My other half has just run a bath, so the heat pump has kicked in and started re-filling the hot water tank. The car is charging at the same time, and most of it is being covered by the sun. We’re pulling only 700w from the grid.
Renewables are amazing.
Sep 20, 2026, 12:52 PM@katiefenn so y’all are making all that wind?
@janl What else do you think is spinning all those wind turbines today? 😛
@katiefenn Out of curiosity, a big PV setup or charge limit settings for the EV?
@skolima I’ve got a 5.5kW PV array, but at the time capped it with a 3.5kW inverter because I didn’t want to bother applying for permission for a larger export.
My next project is battery storage, and I’m considering fixing the inverter and the export at the same time.
@katiefenn I really want more battery. It would add a reasonable number of no grid days even with the heat pump @skolima
@katiefenn @otfrom It's interesting how different registration is in different countries. Here in Poland for PV it's max(inverter, panels), and then for battery it's max(inverter, total battery capacity). If you have both it's the sum! That way I ended up registering both myself and my parents' houses for 40 kW grid connection each, 3 phase. At least up to that level it's a formality only, operator can't reject it and has to provide capacity.
@katiefenn @otfrom That's what gets me about UK electricity: single phase hook-ups. Over here even new flats have 3-phase (because you'll likely get an induction stove) and old ones can be converted (because every building has a 3-phase connection).
@katiefenn
May I ask how much solar you have, and watt/hour of any battery storage?
@screwturn 5.5kW solar PV, a 3.5kW inverter (I’m thinking of getting this upgraded so we can use the full 5.5kW, we’ll need to request permission from our local grid first), no battery storage yet but that’s next.
We held off doing battery storage because the market is cut-throat at the moment. Only a few months ago, one of the UK’s big battery storage brands went bust and left customers without customer support and warranties.
@katiefenn I love a good heat pump + solar post. We live that life as well.
@cpsask One of the technologies that genuinely makes me feel optimistic about the future.