Building Reserve and Using KWH

[bcroe]

The PoCo marked my 2020/21 Net Metering year as ending 30 March.
Energy generated by the inverters was 30,100 KWH, about 11% more than
was consumed. This may be a record, probably brought by considerably
more sun (less clouds) over the winter than usual. The whole month of
March actually produced more than was used. The winter sunny days were
on the cold side, so consumption went up too, how convenient.

Energy reserve from the previous summer hit a peak of about 13,500 KWH
on 1 Nov, dropped to about a low of 3000 KWH before leveling in March. A
surplus of 3034 KWH was gifted to the PoCo on 30 March trueup. Without
increased generation, I hope to soon see a slight increase in reserve with
about a 2.5% increase in energy arriving at the PoCo meter, through more
efficient local wiring for the first full year. See reserve graph.

The energy setup has continued to evolve each year. The same 15 KW inverter
plant continues in service. Energy generated has somewhat increased via better
panel placement and gradual reduction of shading (tree removal). Transmission
loss is reduced with better wiring. More efficient equipment has saved energy, but
this has been largely consumed by increasing service equipment. The standby
central furnace blower (with new motor) is run regularly so that the electronic air
filter can do its job, and summer humidity is limited.

The conversion back to all electric by now includes 6 heat pumps in 2 buildings,
a 70s electric range, and a ventless clothes dryer. Energy sights are set on
electric (or some other hybrid system) water heating, but the intended heat pumps
are not yet available. Even before PV solar here, some 60 circuits were monitored
for wasteful appliances. Many were replaced, others modified to avoid waste.
The theme continues to be efficiency (avoiding waste) along with generous KWH
generation, definitely NOT any human deprivation or discomfort. Ever in mind,
just a 1 watt vampire load wastes 8.766 KWH a year.

I read of induction stove tops cooking more efficiently. But they are expensive
with far more failure potential, and apparently require a new set of utensils. The
70s electric range here has been seen to consume about 0.4 KWH a day for a
couple people, the potential improvement seems hardly worth the cost in my
situation. And the range has proved highly maintainable in the long haul.
Anyway, in the past the old range has demonstrated ability to provide extra heat,
as have my (only occasionally used) incandescent bulbs.

In general things are running with minimal maintenance or operational attention.
The Heat Pumps are a blessing, allowing entirely comfortable temps year around
without switching around equipment, regardless of humidity. They are nearly silent.
The first winter HP demonstrated what somewhat limited capacity could do. Two
more winters have passed, and I have since doubled HP capacity to cover the
second building, and the the possibility of a really severe winter. This while
evening out temps better in the many zones, and achieving the goal that no single
failure would produce a desperate winter situation. That was always a worry in
my propane furnace era. No reset is necessary after a short outage.

My belief is that more HP capacity here just means they run less, maintaining or
even increasing overall efficiency. Some will say HPs are expensive, but cost can
be drastically cut depending on how much of the work can be done on a DIY basis.

This electric bill contains a sheet for reliability, says I was only down 110 minutes
in the last year, that was the suicidal raccoon affecting just my transformer 30 July.
99.97% reliability, guess that came off their super duper electronic net meter. I
suppose my neighbor was 100%. We are just around the country block from the
area sub station, which in turn is very few miles from the Nuke. The outage
occurred in the dark of night, no solar operation affected.

Inverters here have been fine for 8 years, I have spares just in case. No
longer pushing the already high line up another 9V at the inverters, no
need to reprogram the V monitors. The original experimental wood array
that I expected to last for 5 years (and hoped for 10) is starting to look its
age. The final array is planned, present config is lacking a second west
facing section to maximize high output hours and KWH. I could now start
putting in permanent foundations to finish. Bruce Roe

Reserve 21m.jpg

[SunEagle]

Yes the subject of the power is worthy of mention in prayers these days. It
has been totally reliable here, and at least we are used to some -10F every
winter. If TX was mostly nuke, at least the power would be available, keeping
it distributed is another problem. Just how does a wind turbine freeze up,
too much blade ice?
Bruce (in cold, boring, but no disasters ILL) Roe

I don't know the details yet but based on how Texas was distributing primary power through wind & solar and other forms of power generation distribution was secondary. When the primary generation failed due to the snow and cold the secondary could not keep up with the demand.

I think it was too many eggs in the same basket scenario.

[Mike90250]

You use Jet-A to power the de-ice system

De-Ice Wind turd blade.png

[bcroe]

As they say the weather is changing and we have to change with it. Look at all those poor people in Texas without power during the worst cold snap most have ever seen in their lives.

Yes the subject of the power is worthy of mention in prayers these days. It
has been totally reliable here, and at least we are used to some -10F every
winter. If TX was mostly nuke, at least the power would be available, keeping
it distributed is another problem. Just how does a wind turbine freeze up,
too much blade ice?
Bruce (in cold, boring, but no disasters ILL) Roe

[SunEagle]

About 11 am Tues we got some temp considerably above zero, combined with
good sun. I went out and worked on solar panels, cleaned off the latest snow.
First got all the fluffy stuff off so the sun could get at them. Then made another
pass, started getting ice off. Then went back to the beginning, this time the sun
helped me get the last of the ice off. Running at maximum 15KW again, will need
the additional energy. Bruce Roe

As they say the weather is changing and we have to change with it. Look at all those poor people in Texas without power during the worst cold snap most have ever seen in their lives.

[bcroe]

about half an inch of ice was frozen onto half the panels

SOMEDAY we ought to get an adequate combination of sun and higher temps to
get rid of the rest of the ice, it still covers parts of enough panels to inhibit those 6
strings. Bruce Roe

About 11 am Tues we got some temp considerably above zero, combined with
good sun. I went out and worked on solar panels, cleaned off the latest snow.
First got all the fluffy stuff off so the sun could get at them. Then made another
pass, started getting ice off. Then went back to the beginning, this time the sun
helped me get the last of the ice off. Running at maximum 15KW again, will need
the additional energy. Bruce Roe

[bcroe]

We are now at the coldest part of winter, -12F has been seen, around 0F much
of the time. Gortex insulated mittens are a big improvement in the cold. Nearly
2 weeks ago we got a warm melting snow, but got hit with a hard freeze before
I went to clear it in the morning. As consequence about half an inch of ice was
frozen onto half the panels, the original install, unadjustable, lower angle ones.
Some snow has occurred more nights than not, keeping the later install half of
my panels clean has required very little attention. In this situation it may hit 4 to
8 KW output depending on clouds.

SOMEDAY we ought to get an adequate combination of sun and higher temps to
get rid of the rest of the ice, it still covers parts of enough panels to inhibit those 6
strings. I could use the energy, the heat pumps are keeping inside temps just fine
but eating away at the summer KWH reserve. That load can hit 8KW. Clearly I
will not be giving the PoCo a free 5000KWH surplus at this 1 April true up. That
was the original plan, use most of it up, staying in the black will depend on the
weather till then. I am down perhaps 500KWH because the new cable was late
July getting into operation.

I believe I have mastered using the snow blower to clear panels. Today inches of
fluffy stuff did stick to the 72 near vertical panels, I just directed the snow blower
to the top edge of the array, and all the snow immediately slid off. That 4WD
tractor with traction tires does so well, I have not been using chains. But it
can be hard to keep pointed in the right direction with the snow blower down,
I may try chains on the front wheels to help that.

Seeing the snow advantages of the adjustable panels, I am more inclined than
ever to rebuild most (or all) of the array to that standard. It will not be the rush
before winter of the last time, but now I have all the big tools and knowledge to
move it along over several years. The next adjustable array will be a 2 sided
version of the last one, more bang for my efforts.

Thank goodness everything is working now, here and other places. Bruce Roe

Feb21ice.JPG

[DanS26]

The Podcast was informative. they see California as a significant market because of the energy regulations. I was especially intrigued with how he described it as a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) making the grid more resilient.

Yes, heating water with excess electricity at the right time so that you do not have to heat that water at the wrong time.

I use the same concept with my two ETS (Electric Thermal Storage) systems only I am heating ceramic bricks rather than water.

[Ampster]

Last I heard was the Nyle Geyser for residential applications would be available Spring 2021, but their website just says "Coming Soon".
..........

The Podcast was informative. they see California as a significant market because of the energy regulations. I was especially intrigued with how he described it as a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) making the grid more resilient.

[DanS26]

Thanks, I heard that when they sent me a note. I was hoping they were announcing availability.

Last I heard was the Nyle Geyser for residential applications would be available Spring 2021, but their website just says "Coming Soon".

The older model I have has been running very well for 8 years. I've taken the cover off once just to see what was inside.....very well built, heavy duty relays, solid weld and solder joints, good insulation, etc. The compressor appears sturdy and runs with little vibration or noise.

[bcroe]

Here is an interview with Ryan Hamilton the President of Nyle Water Heating Systems.

I knew Ryan when he worked for Wood-Mizer here in Indiana earlier in his career.

Thanks, I heard that when they sent me a note. I was hoping they were announcing availability.

[DanS26]

Here is an interview with Ryan Hamilton the President of Nyle Water Heating Systems. If you are interested in HP water systems this is very good information of where this technology is going..........

https://www.buzzsprout.com/939484/3534625-episode-5-nyle-heat-pump-water-heaters-with-ryan-hamilton

I knew Ryan when he worked for Wood-Mizer here in Indiana earlier in his career.

[Ampster]

The dryer was $1243 including tax and delivery, certainly not the cheapest. Thanks for the info,
I like the idea of a water heating HP being separate from the tank, and easily attached. Bruce Roe

That is expensive for a dryer but the payback has got to be pretty good. I think my existing dryer consumes 4kWh per load. For me the other advantage is I could run it off my Outback Skybox anytime.
I did not mention that my first heat pump water heater was actually one that was retrofitted to an existing electric water heater. That manufacturer was AirTap and has since gone out of business. I installed that one in 2011 and it is still going strong. .The other name was NYLE but they have gotten out of the residential market.

[bcroe]

Three years ago when I needed to purchase a dryer I tried to find a reasonably priced one and was not successful. I am glad the technology is progressing. I may be moving to a new place in the next six months and am encouraged to know that I may be able to find one at a reasonable price. It sure does offer flexibility in terms of venting.

As an aside on heat pump water heaters, my GeoSpring finally gave up the ghost. It ended up lasting just 6 years and it was the heat pump mechanism that failed. I understand why GE sold that part of their business. I could have nursed it along but I got a good deal on a Ruud which is the same as Rheem.and I have now installed 3 of those in the past four years in various properties and they are far superior to the GeoSpring.

The dryer was $1243 including tax and delivery, certainly not the cheapest. Thanks for the info,
I like the idea of a water heating HP being separate from the tank, and easily attached. Bruce Roe

[Ampster]

Thanks for the update ln the heat pump dryer. Three years ago when I needed to purchase a dryer I tried to find a reasonably priced one and was not successful. I am glad the technology is progressing. I may be moving to a new place in the next six months and am encouraged to know that I may be able to find one at a reasonable price. It sure does offer flexibility in terms of venting. I do have an energy saver mode on my existing electric dryer but that just means it takes twice as long to dry clothes. Sometimes I use that during the day because that energy saver kWh consumption is just under the production of my panels so it gives me net consumption. I already have several hundred dollars worth of NEM credits going into my February True Up so there is no reason for me to build reserve at this point.
As an aside on heat pump water heaters, my GeoSpring finally gave up the ghost. It ended up lasting just 6 years and it was the heat pump mechanism that failed. I understand why GE sold that part of their business. I could have nursed it along but I got a good deal on a Ruud which is the same as Rheem.and I have now installed 3 of those in the past four years in various properties and they are far superior to the GeoSpring.