This title is quite a mouthful, but I would still like to talk to you about the solar panels that we are having installed and the overcapacity that we have decided on. The netting arrangement does not yield any gold and is therefore no reason for us to opt for overcapacity. Yet we consciously have more solar panels installed than we need. I'll tell you why.
In November we had solar panels installed on the roof of our 'old' house. We then received good advice from Zonneplan with regard to the installation and we look back on the installation with a satisfied feeling. They fit neatly. I'll mention that because I also write a blog if I'm not satisfied with a supplier, so if I'm satisfied then that can also be said 😉 .
It was therefore not the plan to move, but sometimes things go that way. Just put thousands of euros worth of panels on the roof and 5 months later decide to live somewhere else, who does that? So we 😉 .
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Anyway. We also want to install solar panels on the roof of our new house. After all, you make that choice because you want to generate green energy for your own use. For some, the rationale is that they want to lend the environment a hand, and others decide for solar panels because they want to be as independent as possible. With us, the first thought (the environment) is the trigger to go for solar panels, but why overcapacity? I'm going to explain that.
As a matter of fact, we have again requested various quotes from various suppliers, even in our own hometown. Nevertheless, we have decided to work with Zonneplan again because we have already built up a good relationship with them and they have again fully engaged in the advisory position. Nice of course, because there is quite a bit of money involved and then it is important that you have a good feeling about it.
The solar panels will be placed on the roof of the shed that belongs to the house, 36 units that together will generate about 10,000 kWh per year. Now we are probably not going to use 10,000 kWh, so I can understand that you wonder why we opt for that overcapacity with the solar panels. We really thought about it for a while, after all, you put a few thousand euros worth of extra panels on the roof.
I had to look up what a kWh of electricity costs, because I didn't even know that. Apparently you end up with an average of about € 0.23 per kWh consumed. This includes the fixed costs. If you consider that you only get about € 0.06 – 0.09 per kWh delivered back, it turns out that redelivering your excess capacity is not really interesting. Not even with the current netting arrangement that will be in effect until 2023. But what is interesting is looking to the future. Even though the netting scheme will slowly change from 2023, we also expect our consumption to change in the future.
We currently use about 5500 kWh per year. That is quite a bit compared to a 'normal' family household and is largely due to our jacuzzi. We expect to use that number of kWh in the new house and even more in the future. And then overcapacity of your solar panels can suddenly become interesting.
We want to implement even more plans in the future with a view to the environment for which we need electricity. Consider, for example, a hybrid boiler. These boilers use less gas and additional electricity to keep water at the right temperature. And if you have electricity 'left over' due to the overcapacity of your solar panels, that is a good investment.
Since we are going to live outside and it is pitch dark there, we are going to install much more lighting outside. Not only in the back of the garden, but also at the front of the house. In addition, cameras will be installed with which we can also monitor the meadow with the animals, for example.
Now I drive a cool Audi TT. Very happy with that car, but I can just imagine that at some point I will opt for an electric car instead of this Audi. I read somewhere that with 20 solar panels you can generate enough electricity to drive 20,000 km per year. I only drive about 3000 miles a year! That means that 3 solar panels would be enough for me to drive 'free'. Pretty cool actually that sustainable transport, haha. Of course I could also get rid of my car completely, but I like that independent feeling that the car gives me. If it is absolutely necessary, I can get in and leave immediately.
Renovating the bathroom is not a priority, but if we start renovating it, we would like to have electric underfloor heating there, instead of a radiator on the wall. And if there is overcapacity of the installed solar panels, then I think that is a nice 'destination'.
We have really enjoyed the Quooker that we now have in our old house. We would very much like to have a Quooker in the new house. Due to the overcapacity, we can now opt for a Flex Combi+ that also provides unlimited hot water. Of course, extra power is needed for this.
At the moment we have one portable air conditioner that we drag from one bedroom to the other when the weather is warm. Not really useful, but I admit… better than nothing. We would rather save for good air conditioning with a fixed outdoor unit that can cool all three bedrooms. Even then it is useful if there is excess capacity.
Everyone should have something to dream, right? One of our dreams is a nice sauna in the back of the garden. One on electricity, please, so that we can use the excess energy generated by the solar panels for heating.
Incidentally, this was one of Zonneplan's tips. Don't just look at the capacity you need now, but try to estimate what you want to achieve in the future with the generated energy. Of course that is easier said than done, but we have really thought about this consciously. If you want to add extra panels at a later stage, it is proportionally always more expensive. Not only do they have to come back again for installation, but you will most likely need other inverters as well.
In addition to contributing ideas to our plan for the future, they are also involved in thinking along about solutions for the future. Because what if the netting arrangement is canceled altogether? Ideally, you want to be able to use the generated energy when it suits you and not just when the sun is shining.
Now, if you have solar panels, it doesn't matter when you use the energy, because what you generate is offset against your consumption. Not anymore in the future. So you can 'lose' capacity if you don't store it, but solutions are already being considered. For now I can't wait until the solar panels are also on the roof of our new house and we can happily continue to our 'yield' via the app.
Below you can see how our solar panels are now!
