 13:42:47 +0000 philedge Posted By: geoff_forwood
The existing PV is on a different roof of a different building with it's own inverter (3KW) and is subject to generous FiTs (which the new solar wouldn't so it needs it's own inverter and generation meter setup.

You would necessarily need a second system. OFGEM changed the FIT scheme rules in 2021 to allow changes of kit and expansion of generating capacity, so you could add to what you already have. You only get paid prorata for the original accredited system size so if you added 3kw of panels to give a 6kw system, youd only get FIT payments for 50% of what you generate/export ie the original 3kw]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300640#Comment_300640 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300640#Comment_300640 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:50:34 +0000 revor Posted By: revorI have a friend who might be interested in your old kit I will pass your post on.

Not interested at moment needs to finish house he is building. Hope you find a good home for it.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300649#Comment_300649 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300649#Comment_300649 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 23:47:23 +0000 geoff_forwood
I already have 2.77KW PV and I understand the DNO agreed a grid connected output of up to 42A, which I calculate to be just over 10KW. If I keep the turbine then I can only add another 1.3KW of PV. From my 15 years of wind experience and 12 years of PV experience, a replacement 6KW of PV would suit me fine. I'm on an E7 tariff so overnight electricity is cheap and I'm home 7 days a week hence why I don't want to install batteries now but rather wait until I can work out what savings the batteries would give me (and maybe we'll invest in an electric car at some point which might reduce the benefit of battery storage further).]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300650#Comment_300650 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300650#Comment_300650 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:43:31 +0000 philedge Posted By: geoff_forwood
I already have 2.77KW PV and I understand the DNO agreed a grid connected output of up to 42A, which I calculate to be just over 10KW. If I keep the turbine then I can only add another 1.3KW of PV. From my 15 years of wind experience and 12 years of PV experience, a replacement 6KW of PV would suit me fine.

If youve got an export allowance of 10kw and have a 6kw turbine that leaves 4kw available for PV. The rating of a PV system is governed by the inverters throughput not the size of the array. A 4kw solaredge inverter can have 6.2kw of DC input connected to it and DC input isnt the same as panel output if your panels are facing differing directions. As they hit max generation at differing times so the DC input to the inverter is lower than the total rating of the panels.

Seems to me that you could keep the turbine and have a sizeable PV array]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300652#Comment_300652 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17767&Focus=300652#Comment_300652 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 14:46:10 +0000 Gareth J
I've a similar small turbine. The DNO agreed to 2.5kw per phase for the turbine, then I wanted to put some solar on too. They wouldn't up the export allowance but were satisfied with using a compliant, export limited, solar inverter which caps total export at 2.5kw per phase.

Surely even allowing for annual maintenance, 4000+ kWh per year is worth it?]]>