Self fit Ground mounted Solar

[Exfarmer]

I have seen this elsewhere, but never seen the "usable power" quantified... Any idea??

This is the 365$ question and one I cannot answer.
essentially the power curve becomes much flatter. There is higher production , both morning and late afternoon than conventionally South facing panels. This is the peak consumption time for domestic consumers particularly.
It does not work for generators like myself who are looking for max production to harvest FITs and exports, but if you are a consumer looking to cut energy bills , especially one who uses little or no power in the middle of a summers day, it is really a no brainer

 

[steveR]

This is the 365$ question and one I cannot answer.
essentially the power curve becomes much flatter. There is higher production , both morning and late afternoon than conventionally South facing panels. This is the peak consumption time for domestic consumers particularly.
It does not work for generators like myself who are looking for max production to harvest FITs and exports, but if you are a consumer looking to cut energy bills , especially one who uses little or no power in the middle of a summers day, it is really a no brainer

That makes sense, I guess the use of PV and "storing" the production as heat, or in a battery alters the calculation a bit.

I am thinking of switching to a variable angle array if, as and when I expand the setup here, if it is another ground mount. I have a new barn in a good location now though.

I still remain convinced that using mirrors can and does increase outputs for some arrays, but I am not sure on the return on investment....

 

[Exfarmer]

That makes sense, I guess the use of PV and "storing" the production as heat, or in a battery alters the calculation a bit.

I am thinking of switching to a variable angle array if, as and when I expand the setup here, if it is another ground mount. I have a new barn in a good location now though.

I still remain convinced that using mirrors can and does increase outputs for some arrays, but I am not sure on the return on investment....

mirror can most certainly boost output, but you have to be careful as many inverters require a balanced feed and will only produce the maximum power that the lowest string feeds in. So if your inverter is taking power from 20 panels fed through 5 strings of 4 then you need to focus your mirror across all strings to have an effect. If you are feeding Easty West then they must feed different inverters
This does not apply to all inverters though.
There are solar arrays in other parts of the world which use mirrors rather than panels focusing the suns ray on to a very small group of panels which may in turn revolve during the day.
Locally to me their is an array which is made up of groups of panels which turn to catch the sun directly. I think each group is made up of 64 panels ie. 16 Kw similar to these

Is A Solar Tracking System Worth It?

Learn what a solar tracker is and whether a single-axis, dual-axis, or no tracking system is right for your unique property.

news.energysage.com

I would love to see the output figures.
The actual structures are larger than this picture and I think are dual tracking. They look horrendously expensive!

 

[Exfarmer]

I meant to say also regarding mirrors, we have a chicken shed with panels on and later a new shed was built next door and I am certain we had an increase the next year due to the reflection of solar energy from the opposite roof. this effect did not last long and I am certain was due to the new panels first being shiny but now has dulled down. We should have got chrome panels!

 

[steveR]

I meant to say also regarding mirrors, we have a chicken shed with panels on and later a new shed was built next door and I am certain we had an increase the next year due to the reflection of solar energy from the opposite roof. this effect did not last long and I am certain was due to the new panels first being shiny but now has dulled down. We should have got chrome panels!

Be an interesting to one to pose to the planners when they query your usage of highly reflective cladding on a shed in the future...!!

I do like the idea of rotating mirror arrays to focus sunlight, they seem a more affordable and thoughtful idea than a massive rotating PV array! I first saw the idea for both back in the 80s, and of course PV costs have plummeted since then!

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I read a piece recently (but can't recall where) about a new type of PV panel with much higher efficiency, something like 40% instead of 25%. Combine that with a tracking mount and we'd be getting somewhere.

When we move I'm considering taking our 108 panels with us as they are paid for so I'm watching this thread with interest.

 

[Exfarmer]

I read a piece recently (but can't recall where) about a new type of PV panel with much higher efficiency, something like 40% instead of 25%. Combine that with a tracking mount and we'd be getting somewhere.

When we move I'm considering taking our 108 panels with us as they are paid for so I'm watching this thread with interest.

Development of panels has been going on for as long time and there are certainly cells which can do very much better than this 40% even, it is just a matter of producing them at a competitive price.
There are panels which can be mounted vertically and take the sun from both sides but I believe although they are fairly efficient t his style of mounting only produces a marginal gain.

Surely though if you are moving and your old panels are still gaining FITs , it must be worth leaving and still take the FITs. New panels have dropped in price considerably and there are second hand panels out there too.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Development of panels has been going on for as long time and there are certainly cells which can do very much better than this 40% even, it is just a matter of producing them at a competitive price.
There are panels which can be mounted vertically and take the sun from both sides but I believe although they are fairly efficient t his style of mounting only produces a marginal gain.

Surely though if you are moving and your old panels are still gaining FITs , it must be worth leaving and still take the FITs. New panels have dropped in price considerably and there are second hand panels out there too.

Aren't our FiT's tied to the supply point? We aim to sell the yard for development so the panels will be of no use to the new owners (and the shed they are on will be demolished).

 

[Exfarmer]

Aren't our FiT's tied to the supply point? We aim to sell the yard for development so the panels will be of no use to the new owners (and the shed they are on will be demolished).

you are quite correct, but as long as their is a supply there and they remain connected to the supply they can still claim , but it does sound sadly that this is not an option. That single supply can be moved while keeping the Mpan.
Obviously if it is going for residential development it would be difficult to incorporate the panels but if it is industrial could be possible.
just an idea.

 

[gmgmgm]

This guy on eBay has been around a number of years selling DIY kits at a reasonable price - https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/tonee_t
He will also give you advice about putting it all together and plans for making ground mounts.

Have you bought from this seller? How do we know good pannles from bad ones buying on ebay?

I have bought panels from him. Good service, good panels. I think he has a range of sources, so if you want specific panels/quality, then ask. He also delivers if you are close enough.

For ground mount, there are also plastic mounts (e.g. Renusol's Console), which are suited to more temporary installations. Those concrete sleeper mounts look rather better.

 

[Speedstar]

I have bought panels from him. Good service, good panels. I think he has a range of sources, so if you want specific panels/quality, then ask. He also delivers if you are close enough.

For ground mount, there are also plastic mounts (e.g. Renusol's Console), which are suited to more temporary installations. Those concrete sleeper mounts look rather better.

we are going to use Concrete lego blocks to mount our ones on

 

[Puff]

I'm planning on using old scaffold poles as a frame and set in concrete

 

[frean17]

Thanks.