Hello all from a solar & battery newbie,
I'm currently getting a 5.2kwp solar PV system and linked 7.2kwh battery on my house in Scotland. I've been researching for about 6 months and the system is due to be installed this month.
I've been looking at what technologies are out there to exploit excess solar once the batteries are charged. I'm aware of heating water using an Eddi or I-boost, charging an EV using a zappi, but was wondering if anyone had considered installing an electric flow boiler (like the one linked below) on their existing central heating system, driven by excess solar to reduce cost of central heating? It seems to be a relatively new technology, but when integrated with solar could significantly reduce gas or oil use for central heating.
For clarity, I’d be considering installing in addition to the existing oil or gas boiler, so that when there’s excess solar this would heat central heating and when there’s not solar the gas or oil boiler would run heating
Wow, is what I say after reading this thread, but I agree with you 100%. You know what you need and how much solar production you are getting, so no need for any reason not to do it.
I'm in the same boat, here in Canada Ontario, we get the best solar production starting in mid January, when it is the coldest time of the year, and snow season.
On sunny days I can make over 40kwh a day, I've just installed a boiler in my attached garage and I've installed the baseboard heaters in the basement of the house also.
On those sunny days I have a 12000 btu senville mini split, and three other heaters at different locations,and I still have power to spare.
One day I saw 10 300 watts coming in from the charge controllers. That's almost maximum watts input the controllers can see.
I found a heater in a yard sale over 20 years ago, which I wanted to add to my boiler system, check the following pictures for details.
I am waiting for the next year to install it, so I will be able to monitor the difference in gas consumption it will make.
Another thing to notice is i have over 10kw of panels, and 45kw of LFP.
I was happy to see someone else have the same interests, as I know this is doable.
It's not for everyone but everybody knows what they can do with their own system.
Thanks
The SlimJim is traditionally installed in properties such as apartments, domestic dwellings, holiday homes & light commercial properties with limited space
www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk