Photovoltaics are the way to go.. Article CMail 30.8.17

[cyprusmax47]

Obviously somebody else realized the situation which we have in Cyprus concerning Photovoltaics against uneconomic wind turbines. I have mentioned that in many of my posts in the past with no comments from members about it. The wind park at Kouklia is only a show off from the Government with the intention to prove that Cyprus is doing something for the Environment. But the EU is not that daft (OK in many other subjects they are !) to recognize that situation and put pressure on Cyprus to allow people at least install small units of 3-5 Kwp photovoltaic systems on their properties (so called net-metering systems, otherwise Cyprus had to pay penalties.
http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/07/30/photovoltaics-way-go/
Max
RES Consultant

[Kili01]

Yes, agree with you Max. Before I was able to have my PV 3kwp net metering panels installed there was much form filling required by EAC, plus payment of what as I think of as a premium in order to be granted a license, plus a wait for several months. They seem very unwilling to grant these licenses.
Even now, I am paying numerous bi monthly producers charges, which even include a renewable energy charge which with added VAT comes to over 30€.
Is that reasonable?
Dee

[Devil]

I disagree. PVs are inefficient and expensive (if you add in all the subsidies). In hot weather, their efficiency drops significantly. Above all, they don't work at night!

More efficient, cheaper and more land-effective, thermal solar power stations have become the modern answer, because they can supply power to the grid at night, 24/7 and are not subject to the vagaries of a passing cloud.

[trevnhil]

Re " In hot weather, their efficiency drops significantly."
It is hot here with 31c in the shade and no clouds. But my system is still recording that is is making 2.475 kw per hour and has made 7 kw this morning up to 11-15am > I would not call this a significant drop from it's actual maximum output..

[cyprusmax47]

Yes, agree with you Max. Before I was able to have my PV 3kwp net metering panels installed there was much form filling required by EAC, plus payment of what as I think of as a premium in order to be granted a license, plus a wait for several months. They seem very unwilling to grant these licenses.
Even now, I am paying numerous bi monthly producers charges, which even include a renewable energy charge which with added VAT comes to over 30€.
Is that reasonable?
Dee

Dee
The payment for EAC in order to get a license was a clever money source from them, but with the condition that every application had to processed within one month from the date of Application. Before that ruling you could put your application at no charge, with the result that you never heard from them again. I had several customer from abroad which were willing to spent hundreds of thousands into PV, but it always failed as their application were not processed from EAC. These poor investors bought even land in order to have enough space for big installations and now they sit on this land...
Concerning the renewable energy charge of at the moment ONE cent per kWh, everybody with an connection to the grid has to pay it. This is very little and if you look to different countries in Europe for example in Germany people have to pay more than 5.50 EURO per kWh on their electric bill.
And congratulation that you did the right decision installing at least a 3 kWp system, having a bill of only 30 Euro is really reasonable... or not?
A very clever advertising slogan from a Paphos company says:" Fossil fuel is out - electric is our future "
It is ashame that Governments in UK and Germany wake up so late, not allowing fossil fuel cars in the near future... than charged from the power of the Sun... It is still a challenge to store the energy in batteries for cars AND for households in the Future, but many companies working on that.
I hope I am not getting too old for my first electric car with that sophisticated equipment.

Max

[jandk]

As I always say to people thinking of installing a PV system talk to those that have a system installed not to those who think they know it all.

[cyprusmax47]

Re " In hot weather, their efficiency drops significantly."
It is hot here with 31c in the shade and no clouds. But my system is still recording that is is making 2.475 kw per hour and has made 7 kw this morning up to 11-15am > I would not call this a significant drop from it's actual maximum output..

Trev
Don't worry there will be always people against PV : no nice looking, not efficient, expensive, no storage.... blah- blah
Fact is that good panels (modules) which have temperature ratings of ca 46 c (NOCT) the Pmpp drop is ca 0,37% per C above the NOCT while the voltage drop is only 0.26% per C. So if your module temperature is 66 C the power drop is well below 8% but with a slight breeze you will not reach 66 c module temperature in Polemi, hence the power drop is much less...

Max

[Jimgward]

I posted previosly, a solar ‘flower’ system, that cooled the panels in hot weather to get more efficiency.... the problem is, it’s a big ugly circular flower that unfurls in daytime and folds away at night and in strong wind... planners would have a canary....

[cyprusmax47]

As I always say to people thinking of installing a PV system talk to those that have a system installed not to those who think they know it all.

This is the post of the day in my opinion

Max

[Jim B]

Produced 818.49 KWh this month as of 1pm today with our system; pleased with it.

Jim

[daveg]

We have 16 panels fitted, just waiting for AIK approval and connection....
To me it's a no brainer, can't get a better return on the capital investment anywhere....

[cyprusmax47]

The wind park at Kouklia is only a show off from the Government with the intention to prove that Cyprus is doing something for the Environment.

My understanding is that the Orites Wind Farm in Kouklia has always been privately owned: originally by an entrepreneurial businessman and more recently by Platina Partners: https://mergr.com/platina-partners-acqu ... rm-project

If you look at the figures from today for example: Orites wind farm is producing with it's 82000 kWp size only 68000 kWh in 1 day (24 hours). If you had a PV farm with the same size of 82000 kWp than you would produce ca 490.000 kWh in 14 hours sunshine (so roughly 7 times more )
Just checked their data from the web.
Production forecast
From Monday, July 31 2017, 02:00 UTC, for the coming 24 hours:
Expected load rate: 3.5 %
Expected production: 68,310 kWh
Values from Climpact-Metnext Windcaster solution
City: Paphos
Commissioning: 2010/10
41 turbines: Vestas V90/2000 (power 2 000 kW, diameter 90 m)
Hub height: 80 m
Total nominal power: 82,000 kW
Operational
Onshore wind farm
Developer: Akis Ellinas
Operator: Platina Finance
Owner: DK WindSupply

Max

[Dominic]

We love our solar panels. Best investment we ever made.

[Jimgward]

Considering this. Would welcome PMs of recommendations. I know there are about 3 companies listed on here....

[Dominic]

This is the directory:

https://www.paphoslife.com/directory/category/energy

Ask them for quotes.

[cyprusmax47]

Considering this. Would welcome PMs of recommendations. I know there are about 3 companies listed on here....

As the investment is for a long period of time (panels last > 40 years) I would recommend not to choose the cheapest offer. Ask for the so called Optimizer, which improve your production of electricity. For example a 3 kWp system is wired in strings of 6 panels together in one string. It can happen that one of your panels is effected with shade of a tree or something from the building (chimney, sat.dish etc. or even dirt from birds)
than ALL the other panels on that string will be affected in their production.
It is completely different if optimizer are installed. Every panel has got one and if there is a problem, then all the other panels are not affected which can improve your production ca 20%. (so you have actually a 3.6 kWp system)
The only component which can have issues is the Inverter, so it is good to get a guarantee of 15 years on that. If the panels work on the first day they will produce more than 40 years....

Max
RES Consultant

[JimX]

I was about to spend 7K on Photovoltaics panels, then I started to think of my age and just how many electricity bills that cost would cover, so with that in mind I declined, a good investment if you're young enough to recover that cost.

[Dominic]

I was about to spend 7K on Photovoltaics panels, then I started to think of my age and just how many electricity bills that cost would cover, so with that in mind I declined, a good investment if you're young enough to recover that cost.

Lets say there is a return of investment of 5 years.

If you live longer than that, you get a double bonus. You are still alive and you are getting money for nothing.

If you die before that, you won't be able to kick yourself anyway. And the benefactors of your estate will still benefit from the increased value of your property thanks to the panels.

But I get your point. If the options were solar panels or monthly visits to the local health spa for the next couple of years, and I was older than I am, then I might be tempted by those steam baths instead.

[JimX]

Other considerations for us were the size the house we live in, it is small and does not use much in the way of heating with electricity or gas, my first priority for this property was some insulation in the roof and good UPVC double glazing, not the alloy type.So considering all things that panel electricity storage did not make any sense for us, although I say again if your age does not become a factor as in my case then get them.

[jeba]

Re " In hot weather, their efficiency drops significantly."
It is hot here with 31c in the shade and no clouds. But my system is still recording that is is making 2.475 kw per hour and has made 7 kw this morning up to 11-15am > I would not call this a significant drop from it's actual maximum output..

What is the maximum output?