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#48409
Wellies
Participant

We are completely off grid.
We have an array with a peak power output of 3.5kw. This feeds our batteries we have in a little shed, then inverters change the DC electricity to 240v AC.

We have been running on just 8 of our 16 panels for two winters, so 1.75kw (peak output). In the summer we have plenty of power. In winter we have to be very frugal with our electricity consumption. To keep the batteries at a good steady state of charge and everything ticking along ok we had a fridge, a freezer and computer used for an hour or so each day.
Much more than this would bring the battery voltage down too low and gives an indication of how poor their winter performance is.
As a country solar panels are a part of a renewable energy setup but they need to be used in conjunction with the grid for most people to keep them going at night and in the winter. Wind, hydro and other renewables need to also go into the mix.

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