Stepping Away From The Power Grid

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Today I started the journey of what will eventually be an off the grid home power wise that is by paying for the complete solar kit. I am having my own independent installers which is where some of the savings happen. This is going to turn out cheaper than I first thought and I am now looking forward to seeing this happen.

The solar kit cost 8K GBP which is similar to the one above except I am having far more panels plus an extra lithium battery for roughly 75% of what the above advert is offering. If I need more power I will just add on with the goal of ever using the power grid ever again. I am targeting 10K GBP all in which is quite a bit in local currency, but cheaper than what it costs elsewhere.

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This price above is from the US in 2023 and sounds way over priced.

The team have in place is experienced with one of the hired hands qualified to issue the much needed certificate of compliance known as COC. This is planned to take 4-5 days from start to finish and will be able to share this via posting how this evolves.

The irony is we have not had loadshedding like we used to have so the urgency has not been pushing this project like it would have 12 months ago. The cost of electricity these days is only going to keep increasing by 15-20% per year so that in itself is a good enough reason. The value the solar system adds to the property will be in the saved energy costs which should pay for itself in under 3 years which is kind of crazy in itself.

Our warehouse in another suburb has been experiencing loadshedding daily for a few hours so the power cuts are still happening. The savings through going off the grid has to be just that with never returning as the costs of dipping in and out of the grid are expected to have extreme penalties having ridiculously high rates. Absurd thinking, but the power utility is losing revenue and will try any scheme to make up for their short fall.

By having 3 x 10.6 Kwh lithium ion batteries for power storage it will be a wait and see as I have been told this is plenty to run the house with no problems. The generator will be converted just in case it is required to charge a battery if we have poor overcast weather for lengthy periods.

The spend is not ending here as the geysers are being converted to solar and out goes the electric stove being replaced by gas which will most likely end up with the kitchen being gutted and redone. We all know once you start there is no end and this moves from a small project to a fairly big one rather quickly.

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