A very unexpected solar power reading
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
April 9, 2016 10:59am CST
A little over 3 years ago I had solar panels fitted to my roof at the rear. Since it is beneficial to the country as a whole for residents to install solar power and reduce the demand on production, the government pays a small incentive for each kWh generated.
My quarterly reading has been requested by my electricity supplier, which I genuinely expected to be below average for this time of year due to the dismal weather we have been experiencing. Much to my surprise the reading is roughly the same as the past few years at this period.
Since the amount of power produced is directly related to the length of daylight and the intensity of the sunshine, this is an excellent indication of how much sunshine we have had.
Despite the days appearing to be constantly dismal recently, they have obviously not been as poor as I thought.
18 people like this
16 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
9 Apr 16
Yes I have always wondered about the solar panels and dismal days.
Apparently there is always some sun pouring through.
I would love to have some solar panels to see how this works friend.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Apr 16
@CoralLevang Obviously solar panels would be of far greater value further south such as Alabama or Texas.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Apr 16
It is strange that we perceive bad weather to equate with lack of measurable sun.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
10 Apr 16
Our perception of reality is not often in line with it. Odd, but a totally human reaction.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace We also judge days as dull or bright, but a week of dull skies could consist of more light in total than a day of sunshine and 6 very dull days.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
10 Apr 16
@Asylum I am very sensitive to sunlight. Without it, I have little get up and go. So I judge ours by that factor. Other people who do not have this sunlight energy connection, might notice it less than I do.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382209)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Apr 16
We are just in the process of getting solar panels. We already have a solar hot water system which works well. There is an electric booster for those times when we don't have enough sunshine. Our power when we get it will be fed back into the grid if not used by us. Sounds similar to your system.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24026)
• United Kingdom
10 Apr 16
Yes and you have been in the country a long time using up all the electricity so it is amazing that it has remained low unless of course you have been sitting in the dark?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
10 Apr 16
well, I believe we do not need that here in my place.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
11 Apr 16
@Asylum there is an area here in my country, in the south, they use the solar panels that are always functioning for electricity
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
10 Apr 16
Great observation- and it does seem strange that you felt you had less sun. It could be the sun was out at times that were not as noticeable or that were different than before- like the morning and late afternoon?
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
10 Apr 16
@Asylum Well that could be it and you didn't notice at all.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Apr 16
Unless someone has been shining a flashlight on your panels! Perhaps he wore a mask since you didn't see him.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Apr 16
@Jeanniemaries I could have some mutated bats living around here that use the same frequency as light does.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Apr 16
@Asylum Or a UFO from a far away galaxy visits nightly
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
9 Apr 16
I think it is great that you can get actual documentation on the efficiency of your solar panels. Does it lower your bills much?
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Apr 16
Since the electricity generated is recorded by meter it is easy to monitor. I have a spreadsheet with the readings and dates from the very beginning, so I can easily compare an annual difference.
The system does reduce power bills to some degree, but it can deceiving due to rising costs.
@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
9 Apr 16
Figures don't lie. Solar power is still in its infancy and looks like it will become cheaper than fossil fuel when the research under way bears fruit. That should be a boon for the world as the stranglehold of few over fuel supply will be loosened with sunny Africa in a position to power cloudy Europe.
Such a scenario will alter the landscape in a wider sense than solar cells fitted on rooftops! siva
1 person likes this
