The Alternative Energy Thread - Generators, Solar, UPS, Wind

[mgalaxy3]

Ah that sucks .

[AkbarGr8]

Hi all,

I am evaluating different solar installers for a 16.5KW setup (15KW on-grid inverter). Have received a couple of proposals, needed your opinion on the following points.

1) Located in Karachi. One provider is suggesting a 15' tilt for solar panels whereas the other one is suggesting 5'. Do note this is for a raised structure. Which is more accurate?

2) Would you opt for a big installer (flashy office) offering service at a higher cost or a small individually owned firm providing a highly personalized service at a much competitive cost? Thank you!

[centos]

Recommend best angle in summer for karachi is 0% but 5-10% is good for full year performance.

Ask them to show their recent installations, then talk to the owners of those sites to get a feedback about their experience with the company. Never pay full in advance. Pay 10-30% upfront. Once they deliver the stuff pay up to 80% and rest after successful installation and green meter running.

Pakistani companies big or small you can never tell. Always do your due diligence.

[capsat]

my neighbor recently installed a hybrid system through the independent installer (non-netmetering). sent you details through inbox. after initial teething problem due to lack of knowledge for usage by the user. All is smooth now, in approx 3 months 17 days of use, the user have saved an avg of 810-880 units per month. non-stop 3 AC + other appliances use during day time. At night after 1130 shifts to KE automatically, but KE battery charging is disabled.

[AkbarGr8]

Might be a little too late but check out this app - you'll love it. "My Solar Panel Lite"

Attaching some sample screenshots.

My structure will be facing SW 220 degrees - will be facing a 3% loss. Decided to add one single panel to make up for the loss (uplift structure similar to yours)

[Corollarules]

Hello guys. I have a question from those having hybrid solar inverters and tubular batteries. How long do tubular batteries last and at what kind of usage. Do you guys run ac on them in evening or night?

[mgalaxy3]

Batteries do best when they’re never discharged more than 40-50%.

[mrdeejay]

Anybody installed Bifacial panels? How much energy production are you getting?

[saqibhassan95]

Anybody installed Bifacial panels? How much energy production are you getting?

bifacial gain depends upon surface, it's upto 20% according to manufacturer claims, on painted white surface you can expect upto 10% overall gain, that's what I heard so far, +-10% on average
btw just consider the front side, bifacial gain is just a bonus so don't change your no of panels depending upon bifacial gain

[mrdeejay]

Yes, it seems its dependent a lot on Ground Coverage Ratio, height of panels from ground, albedo and latitude. Apparently Lahore is at low latitude so not a great candidate for bifacial gain.

Theoretically: 10% gain on 16x 535w bifacial panels = 856w extra, 20% gain = 1712w.

While its easy to paint roof white (which increases albedo), lowering Ground Coverage Ratio is hard as you have to spread out the panels on large area - not feasible on typical 1 kanal/10 marla homes. E.g. The common elevated structures used in most residential installations these days is very bad for bifacial gain. So theoretically, High GCR and low altitude are huge negatives for residential bifacial panel installation in Pakistan

[redacted]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.powertechsystems.eu/home/tech-corner/lithium-ion-vs-lead-acid-cost-analysis/%3famp

AoA all thought I would chime in with this interesting write up. About total life cycle cost of lithium vs lead acid batteries.

If someone in tune with the solar market can punch in Pakistan prices/numbers would love to see if this equation hold true for Pakistan

[capsat]

If someone in tune with the solar market can punch in Pakistan prices/numbers would love to see if this equation hold true for Pakistan

prices change every week, currency disparity & uneven policy of taxation is the basic reason.. Prices are highly fluid. Let the people do some search in their local market.

[salarkhan5]

Hi!

I recently moved to Lahore and due to severe electricity shortfall, I am thinking to benefit from the solar system. I don't want to install the entire system but only want to buy 185-watt solar panels (German ones) and a tubular battery. Is there any credible store to buy such items?

By the way, I have already visited Hall Road but you will have to be very smart to buy anything from there. So, please suggest a good place near to Cavalry Ground and Walton. Also, what are your thoughts about UPS City?

[AkbarGr8]

Coming soon...

[capsat]

(German ones)

since 2018 only Made in Chinese products are available under European OEM labels. Verification of brand is only possible via QR / bar code over the panels.

All brand name products after 2018 are 240 watts & above specs. anything below that power can not be verified from oem website means, FAKE product.

in 2013 i got 6 panels of 125 watt each 12VDC , light brown silica wafers, Made by Toshiba -Japan at price 13000 each for UPS battery charging only. 9 years now performance have not deteriorated at all, i wash clean every Sunday morning.

@centos @mrdeejay may be able to guide you towards reasonable source in Lahore.

[umans]

Details, rate?

[AkbarGr8]

Trinasolar - 550W monoperc. Approx 40K per panel or Rs 73/watt. This entire pallet contains 31 panels in total. Prices are inclusive of GST / dollar at 200 as SRO for removal of GST still hasn't been issued.

I decided to proceed forward due to extreme volatility in the market / defeating the inflated summer bills that await me.

[capsat]

@AkbarGr8 you are planning for NET METERING ? or a Hybrid unit to manage load shedding and day time usage of Heavy load (as in ACs & water pump)
-
Grid Tied system is useless when loadshedding is scheduled.

[AkbarGr8]

Yes, net metering / grid tied system InshaAllah. Luckily I reside in an area exempted from load shedding (fingers crossed) which is why I invested in procuring a bigger system / increasing panels and getting a heavy duty huwaei inverter.

Also getting a zero export device native to my inverter so that I'm fully powered by solar during the day till my net metering is activated.

[mrdeejay]

I would recommend a hybrid inverter, as it can be made to run in Grid-Tie mode as well. Reason for hybrid being the govt currently has a shortfall of 7300MW, there is a very good chance the loadshedding will increase so with a grid-tie inverter you will still be facing loadshedding.

Btw, did you get cheaper rate because you purchased entire pellet? Or is it standard rate these days? Can you share your dealer's info?