Today the solar system managed to generate 14.6 Kwh even though it was generally overcast for most of the day. I would like much more power so I can store at the same time as it s being used and the only way one can do that is to add more solar panels. We have temporarily moved back to the grid for the next week or so and then once completed be finally free and independent.
The good news is I can add 15 more panels and I have plenty of roof space available. Even better news which I was informed about today is I have a credit with the suppliers. I will find out how much tomorrow, but my friend and business partner said that from the time of doing the quote and paying the prices had dropped. The hope is the 15 panels I now need can all be paid with using the credit. Anyone else would have kept quiet and pocketed the difference and why I work with people I can trust. I am curious to see how much the credit is and will let you know in a future post as the cost should still remain under budget for a much bigger system.
I never thought I would have 35 solar panels on my roof and will kind of stand out now lol. The most I have counted on other properties was 20 and I am now asking myself how many are truly off the grid?
The aim is to generate as much power as possible so that the power can be stored in the batteries and how much we do not know yet. The house is power hungry with air-conditioning throughout and my family will not change. The deal was we go off the grid without having to compromise our lifestyle and that is what shall happen.
Originally I was informed that this kit was enough to go 100% off the grid and this has shown that this is true, but if you have over cast weather you do need more. The system itself is perfectly capable, but I need more panels feeding the system.
My friend has a factory with all his machinery working off solar and has nearly an extra 50% more panels than his system will allow. These panels are on a separate dormant feed for now and will only be connected as one unit during the winter months when it is more overcast. That extra expense is minimal as in my case the extra 15 panels would only be worth roughly $1K. He is currently maxed out and when the less productive days happen he can max out by including the extra bank he has created.
Learning and understanding what is capable is actually quite interesting because this means that even in other parts of the world like Europe one could apply the same process. Panels are the cheap part as the bulk of the investment is tied up in the inverter and storage batteries. If you have the space then anything is possible as long as you do not overload the system which will depend on the weather which from what I have been told you can then adjust accordingly.