PV question

[Mark]

It is now a year that my 4kw system went live.

In that time the system generated 6.63 MW, 4.94 MW went through the meter, and 2.7MW into the grid…..so I have over 2MW that is unused.

My question is, should I be using more electricity?
Am I storing too much?

I use A/c for heating and cooling, have a pool pump plus the usual household appliances that we now use in daylight hours.

[cyprusmax47]

I would not worry too much that you are storing too much electricity on your meter. It depends how hot and long this summer will be. You can be happy with your credit of over 2000 kWh which will quickly reduce if you have to run air-cons after 5 PM all night to have comfortable room temperatures overnight.

By the way: Your production could have been even higher than 6630 kWh if we had not such a cloudy spring and early summer this year, but it is still good production with 1660 kWh/per kWp installed PV modules. Good job done from your supplier.

Max

[Kili01]

Max,
I expect you know about the apparent inability of the EAC system to cope with a big increase in the amount of solar energy which is being produced by the combination of new and existing photovoltaic parks, as well as surplus energy produced by private PV domestic systems. I have read articles in the Cyprus Mail which appear to substantiate this,
What seems from an economic aspect is the assertion that the EAC transmission system can only cope with a small amount of all this extra potential power without their systems collapsing.
Is this indeed fact, or not?
Also the Dhekelia Power Station, small and inefficient, with old generators is still burning heavy mineral oil, which causes a lot of pollution. But it is deemed essential by the EAC, as guess what their system can only absorb small amounts of solar electricity..and they need more.. From today, the Govt subsidy on electricity for consumers, has ended.

Is all this fact or journalistic inaccuracy? What is your opinion?
Dee

[Devil]

As an ex-engineer/scientist, I cannot give you absolute chapter and verse. As an ordinary bloke in the street I can give you an opinion based on my past experience but which may require some qualification to be accurate. It is my opinion that, with the current installations in the country, renewables are probably limited to about 20% of the peak electricity demand. That means variable renewables, such as sun, wind et cetera, are limited by their very nature. There are some rare exceptions to this rule. However, this limit is imposed upon us partially by nature and, more importantly, by the EAC and the grid, which are inadequate for reliable operation. There are several reasons why we are in the state of doubt. For example, the grid was never designed to carry the necessary power, swapping it between sources. The result is that our rooftop systems are difficult to cope with reliably, and their ohmic losses are considerable.

The problem is undoubtedly mainly due to a total lack of planning of both the grid and the electrical supplies feeding it, whether from antiquated power stations, wind farms (God forbid in Cyprus!), scattered solar and other minor sources. He, who thinks that everything in the electricity garden is lovely, should hang its head in shame. We are headed towards very rough waters with no one at the wheel.

[Mark]

I must confess, the system was purchased for economic reasons and I was not aware that the EAC could not cope with excess production…….so that being said, I will up my usage to the limit of my production.

I was careful about overusing A/C, not any more.

[mark4007]

It is now a year that my 4kw system went live.

In that time the system generated 6.63 MW, 4.94 MW went through the meter, and 2.7MW into the grid…..so I have over 2MW that is unused.

My question is, should I be using more electricity?
Am I storing too much?

I use A/c for heating and cooling, have a pool pump plus the usual household appliances that we now use in daylight hours.

are yiu storing too much?.. No.. you are not storing anything.. you are exporting energy with the expectation EAC will allow you to inport electricity at a latter date..

All of your exports go into the grid... Are you saying you have inported just 2.24 MW (4.94-2.7) during the year?

what does your latest bill say about the amount you are carring forward?