Having read some of the posts about virtual battery providers I was wondering what the latest situation is. Anyone on here using virtual battery. I like the idea of putting some excess production in the bank as it were and using that power in the winter. In view of the fact that there is so much solar production in warmer months, how do these companies make it financial viable? I imagine by offering a poor exchange - winter units for summer excess. I’m having a 5kWc installation - a local Brit electrician is doing it. I’m currently trying to make sense of the paperwork for the Marie. I’m hoping we’ll still have a reasonable amount of production in the winter down here in the Lot.
With that amount of production you should seriously consider adding batteries. In the event of major power outages you could even survive off-grid that way (see the prepping thread).
The paperwork for the Marie should be straightforward but don’t forget that ENEDIS need to know & that an installation of that size needs an attestation de conformité from CONSUEL. There were changes to NF C 15-100 last year that added to the demands for PV connections.
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Thanks Badger. We’re having a PAC installed first week in December and I’m hoping the solar may help with some of it’s energy requirements. There will be a separate hot water heater too. Warmer months consumption - hope to install a pool pac to extend the swimming season. Will discuss this info with the electrician.
You really need to read the terms and conditions with virtual batteries. And they’re generally hidden deep in the website
But there is no such thing as a virtual battery - it’s simply an accounting/billing system. You don’t normally choose when you use “stored” power - you don’t store it for red days in winter.
You pay - it’s down to 4-5c per kwH at the moment - but it has been a lot higher. Coñnection fee and monthly charge.
If it’s a pro install it’s all simple as you won’t need a separate Consuel to be accepted
Maths made no sense when I looked - but handling /delivery charge is half what it was when I looked. Also I’ve a small 2kW plug and play system and adding in Consuel fees in just made it uneconomic. Urban Solar have one of the better reputations.
Like everything solar it’s a numbers game
I think that’s made my life more difficult. I was thinking of solar panels out the back but my Linky and main panel is right at the front with no easy route between.
You could with the help of a good plumber heating engineer use your PAC to heat both your pool and your home via a heat exchanger as it’s possible you wouldn’t be doing both at the same time.
I suggested that to the tech/salesman. He thought I was crazy!
That’s the problem they aren’t engineers, the only calculation they do is on excel sheet’s profile clients and margins of profit.
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Are you sure you have selected a good jnstaller if this was the reaction.
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I think they are not that great.
Your heat pump for the pool will need to take into consideration the flow rate of the pool plumbing system also on a bypass loop where possible for servicing.
All that said, not aware of the measurements or heating requirements.
I have a very good reference for him from an acquaintance. He designed a system for her 200 year old two story house. Ours is a simple bungalow with UF heating - switch from oil boiler. Another company sent a young woman who didn’t seem to know much and it turned out she normally handled solar installations. I think it’s a lot easier to use a stand-alone PAC for the pool but I’m wondering how common it is to run off the house PAC
Installer or pool PAC?
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If it’s that small & plug & play then there is no requirement for a CONSUEL check.
AFAIAA all installations are liable to be checked, it’s just that CONSUEL doesn’t always go to all the pro ones if they know the installers work already. The cost for the attestation will be included somewhere in the deal.
Installer, unless for a specific reason they should explain why they think it’s crazy. There could be good reason but it could be considered. Equally consideration to the pool pump flow rate and the heat pump flow rate as many pool pumps flow too high for heat pumps. Using a pool pump speed controller or variable speed pump set to the correct flow could solve this and save a considerable amount of electricity.
My pump and return is all at one end of the pool. Would a lower speed of pumping still do the job?
Good question, as I have witnessed very little flow at the opposite end to the pool equipment on these setups, I doubt it but of course there would always come a tipping point. I also understand why your PAC installers answered in the way they did, far too much work to intervene in that setup. In the testing I did years ago, the return jet has control over a leaf for a maximum of 4m, after that the the flow direction decays and it’s just down to a bit of water movement towards the skimmer, hopefully taking in the leaf at some point. Interesting to me at least is an AK47 one of the most powerful rifles in the world fired under water the bullet only travels 3-4ft before dropping to the floor of the pool even with that huge velocity. So water returning has a decaying path and it’s not straightforward as in so many videos of how the companies would like their systems to work.
Yes I know what you mean. I do get some algae on the steps opposite. I will need to check on max flow speed for any PAC I consider. Thanks
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