The Good News Only - thread...

[secretsqirrel]

Man's blue skin A&E panic was just bed sheet dye

lol

 

[briantrumpet]

Given that we're not exactly at the height of summer, and heating will be on in most* households, this seems like pretty good news.

*not mine, obvs 😉

 

[briantrumpet]

I think this is all good news too (though happy to be corrected by @PurplePenguin), not least plug-in solar panels, as you can already get on the Continent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-go-further-and-faster-in-becoming-energy-secure

The Energy Secretary is today setting out an accelerated package of energy interventions to boost the UK’s energy security:

• Announcing that “plug-in solar”, low cost solar panels that families can buy at supermarkets and put on their balconies or outdoor space, will be made available in the UK for the first time.
• Announcing that we intend to bring forward the Government’s next annual renewables auction to July, inviting renewables companies to invest in UK energy. The most recent round was the biggest ever and alongside the previous auction, we have confirmed enough clean power to power the equivalent of 23 million homes.
• Following the implementation of the Fingleton Review into speeding up the building of nuclear power stations, confirmation that the government will apply the lessons of the review to other infrastructure such as renewables.

 

[Pblakeney]

I think this is all good news too (though happy to be corrected by @PurplePenguin), not least plug-in solar panels, as you can already get on the Continent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-go-further-and-faster-in-becoming-energy-secure

The Energy Secretary is today setting out an accelerated package of energy interventions to boost the UK’s energy security:

• Announcing that “plug-in solar”, low cost solar panels that families can buy at supermarkets and put on their balconies or outdoor space, will be made available in the UK for the first time.
• Announcing that we intend to bring forward the Government’s next annual renewables auction to July, inviting renewables companies to invest in UK energy. The most recent round was the biggest ever and alongside the previous auction, we have confirmed enough clean power to power the equivalent of 23 million homes.
• Following the implementation of the Fingleton Review into speeding up the building of nuclear power stations, confirmation that the government will apply the lessons of the review to other infrastructure such as renewables.

I can envisage plug-in solar panels in the middle aisle of Aldi/Lidl. This is a good thing.

 

[briantrumpet]

I can envisage plug-in solar panels in the middle aisle of Aldi/Lidl. This is a good thing.

I thought that Ikea was starting to do them on the continent, but can't find anything online yet.

 

[Pinno718]

Yeabut. How much power will one of these Solar panels produce?
Does it have a back up battery/storage? It's one thing to produce electricity but it's another to store the electricity. Without storage, it has limited use.

 

[CXRAndy]

Large solar panels 2m x1m can produce around 500-600W peak output at 50V DC.

It really doesn't stack up until you have several kW of solar for a household to use.

 

[PurplePenguin]

Yeabut. How much power will one of these Solar panels produce?
Does it have a back up battery/storage? It's one thing to produce electricity but it's another to store the electricity. Without storage, it has limited use.

It reduces usage of the grid and provides some power which is immediately consumed. Solar panels are incredibly cheap these days, so I can't see how it can be a bad thing. As I have said before, Net Zero is about "and, and, and" not just one magic solution.

 

[CXRAndy]

Trade price for a 500+W panel is around £60+vat

 

[UglyWithaSidePart]

Yeabut. How much power will one of these Solar panels produce?
Does it have a back up battery/storage? It's one thing to produce electricity but it's another to store the electricity. Without storage, it has limited use.

They're extremely popular all over the continent for a reason. They work and are cost effective.

 

[BoldonLad]

It reduces usage of the grid and provides some power which is immediately consumed. Solar panels are incredibly cheap these days, so I can't see how it can be a bad thing. As I have said before, Net Zero is about "and, and, and" not just one magic solution.

I will start by admitting, I am a complete idiot when it comes to electricity (some may say beyond that too), I don't even understand how electricity does not spill out of an unstitched socket, when the plug is removed (it has been explained to me several times by my physicist drinking pal).

Where/what do these "plug in" solar panels plug in to?

How is the output from the panel adjusted to the required 240v AC 50Hz?

How is the voltage stabilised within the required range?

How does the Electricity Meter (even if smart) cope with this additional feed in?

 

[C R]

I will start by admitting, I am a complete idiot when it comes to electricity (some may say beyond that too), I don't even understand how electricity does not spill out of an unstitched socket, when the plug is removed (it has been explained to me several times by my physicist drinking pal).

When do these "plug in" panels solar panels plug in to?

How is the output from the panel adjusted to the required 240v AC 50Hz?

How is the voltage stabilised within the required range?

How does the Electricity Meter (even if smart) cope with this additional feed in?

It can't be just a panel, a panel generates DC, so an inverter and a transformer are needed to match the frequency and voltage of the mains supply, and a control system to synchronise the inverter with mains. All doable, but it won't be just a panel, there has to be a box of tricks too.

 

[PurplePenguin]

I will start by admitting, I am a complete idiot when it comes to electricity (some may say beyond that too), I don't even understand how electricity does not spill out of an unstitched socket, when the plug is removed (it has been explained to me several times by my physicist drinking pal).

Where/what do these "plug in" solar panels plug in to?

How is the output from the panel adjusted to the required 240v AC 50Hz?

How is the voltage stabilised within the required range?

How does the Electricity Meter (even if smart) cope with this additional feed in?

Your mobile phone plugs into a socket and chargers on DC at 12V. If you're happy that can happen, then you should also be happy that the opposite can happen. The more complete answer is that the plug in panels contain inverters (to go to AC) and transformers (to go 240V).

It's unlikely a plug in one will generate enough to export power. My understanding is that, if it i did, an analogue meter will go backwards whereas a smart meter ignores it.

 

[briantrumpet]

Your mobile phone plugs into a socket and chargers on DC at 12V. If you're happy that can happen, then you should also be happy that the opposite can happen. The more complete answer is that the plug in panels contain inverters (to go to AC) and and transformers (to go 240V).

It's unlikely a plug in one will generate enough to export power. My understanding is that, if it i did, an analogue meter will go backwards whereas as smart meter ignores it.

If I spend more time in France, I might be tempted to install something there, but TBH my energy use is so low in both places, it's probably not economic in either, despite both being south(ish)-facing and with decent sunshine hours on average. At the moment, most of my French time is there when I use even less energy, and my time in Devon I only use more 'lectric in the months when there's much less sun.

That said, some balcony panels in France, if cheap enough, might be tempting, to get 'free' hot water. Especially since there I've got a balcony.

 

[BoldonLad]

It can't be just a panel, a panel generates DC, so an inverter and a transformer are needed to match the frequency and voltage of the mains supply, and a control system to synchronise the inverter with mains. All doable, but it won't be just a panel, there has to be a box of tricks too.

“Box of tricks”, now, THAT is terminology I understand 😂