Going off grid for summer

Going off grid is tempting for many and if you are reading this, then you are looking for answers, Here you can find out how you can go off grid for summer in the UK.

Solar power is a cost effective way to supply your home with power, but in the UK it is a little feast or famine when it comes to solar power, but the feast will last around 275 days of the year, and 90 days you are going to need support from the grid or something else. we have a range of off grid articles, click the link for more

Cut the chain.
For most people who have a dependency on the grid, or do not know more about off grid living, the grid seems to be the only way as it has become a custom of life, 70 years ago, this was not the case and there were many homes without electrical power and even had gas lights.
Energy regulator Ofgem has proposed that by winter 2025/26, all energy suppliers will be required to offer a low or zero standing charge Price Capped energy tariff.

What the Proposal Entails

• The “Zero Standing Charge” Tariff: The new tariffs would have no or a very low fixed daily standing charge. To compensate for the loss of this revenue, the unit rates—the cost per kilowatt-hour of energy used—would be higher than on a standard tariff.
  
• A New Price Cap Variant: Ofgem is consulting on how this new tariff would work within the existing Energy Price Cap framework, which sets the maximum amount suppliers can charge. The new tariff would effectively be an alternative version of the Price Cap, offering customers a choice in how they are billed.
  
• The Goal: The primary purpose of this proposal is not to reduce overall energy costs but to give consumers more choice and control over their bills. It aims to benefit those who use very little energy, such as people with a second home or those who are away for extended periods.

Potential Impacts and Concerns

“Active Choice” for Consumers: The new tariff will require an “active choice” from consumers. This has raised concerns that those who are less engaged with their energy bills may not switch to the most suitable tariff for their needs and could end up on a more expensive plan. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, has suggested that vulnerable, low-usage customers should be opted into the new tariff by default with an option to opt out.

Higher Unit Rates: The most significant aspect of the proposal is that the costs covered by standing charges—such as network maintenance, metering, and supplier operating costs—will not disappear. Instead, they will be incorporated into the unit rate. This means that medium to high-energy users could end up paying more on a zero-standing charge tariff than they would on a standard tariff.

Impact on Vulnerable Customers: Consumer groups and charities have expressed concern that the proposal could be detrimental to some vulnerable households. For instance, high-energy users who depend on medical equipment or have poorly insulated homes could face significantly higher bills if they switch to a zero-standing charge tariff without fully understanding the implications.

Going off-grid with solar power in the UK for the summer months (approximately 275 days) is a significant undertaking, and when combined with the option of a low or zero standing charge tariff, it presents a unique financial calculation.

Feasibility of Off-Grid Solar Power in the UK

While it is technically possible to be fully off-grid with solar in the UK, it is challenging and expensive, especially for year-round use. The UK’s lower levels of sunlight, particularly during the winter, mean that a system must be oversized with substantial battery storage to last through extended periods of cloudy weather.

• Initial Costs: A full off-grid system for an average UK household (3-bedroom) can cost anywhere from £4,000 to over £10,000. This includes a robust solar panel array , a battery storage system as well as an inverter, and installation costs.
• The “Summer Only” Approach: The idea of being off-grid only for the summer (275 days) is more feasible as it aligns with peak solar generation. During this period, you could potentially produce enough energy to power your home and even have a surplus. However, it is not a matter of simply unplugging. You would need to inform your energy supplier and the National Grid.

The Zero-Standing Charge Tariff and Solar Power

The proposed zero-standing charge tariff is designed to benefit low-energy users and those with seasonal consumption, such as people with second homes or those with solar panels. Here’s how it would work in your scenario:

• High Unit Rate: A zero-standing charge tariff eliminates the fixed daily fee, but in exchange, the per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) unit rate is significantly higher. This is how the supplier covers the fixed costs of maintaining the grid connection, even if you use no energy.
• A Perfect Match for Summer: During the summer when your solar panels are producing sufficient energy, you will be drawing very little to no power from the grid. Because there is no daily standing charge, your bill for these months would be close to zero. On a standard tariff, you would still be paying the daily standing charge every day, regardless of how much solar energy you are generating.
• The Winter Calculation: The annual cost reduction hinges on what happens during the winter (the remaining 90 days). During this period, solar generation is minimal, and you would be heavily reliant on the grid. This is when the higher unit rate of the zero-standing charge tariff becomes a key factor.

Would the Zero Tariff Reduce Your Annual Cost?

Yes, for a household that is largely self-sufficient with solar power for 275 days of the year, a zero-standing charge tariff would almost certainly reduce your overall annual energy cost.

Here’s why:

1. Eliminating the Fixed Cost: On a standard tariff, you would pay a daily standing charge for all 365 days of the year, which can add up to over £200 annually just for electricity. With a zero-standing charge tariff, you would pay nothing for the 275 days you are off-grid.
2. Minimizing Impact of High Unit Rate: The higher unit rate of the zero-standing charge tariff would only apply during the winter months when your solar production is low and you are drawing from the grid. While your winter bills would be higher than on a standard tariff, the savings from not paying a standing charge for the majority of the year would likely offset this increase, resulting in a net saving.
3. An Alternative to “Selling Back”: The zero-standing charge tariff could also be an attractive alternative to the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) if you don’t export a significant amount of your surplus energy back to the grid. It allows you to maximize the financial benefit of your self-consumption without relying on export tariffs.

Conclusion: For a homeowner using solar power to go largely off-grid for 275 days a year, a zero-standing charge tariff is a smart financial choice. It directly addresses the main drawback of having a grid connection while self-generating power, by eliminating the fixed fees you would otherwise be paying for months of little to no grid usage.

Trial running:

If you have solar and it is not grid tied and supports off grid operations then you can have installed an ATS or manual transfer switch to turn off the grid and make yourself independent. if you lack this type of inverter, then you can buy an off grid inverter which is usually a lot less than you would think.

Key points here is that you will need to buy storage for the power to keep things going over night. You wont want to make bare minimum requirements, therefore around 5-7kwh will be okay for low power users, or 15kwh for most homes

Can you use an older grid tied system?
You cant use the inverter, but you can use the panels and installation connections You would be looking at a cost of around £2,000 for a decent system by this I mean a 6kw inverter and a 15kwh battery.
Older panels tend to be less effective that the old panels but it is a bit of a cost jump if you’re on a budget as the installation really will cost the most, the panels wont. but you could improve your yield significantly. its about £544-£680 to upgrade the solar panels.

If RenewSolar will install and supply?
less than £2500 with a new inverter and battery installation.

RenewSolar offers a fixed rate and is one of the lowest prices in the UK for solar installations and hardware. This means big savings and a more affordable solution when it comes to solar needs.