Bogieblog

A Neighbor Joins in Solar Energy

Last week, as I was closing the shades and curtains of the living room bay window, something caught my eye. Well, look at that, a block away someone had solar installed on the east side of their roof.

I don't know when it happened, but it was recently as I checked their tax card and saw the install had been inspected and approved late October. To be fair, the tree line had lost its leaves fairly recently also, so that may be why it took me so long to notice. Also, there has been so much construction on different houses within hearing (even if not within site), that I would not have noticed any extra noise. AND, it isn't like I keep tabs on anything going on - except at the houses that have been empty as they work on them.

Looks like they have 17 panels, 3 less than my house, but they don't have the same shade issues that I have. I believe that house is actually comprised of a main house and 2-3 apartments, so I would assume that solar array is just for the owner's portion. Actually sort of surprised since electric rates went down quite a bit in August. But rates are so volatile around here, changing every 6 months, and they could double in January for all anyone knows.

I also know that someone further to the south on that street (south is left of the picture) had solar installed last year around the same time as mine was installed. In their case, their roof goes south/north, so it was installed on the south side.

Solar Report for October 2023

October is the transition point of this year. From the end of March on, the west side has outperformed solar generation of each of the other two sides. Technically, the west still outproduced each side, but if all things were equal, the east side would have edged it out.

The west produced 137.2 kwh, the east 119.6 and the south 119.7. This tells us a few things:

1. The trees on the east still have leaves so are hampering production - after all, the south side has 1 less panel than the east side
2. The sun trajectory has changed quite a bit and is now setting more to the southwest.
3. The west side (which is actually WNW) production will soon fall behind the production of the south side. Taking the average panel production of the east side, dividing it by the number of panels, then adding that to the total actual production, the south side would have edged out the west side by about 2 kwh

Again, as it has been since about the beginning of June, October month was extremely cloudy. We didn't get much rain, but dang, I only saw the sun a couple of days during the month. Some days it was dang near dark as can be seen by the days there was very little production (blue is production and orange is total usage).

So depending on how sunny November is (it's not looking good these first 5 days), electrical production probably won't keep up with my usage and I'll start eating into my credits from net metering. Actually, this is a given. On November 1st, I shut off the main floor pellet stove and started using the mini split to heat for the following reasons:

• Electric prices are cheap right now - half what they were this time last year,
• Thusly, I am making squat for overages ($6.18 for October), so there is no reason to try. I "sold" the 134 kwh (net overage) for about $30.00. After non-refundable fees of various types (like being hooked up to a meter at all), I made a total of $6.18
• I have $763 "banked" from the net metering
• Pellet prices are very high this year at $350/ton for the middling stuff that I usually burn. So, although the 4 tons I have were bought 1.5-2 years ago and didn't actually didn't cost me much (probably $800-900), their actual value is at $1,400. I'll save the tonnage that doesn't go into the basement stove for when it is really cold and windy out.

I did start the basement stove up the beginning of last week to keep it in the mid 60's. Of course that is the only heat down there and it also serves to keep the main floor floors warmer. And at this point, it is only firing a couple times a day since the ground isn't very cold yet.

Currently, this year (not counting Nov-Dec of 2022), I have produced about 6.4 mwh. Doesn't look like I'll get to 7 mwh, but that is still an impressive number - especially for the abundance of non-sunny weather we've had the last 6 months.

September 2023 Solar Report

I haven't reported on my solar array production since June of this year (here are all my solar reports). That is because there really wasn't anything new to say, besides, yep, I'm producing power and racking up credits for my winter electrical use from the grid.

September numbers are really showing the reduced sun angle. This reduction is helped (or not helped) by the trees still having leaves. So the east side is really challenged in getting much sun prior to noon or so.

And then we've had a lot of heavily overcast days. Several days solar production (orange) didn't even match the house usage (blue).

Solar energy production is roughly 60% of what May's production was (my best month). And it is 200 kwh less than the August production. HOWEVER, perception is everything. In looking back at March (6 months previous), then the numbers align pretty well

Although the comparison does show a bit of drop of production on the east and south sides for the month from tree foliage, the west side (being totally clear of any shade) makes up for it. So in actuality, 20kwh more were produced in September than last March. However, I did have several days in March that were zero production because of snow cover (not atypical) and a 3-day power outage (which was atypical - although the array was still snow covered anyway). During a power outage, when grid-tied, the production is cut off to avoid feedback into the power lines.

So, really, compared to March, I can't be unhappy with the September energy production from the array. And, I'm still banking credits with the power company, which definitely makes me happy.

How's that Forcast Working Out for You?

I find this somewhat funny. I'm not a climate change denier. I just happen to think that climate changes all the time all by itself. There are a lot of factors involved, including those outside of Earth's atmosphere - and most of those factors we don't even understand on an individual scope. I don't doubt that mankind affects the climate to a degree, but to what degree and how we would go about reversing it (or if it is worth it in socio/economic sense) is a different animal.

So anyway, this post isn't to debate climate change (and I won't, so please don't bother commenting if you just want to argue your position). This post is about how difficult it is to actually predict what is going to happen in the near term (relatively speaking). The other day the local weather guy was telling us how NH has had a fairly cool summer. One point in case is that we haven't had a day over 90 yet this August, which is unusual (sorry, you have to watch a short ad to see the video).

We have had a very wet, dark summer. that has kept the solar gain to a minimum (ask my solar array - the peak performance was in May, before this weather pattern got stuck in place). Anyway, I happened to run into this forecast put out by NOAA (thru NPR) in May

 

They completely missed the mark for New England (or at least northern New England - IDK about the southern portion). They may have expected the jet stream to act one way, and it acted differently. They may have been going off of ocean temperatures at the time - IIRC, the coastal waters off NH were way warmer than normal in May (average is in high 40's and I think it was in the high 50's at the time).

Although production from my solar arrays has not been as good as expected after seeing May's numbers, I am happy that NOAAs prediction for this area was off. I haven't run the mini split much, which offsets the reduction in energy production. I am still exporting plenty of power - except this past Friday, I actually used more than I made because I had to use the clothes drier a couple of times.

Getting Paid for Solar Production

Two weeks ago I got an email that was pleasing, I was getting paid $27 for just doing what I have been doing.

When I had the solar array installed, I had no clue about RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates). Fortunately, my install company applied for entry in a REC program for me. The installing company let me know I would be hearing from the REC company at the end of last year. I did not have to accept, indeed, had to actively pursue the opportunity once the REC company provided the info to me.

RECs are a method of tracking each MWh produced by solar/wind (or other renewable source) and pushed to the grid. Some areas have requirement for the grid to provide x percent of renewable energy thru their grid (an over simplification). That also means the producer (me) has to be vetted and tracked by the government, so if you aren't good with that, then the program is not for you. I had to apply for and become a certified solar facility, with a cert from the Department of Energy. The REC company I am going thru did everything but sign the paperwork that they submitted. It also means that if I make any changes, even put in a grid tied battery backup, or add to the system I have to notify the DOE.

Tracking by the REC company is done thru my solar monitoring company, which I had to give authorization for the REC company to have access to. But once all the paperwork is done, it is totally hands off for me. Payments (in increments of whole MWhs) are made each quarter and I will have to pay taxes on the payments received. But since I can't see making more than $100/year (if that), the taxes won't be onerous.

June 2023 Solar Report

June seemed like a totally horrible month for producing solar. The last couple of weeks were nothing but overcast, drizzly and rainy days. seriously, I don't think I saw the sun or moon for the last 10 days. But really, once all the numbers are put together, the month of June was pretty good. Oh sure, not as good as May's 1150 kwh (1.15mhw), but as one of NH's cloudiest months, 838 kwh production is respectable. With the clouds and cooler temps, the need for AC wasn't there but for a couple of days. So all in all, I was ~600 kwh ahead that the utility is crediting me for.

And now for the interesting thing going forward. The former swamp on the south side is having a house built on it. I have the feeling that the south side's winter production is going to be affected as it looks like the roof is well above what my previous "horizon" was on that side. Only time will tell if it truly affects the sun I get in the deep of winter (which isn't much anyway).

The second picture is basically what I will see from my shady sitting area. And that side is their driveway, so it will probably have cars in it. Makes me sad. The current fence is 3' tall and in need of replacement anyway so I may put in a 6' fence to help break it up, but that still won't cover everything.

Solar on an Extremely Cloudy Day in June

Solar opponents always come back with - yeah, but what if it's cloudy, you don't get any production. Well, that is not technically true. There is still production, just less than under full sun. And as long as you aren't trying to be off-grid, that is fine. Let me make clear right here, solar is not for everyone (for a variety of reasons, circumstances or beliefs), and I certainly don't care what each and every person decides to do - do whatever works for you.

June is a historically cloudy and rainy month for NH - just ask anyone who attend Laconia Bike Week every year. Such has been the case this year with lots of persistent overcast days and passing showers. However, my arrays have put out more energy than I've used every day, and I probably average around 30 kwh output so far this month. Well, then there was yesterday where I used more than I produced. Bet you can't guess when the real heavy clouds moved in with rain - LOL

BTW, That big usage is the two loads of laundry I dried (I was out doing errands between loads - thus the break in usage). If I hadn't done laundry, I would have come out ahead on production - or at worst, even with usage.

And then there is the news that Eversource, the main NH utility provider (not supplier - they buy from the market),. They have announced that prices will be dropping drastically starting in August. This is due to natural gas prices dropping. They have two rate adjustments per year, August and February, as that is when they renegotiate with their suppliers. The below is from the link provided previously:

Please note that the rates shown are for electricity supply only. It is not the effective rate since there are various fees and charges (per kwh) that are separate, and an almost $14 monthly fee that is just to have a meter (so if you have 2 meters, say a separate one for a detached garage, you will have two $14 charges each month).

With NH's regulation of Eversource and net metering, I get credit dollars back for all supply charges and fees except for the meter charge and the two smallest fees that add up to 1.6 cents / kwh. Getting dollars credited, instead of kwh credits will serve me well next winter according to the surplus I am running. It doesn't serve me so well on the actual ROI - but that was never in the running since I was not expecting anything better than a 15 year return.

And as usual, it depends on the state, net metering rules (if there are any) and utility (such as independants may not credit at the supply rate as mine does), so anything I've written may not appply to other's situations/locations.

May 2023 Solar Report

May was a good month for solar production. My arrays produced over 1 megawatt, most of which was pushed back to the grid for my neighbors to use. That was despite having several "dark" days from heavy overcast. But with the higher sun angle, there is only 1 day that I used more than I produced (actually when I look at the report, I produced 11.8 and used 11.8, so it's a wash).

The west side continues to "shine" (pun intended). Each of its panels produced more energy than any of the panels on the east or south sides. The west side produced a total of 439 kwh, the east side produced 380 kwh and the south side produced 347 kwh (the south side having one less panel than either of the other two sides).

And of course the results of that were I owe the power company $0, plus received a $210 credit.

So adding in the smaller credits from the previous 2 months, I have a total of $366 credit to draw against next winter.

Next month's usage will surely go up quite a bit. With temps in the 90s the last two days, I turned on the mini split (afternoons and evenings) and window fans (early mornings) to keep the house at a reasonable temperature. However, today thru Tuesday, temps are supposed to be a lot lower - I may even have to run the pellet stove occasionally. It's all up to mother nature, so we'll see.

April 2023 Solar Production Report

Despite 6 days of very little production (2.9 - 10.1 kwh produced), I still logged in a respectable 774 kwh produced in April.

I use anywhere from 6.5 to 10 kwh per day; most of the difference is use of the clothes drier. The west side produced more per panel than either of the other sides (except for 1 panel on the south side).

I do enjoy that with the 3 sides of panels, I start producing some energy about 7 am and it goes thru about 7 pm (as of yesterday). I've seen some houses with panels only on the south side, or east side and wonder how much of the day they get production. Of course the circumstances of the house orientation and roof style impact the configuration.

With the trees starting to leaf out, although at this point they are barely leaflets, it will be interesting to see what the effect is on the east and south sides in the coming months. I don't expect them to reduce production (because the sun angle will be higher). But will production increase on those side? And if so by how much, percentage wise, as compared to the west side increase?

And, as an aside, I added a "Solar" Category for posts. I believe I have updated all previous entries starting from my investigations into solar thru the install and activation, including the tree work and chimney work I had done, and of course my reports on solar production. Hopefully I caught them all because apparently searching for the word "solar" doesn't actually bring up every post that mentions solar, or even has solar in the title.

Shortening - Not the Kitchen Type Though

The chimney for the boiler and water heater has been a PITA lately.

1. I've been watching it because it seemed like the top couple of layers of block were showing signs of damage.
2. It didn't have a covering so any rain/snow came right into the building envelop. The moisture did not seep out of the cleanout in the basement - but it was going somewhere, and I wouldn't doubt that it contributed to the moisture that seeps up thru the basement floor.
3. Since I put in the solar array, it has been very evident that on sunny days one panel is really affected by the shadow it cast, and another is somewhat affected.

I contacted a local mason (the town FB page is very handy for finding the local people that don't really advertise and go by word-of-mouth), he came and looked at it last Sunday.

Now, in my dreams, I would have had the chimney removed. It is in the middle of the house and takes up valuable kitchen space, and then more space in the basement (not so valuable, but  still). Plus I would have been able to close up the roof and block off any air infiltration from the attic into the house. BUT, that would have taken major work, in a fairly inaccessible location (the attic access is thru a closet in the office). Additionally, with the standing seam roof, and the solar array, even more complications are introduced (shingles would have been a straightforward project even with the array). I wasn't sure I was willing to go thru such a major project to gain a couple of square feet in the kitchen. The mason also pointed out that leaving the chimney there just in case it was ever needed again would not be a bad thing. So, we agreed upon it being shortened and capped.

Tuesday he came out and did the work

Is it pretty? No, but it is functional (or non-functional - LOL) and really, you have to stand on my back property line to get a good view of it - and I don't care what the people in the apartments back there see :)