Solar for Beginners [ask your questions here]

The State (via bodies like SEAI) need to know how the housing 'stock' is doing. The BER gives that detail. We and the UK have heaps of old badly insulated houses. Which the gov needs to know to plan cutting emissions from housing.

You're in a new house afaik - lucky duck :) But we're in a G rated 80 year old house (from a 12year old BER, but it's improved since). So for our type of house to move off fossil fuels is harder (for 'hard' substitute higher costs). Ours is an ex-council / corporation house in Dublin. Tens of 1000s of these exact same houses in Dublin.

And I know, the BER can be largely inaccurate at times. But that's a separate point.

So the logic for a BER as part of the grant is sound. Losing 12.5% of the grant is not sound and that sucks!

What make are you getting installed? For giveenergy it's very easy to change settings via their cloud web app..

I'm sure others with similar can help.

There's all different types of people out there that installers have to deal with. The pay back on the battery is much longer than just solar all things being equal, and because most people don't understand how to compare like with like, you'll get told it's not worth it. Maximizing consumption of Solar isn't worth it for sure with the fit and that's what most people think of batteries as for. Shifting consumption from day rate to night rate is something people struggle with how to cost properly. You also need to get the right price point, one installer was quoting 1 grand per kWh battery capacity.

Im going to 10kWh 100% DoD and I'm most looking forward to minimizing day rate power consumption.

I doubt my rating will improve, it's an A2. Certain grants require a minimum improvement, but the solar grant isn't one of them.

Aren't there other forms that demonstrate that.

Your BER only lasts ten years anyway. My installer isn't applying for the grant on my behalf, that key turn service tends to be provided by the larger suppliers and you end up paying for it regardless.

Unsure but I assume something like a declaration of works form. Also isn't this notifiable work requiring certification? For the EV charger there was a form 3 completed by the supplier along with invoices. Seems this is a redundant check as proof of work.

If you are getting a hybrid inverter with battery it should have (will have) CT clamps on your ESB incomer and obviously it will be monitoring the PV production. All these inverters will have online access (might have to buy a WiFi dongle) to see what you are producing/exporting.

I didn't have a hybrid inverter so it sisnt have the CT clamps on my incomer to see what I was exporting. Therefore I set Home Assistant on a raspberry Pi4 and then used a couple of ShellyEM's to monitor the circuits I need.

Wait until you get your install done and see what monitoring comes with it first before you start investing in other technology.

Seen an interesting post on the giveenergy community forum. Apparently through firmware they are upping the output of gen 2 invertors from 3600 watts to 4000 watts

I got quoted for a 3.2kw system as the installer said it was unlikely they would get 4kw worth of panels on the roof and he applied for my grant on the basis of a 3.2kw system, which was for 2160 euro.

On installation day they were able to get the extra panels up there so I got a 4.1kw system.

I thought I would be now eligible for the full 2400 grant but I've just rang the SEAI and they said I wouldnt be as the works are now completed and I would have had to change the grant amount beforehand. Has anyone any experience of this? Surely I should be entitled to the full grant as I had a system over 4kwh installed?

I don't understand why installers wouldnt just put in 4kwh and cover themselves to prevent this.

I asked my installer about this when the grant application was made and they said the SEAI would pay out the grant amount based on the size of system their works completion documents showed were installed.

After 36 hours without water in North Dublin and then a 3 hour powercut as everyone probably showered, cooked etc.. I think I'd like to follow up and look and wiring up the backup supply of my invertor.

My installer wont do it but could another electrician after all grant paperwork etc is signed off? I'd look at method three in the attached.

Cheers,

Mick

Not sure why your installer won't just put a double socket beside your inverter, mine done it in a couple of minutes. It's only a few feet of cable and a double socket with a connector https://ie.rs-online.com/web/p/lighting-connectors/5131941 like the one on a Solis inverter. Less than €20 in cost retail in total.

I asked for a socket but they said seai would approve etc.. didn't argue to much.. think they just didn't want the hassle.. to be honest I like the idea of the manual switchover to power the house circuits.. I realise won't be able to use shower or oven but just lights and TV etc.. if I could do that for a few hundred euro I'd do it.. the installer mentioned the system would need to be recommissioned if the EPS was wired so maybe they need to be someone with giveenergy installer status?