ESB offers 9c to micro-generators

wazzoraybelle

there's the rub! So effectively the maximum benefit is 300€ per year over 5 years, €1500 euro much really,may take a year off the payback.

wazzoraybelle

I.K.Brunel wrote: »

Easy! Don't get too excited - the small print reveals a lot!

apparently the 9c/kWh energy purchase by ESB Customer Supply is straight forward.
However the 10c/kWh incentive payment by ESB Networks is limited to 4,000 customers; 3,000kWh/yr and 5 years.

Do you have a link to the small print? can't seem to find it. Ta

quentingargan

wazzoraybelle wrote: »

Do you have a link to the small print? can't seem to find it. Ta

Well spotted I.K.Brunnel. :cool:

That link is here on the ESB site at the bottom of the page in the questions bit...

Q

Connacht

Lads,
Presumably there is a real opportunity here for small businesses on windy sites, where they only consume electricity from 9 to 5 Mon - Fri to install a wind turbine, produce 24 / 7 and sell 2 full days prodcution + 16 hrs / day for the other 5 to the grid ? Or community centres, or sports clubs ?

quentingargan

Connacht wrote: »

Lads,
Presumably there is a real opportunity here for small businesses on windy sites, where they only consume electricity from 9 to 5 Mon - Fri to install a wind turbine, produce 24 / 7 and sell 2 full days prodcution + 16 hrs / day for the other 5 to the grid ? Or community centres, or sports clubs ?

Yes, but bear in mind that only the first 3 KwHr per year is eligible for the 19c rate - the rest will be sold at 9c. So in most cases, including houses, this new rate provides more benefit for smaller turbines where the excess power sold is within the 3,000 range.

Also, so far this scheme only applies to domestic consumers. The ESB has been asked to sort out the VAT issues causing this requirement, and I am not sure what the time scale for resolving that might be, considering it took us decades to get a tariff in the first place...

Connacht

Yeah, granted the 19c rate isn't for all that much, but if you treat that as a 'bonus' and concentrate on the 9c rate, then it's still better than a kick in the teeth.
But you say it's only for domestic anyway, so no good to clubs, centres, businesses, etc.

Cheeble

Skillie wrote: »

what height should i mount an anemometer at to monitor the wind over a period of time? On the house?

The trick is to try to get the anenometer in the same place as you want to put the turbine. Unfortunately, that might mean erecting a temporary tower. It's tempting to put one on the house on the basis that it's at the same height, but the building just changes the surrounding airflow too much.

Nice pics btw

Cheeble-eers

Oldtree

One of my concerns with the new tariff is that it is guranteed for the first 4,000 applicants for the next 5 years only, with a Maximum production level, with (depending on site winds) a possible payback of up to 12 years at that tariff.

What will happen after that 5 year period to those 4,000? You have outlayed loads of money for the turbine and it is the ministers adgenda to stimulate the renewable wind industry at all costs (preferably yours) there is no gurantee of a similar price after the first three years. If they do what i think they will, which is to no longer provide any special tariffs after that point, allowing market forces to come into play, which could then mena you may take over 25 years to get payback and i don't think that the turbine will last that long.

So i would be very careful with this one, notwithstanding maintainance costs and replacement bits, tax and prsi on income, etc.

My own opinion is that nett metering is the only secure way forward with this, in particular with the large investment required to get a decent turbine.

Skillie

Cheeble wrote: »

The trick is to try to get the anenometer in the same place as you want to put the turbine. Unfortunately, that might mean erecting a temporary tower. It's tempting to put one on the house on the basis that it's at the same height, but the building just changes the surrounding airflow too much.

Nice pics btw

Cheeble-eers

thank you kindly

Gagetman

Can anyone tell me if the windturbine has to be an approved type or will any one do?
G:)

quentingargan

Gagetman wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if the windturbine has to be an approved type or will any one do?
G:)

The inverter has to be certified to EN50438. They don't care much what sort of generator you hook up to that, as long as what comes out of the inverter is within the limits of the EN standard.

pkmwgs

it also looks like we may need to apply for a license to sell back power from small wind generators, the same as commercial turbines. can anyone verify this. have any of you applied for payment from the esb yet, if so can you let us know of your experience.
thanks

quentingargan

pkmwgs wrote: »

it also looks like we may need to apply for a license to sell back power from small wind generators, the same as commercial turbines. can anyone verify this. have any of you applied for payment from the esb yet, if so can you let us know of your experience.
thanks

You can apply here and there seems to be no requirement for a license. I have made an application and am waiting, but I tried to phone the microgeneration unit and was told they don't have a phone number. That doesn't sound great.... They haven't returned my call yet.

I.K.Brunel

quentingargan wrote: »

You can apply here and there seems to be no requirement for a license. I have made an application and am waiting, but I tried to phone the microgeneration unit and was told they don't have a phone number. That doesn't sound great.... They haven't returned my call yet.

ESB Customer Supply website has 1850 372 372 for phone enquiries on their Microgen offer.
Were you trying to contact ESBNetworks to discuss your NC6 application?

quentingargan

I.K.Brunel wrote: »

ESB Customer Supply website has 1850 372 372 for phone enquiries on their Microgen offer.
Were you trying to contact ESBNetworks to discuss your NC6 application?

Yes - Customer supply are nice and get back to you, but they say that the Microgen unit of Networks has no phone number available.

In fairness, I'd say this is a new venture for which they just aren't prepared, with lots of new questions because ESB network has its own standards for over-voltage and under-frequency that differs from levels accepted in other EU countries. Thus most inverters require modification for this market.

motorised

Heres a quick one. not sure it has been covered already but any help would be great. can i connect a micro gen straight to the LV network. what i mean is can i erect a micro gen and sell all the electricity generated back to the esb? I dont want to connect it to any domestic supply. would this be considered a "wind farm"( a very small one mind you!!)

quentingargan

motorised wrote: »

Heres a quick one. not sure it has been covered already but any help would be great. can i connect a micro gen straight to the LV network. what i mean is can i erect a micro gen and sell all the electricity generated back to the esb? I dont want to connect it to any domestic supply. would this be considered a "wind farm"( a very small one mind you!!)

Strictly speaking, you can. However, you will have to get a meter for the premises and pay the standing charge. Also, only the first 3,000 KwHrs will receive the 19c rate - after that it falls back to 9c. Most decent turbines will be producing a lot more than 3,000Kwhrs. Also, the 19c rate falls back to 9c after 5 years.

The economics of putting up a turbine are to some extent dependent on getting 19c for some of your power, saving 16c on the power you didn't have to buy yourself, and bringing to a minumum the amount you are flogging to the ESB at the 9c tariff, though on a good wind site, it may still makes sense at the 9c rate.

pkmwgs

We got our import export meter installed last week, you have to fill out a letter of acceptance from the esb to go live. They told me i should know within ten working days. the meter is able to send information by modem like a mobile telephone.

air

Is there an additional standing charge for the Import / Export meter?

Davy

pkmwgs wrote: »

We got our import export meter installed last week, you have to fill out a letter of acceptance from the esb to go live. They told me i should know within ten working days. the meter is able to send information by modem like a mobile telephone.

All the smart meters are fitted with a GSM modem so they can send readings. Its the way forward really, although they do give trouble.

richlally

""ESB Customer Supply and ESB Networks will contribute 9 cents and 10 cents respectively towards this tariff. Domestic electricity users registered with ESB will receive a full tariff of 19c/kWh within limits set out above. Non-ESB customers will receive a 10c/kWh tariff for any excess electricity sold back to the grid.""

Did ye guys notice that if your not an existing ESB Customer you cannot get the 19c tariff, only 10c?? Even less economic, incentives need to be reviewed

godskitchen

I just thought I would bring this thread back from the dead to see how people are getting on with selling electricity back to the ESB?

Does anyone have any experience yet?

Heroditas

richlally wrote: »

Did ye guys notice that if your not an existing ESB Customer you cannot get the 19c tariff, only 10c?? Even less economic, incentives need to be reviewed

Why should ESB subsidize your electricity if you're not buying it from them?

crackcrack30

Anyone selling into the grid using pv tech? is it viable?

(old thread, i know)

freddyuk

Yep, I am just waiting for my Import export meter but there has been about 2 seconds of sun in the last 3 weeks so viability is a moot point. Problem I see is the a new meter will not go backwards so currently my benefit is potentially quite good!
Getting the equipment direct helps make it a better option.

See my other post about low usage standing charge increase from ESB.