So how much hot water will 28,000 kwh heat per annum!?

[Doing it for the kids]

I am scheming again. Our Farm PV is producing about 42,000 kwh per annum but we only use 1/4 it, or there abouts (we will use more in time ). Having done the sums a few times now, its hardly worth getting export meters fitted so much to my disgust I give SSE probably 4.5k of free energy per annum.

I have been hosting a 3 month debate with my wife about building a swimming pool. I'm on about the 16th idea now which is an outside one with a simple polycarb roof over it so we can use it all year around.

I have access to biomass but it will be a bit of a faff but only cost me 1.8p / kwh, not the end of the world.

However, I am about to dig up the yard and have the opportunity to bring a nice big armour cable (could be 3ph) over from the farm to the house side (80m run) and plug it straight into the pool. I believe a diverter can be purchased to divert all spare energy down this cable instead of SSE's pockets meaning the pool can be genuinely heated for free. Does 28,000 kwh actually give much energy though over a year? August for example gave me 4000 kwh spare, that's 129 kwh / day. Not yet sure on volume, maybe 100m3?

I tend to shut the biomass down for the summer months so conversely, when I would rather the electric do its thing will be when its most about. I imagine over a 24 hr period the pool will retain its heat so it probably doesn't matter too much if its getting its heat dump over lunch. I will insulate pool base and sides to death and try and get a good cover as well. there will be some set up costs with both biomass and electric heating options but I love the idea of keeping my own power and using every less KWh!

Any wise words very welcome, @Exfarmer I'm expecting a wholesome answer for you

 

[Exfarmer]

I am scheming again. Our Farm PV is producing about 42,000 kwh per annum but we only use 1/4 it, or there abouts (we will use more in time ). Having done the sums a few times now, its hardly worth getting export meters fitted so much to my disgust I give SSE probably 4.5k of free energy per annum.

I have been hosting a 3 month debate with my wife about building a swimming pool. I'm on about the 16th idea now which is an outside one with a simple polycarb roof over it so we can use it all year around.

I have access to biomass but it will be a bit of a faff but only cost me 1.8p / kwh, not the end of the world.

However, I am about to dig up the yard and have the opportunity to bring a nice big armour cable (could be 3ph) over from the farm to the house side (80m run) and plug it straight into the pool. I believe a diverter can be purchased to divert all spare energy down this cable instead of SSE's pockets meaning the pool can be genuinely heated for free. Does 28,000 kwh actually give much energy though over a year? August for example gave me 4000 kwh spare, that's 129 kwh / day. Not yet sure on volume, maybe 100m3?

I tend to shut the biomass down for the summer months so conversely, when I would rather the electric do its thing will be when its most about. I imagine over a 24 hr period the pool will retain its heat so it probably doesn't matter too much if its getting its heat dump over lunch. I will insulate pool base and sides to death and try and get a good cover as well. there will be some set up costs with both biomass and electric heating options but I love the idea of keeping my own power and using every less KWh!

Any wise words very welcome, @Exfarmer I'm expecting a wholesome answer for you

Is this what you are thinking of, about 10 x 3 x 1.2 with a simple polycarbonate roof. I think you have been spying on me?

 

[Exfarmer]

Do not forget, most of your production will be April - September and most days lately we have not needed any heating. The pool is running about 30c . We run it with a 6 kw ( draw ) heat pump Set up to run 10- 5 if needed to use power off my roof 8 kw array.
i know we still export a lot though.
if I can help more only too pleased

 

[Fogg]

I think I read somewhere that Ofgem aren't big fans on paying RHI to people heating swimming pools, whether that's true or not, or I misinterpreted what I read, I don't know.

It seems to me that the only flaw in using PV is you'll get this energy when you least need it. I'm not sure how much energy it takes to maintain a pool's temp in summer, but once it's up to temp I'd not be surprised if you've still got surplus kw on sunny days.

Invest in a fleet of electric powered ice cream vans and you'll be quids in.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Is this what you are thinking of, about 10 x 3 x 1.2 with a simple polycarbonate roof. I think you have been spying on me?

That may be challenging for a winter swim?!

more like this

More like this but replace the naff flamingos with an old plough! It will add about 25% to the build cost but mean it can be used all year around.

Do not forget, most of your production will be April - September and most days lately we have not needed any heating. The pool is running about 30c . We run it with a 6 kw ( draw ) heat pump Set up to run 10- 5 if needed to use power off my roof 8 kw array.
i know we still export a lot though.
if I can help more only too pleased

Thanks. I think I use most of my domestic PV on immersion over the summer. I didn't want to go down the route of heat pumps if I am going to bring in biomass as well, two sets of costs. what will a heat pump cost do you think?

ive since fond this link https://poolstore.co.uk/content/how-much-does-it-cost-to-heat-a-swimming-pool which suggest that a 100m3 pool needs 116 kwh / day to maintain its heat - 15,700 kwh for 135 day season, highly doable.

I think I can tackle the winter substantial top ups with the biomass all though need to do some heat calcs. only 8000 kwh over Oct - March in spare PV

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I think I read somewhere that Ofgem aren't big fans on paying RHI to people heating swimming pools, whether that's true or not, or I misinterpreted what I read, I don't know.

It seems to me that the only flaw in using PV is you'll get this energy when you least need it. I'm not sure how much energy it takes to maintain a pool's temp in summer, but once it's up to temp I'd not be surprised if you've still got surplus kw on sunny days.

Invest in a fleet of electric powered ice cream vans and you'll be quids in.

heating the pool isn’t RHI approved, id have to seperatly meter it but the Building maybe ok. However by using electric from the PV that should be fine. Apparantly I need 116 kWh a day to keep it up to temperature which should cover me from maybe April to September.

 

[rogeriko]

The advantage of a heat pump is that you get 3 times the kw of heat output than electric input.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

The advantage of a heat pump is that you get 3 times the kw of heat output than electric input.

I agree and its tempting but I am not sure at what cost that will come. On the basis that I don't need that efficiency during the warmer months. If it costs 5k for the heat pump I would still probably need to link in the biomass as well making it a bigger infrastructure cost.

 

[Exfarmer]

That may be challenging for a winter swim?!

more like this

More like this but replace the naff flamingos with an old plough! It will add about 25% to the build cost but mean it can be used all year around.



Thanks. I think I use most of my domestic PV on immersion over the summer. I didn't want to go down the route of heat pumps if I am going to bring in biomass as well, two sets of costs. what will a heat pump cost do you think?

ive since fond this link https://poolstore.co.uk/content/how-much-does-it-cost-to-heat-a-swimming-pool which suggest that a 100m3 pool needs 116 kwh / day to maintain its heat - 15,700 kwh for 135 day season, highly doable.

I think I can tackle the winter substantial top ups with the biomass all though need to do some heat calcs. only 8000 kwh over Oct - March in spare PV

116kw/Day is for the summer season and presumably includes a lot of solar gain. I would think these figure will be very much higher in the winter. Our 40,000 litre pool struggles some days to keep temperature with the Heat pump running early and late in the season on a cold day. In theory the heat pump should be chucking in 24KW per hour
That cover looks pricey!