The solar self consumption mode is a requirement in order to qualify for the SGIP incentive for PV-paired systems. For residential systems, the storage system must discharge a minimum of 52 full cycles per year which equates to once per week on average.
In addition, solar self consumption mode can save a little money by a) reducing the non-bypassable charges associated with NEM2 <https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/solar-and-vehicles/green-energy-incentives/solar-and-renewable-metering-and-billing/net-energy-metering-program-tracking/net-energy-metering-and-tracking-faq.page> and b) potentially reduce some Time Of Use (TOU) peak rate energy consumption. It's a particularly good choice for folks who have electric vehicles on the EV <https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_SCHEDS_EV.pdf> rate where the peak rates go to 9:00 pm and part peak goes to 11:00 pm. Generally speaking, we're seeing TOU peak periods shift later and later in California. August On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 11:34 AM, Marco Mangelsdorf <ma...@pvthawaii.com> wrote: > Is there a financial benefit to the customer-generator to choose the > self-powered mode, August? > > marco > > On Tuesday, February 13, 2018, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: > >> Yes, PG&E. The Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) created a flood >> of applications and PG&E is having a hard time keeping up. Hopefully it >> will get easier. >> >> We are enabling self-consumption and backup modes. The Powerwall charges >> daily from the solar and then discharges to a owner-set minimum reserve >> capacity. >> >> August >> >> *August* >> >> Luminalt Energy Corporation >> >> o: 415.641.4000 <(415)%20641-4000> >> >> www.luminalt.com >> >> >> >> On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 8:30 AM, Marco Mangelsdorf <ma...@pvthawaii.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Hey August. >>> >>> By utility I assume that you are talking about PG&E. >>> >>> What's the hang up? And are running the PWs in back-up power only mode >>> or daily cycling mode? >>> >>> In either case, the addition of PW does not add to the generating >>> capacity of the solar facility. >>> >>> marco >>> >>> On Tuesday, February 13, 2018, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Marco, >>>> >>>> Thanks for sharing, it is good to hear details from an installer who is >>>> living with a Powerwall. We starting selling the Powerwall 2 in 2017 and >>>> have worked up a large pipeline. We have about 20 installed so far, but are >>>> still waiting on utility permission to operate which is taking a long time. >>>> We have spent a good deal of time commissioning and testing each system. >>>> For the most part, our experience has been good although the commissioning >>>> software and internet connectivity features have been buggy. Hopefully >>>> those are issues that will be ironed out by Tesla. Otherwise, we've had the >>>> systems correctly operate in on-grid and off-grid modes with both Solaredge >>>> and SunPower Equinox AC coupled systems. >>>> >>>> We installed conventional lead acid battery backup systems for over 10 >>>> years and I can confidently say that Tesla's Powerwall and Gateway setup >>>> is truly market-disruptive. The design flexibility of the Gateway setup, >>>> the small size, minimal labor to install, and performance blow other >>>> systems out of the water. I hope that other manufacturers are able to catch >>>> up with this type of design. >>>> >>>> Best, >>>> >>>> August >>>> >>>> *August Goers* >>>> >>>> Luminalt Energy Corporation >>>> >>>> o: 415.641.4000 <(415)%20641-4000> >>>> >>>> www.luminalt.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sat, Feb 10, 2018 at 12:23 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf < >>>> ma...@pvthawaii.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *Aloha Wrenches,* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *I thought I'd share my own experiences with the Powerwall as my >>>>> company is now launching a program to add PW to existing NEM systems since >>>>> the vast majority of them do not have storage which means that if the grid >>>>> goes down, so does their PV system. (With the exception of the SMA SB >>>>> line >>>>> and their Secure Power Supply.)* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *And no, I'm not a shill or toadie for Tesla.* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *marco * >>>>> >>>>> *I wanted to walk my own talk. Before we launched adding Powerwall to >>>>> existing Net Energy Metered solar electric systems, I wanted to make sure >>>>> that what was promised on paper would work in the real world. I added >>>>> Powerwall to my NEM system last year and have been monitoring and testing >>>>> it during normal grid-on and grid outage modes. And I’m very pleased to >>>>> report that Powerwall has performed flawlessly and as expected.* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *When used in a NEM system, Powerwall is programmed to be in “Backup” >>>>> mode. When utility power is on, Powerwall stands ready in a full state of >>>>> charge for any power outage. During normal grid-on conditions, my >>>>> Powerall >>>>> takes about .6 kilowatt-hours every other day to stay fully charged. Over >>>>> the course of the month, this Powerwall’s electricity consumption comes to >>>>> about 9 kWhs or about $3/month at the current HELCO R rate.* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *I have turned the utility power off to my home on a number of >>>>> occasions in order to experience how Powerwall would perform in a >>>>> simulated >>>>> grid outage. When the grid goes down, my house effectively becomes a >>>>> self-generating micro-grid. That is, my photovoltaic system (solar >>>>> modules >>>>> and inverters) and Powerwall (battery storage and integrated inverter) >>>>> form >>>>> a power grid with energy being created and stored and then consumed by my >>>>> electric loads.* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *Several things I noted from my simulated grid outages:* >>>>> >>>>> *· I purposefully overloaded Powerwall by turning on my >>>>> electric dryer and electric oven at the same time. As expected, since the >>>>> maximum output of Powerwall is 5 kilowatts, it shutdown. Meaning that all >>>>> the power in my house went off. Within seconds, Powerwall reset itself >>>>> and >>>>> the power came back on, with the dryer and oven having shut down after the >>>>> power went off. If power does not come back on after your Powerwall trips >>>>> off, you will need to turn off those high-power loads and reset Powerwall >>>>> by turning its black on-off switch, located on the right side of the unit, >>>>> from on to off and then on again. The important takeaway: during a >>>>> utility >>>>> outage, you will need to be careful as far as operating heavy electric >>>>> loads, especially 240 volt appliances both from the perspective of >>>>> overloading your Powerwall and rapidly drawing down the battery capacity, >>>>> especially at night.* >>>>> >>>>> *· The magic of frequency shifting. Without getting into too >>>>> much techno-talk, this is the story of frequency shifting. Normal utility >>>>> frequency is 60 hertz (Hz). PV inverters require the utility frequency to >>>>> be at or near 60 Hz in order to operate. During a grid outage, Powerwall >>>>> effectively establishes grid quality power (120/240 volts at 60 Hz), >>>>> allowing a micro grid to operate with solar providing power to your house >>>>> loads (during daylight hours) and charge Powerwall as needed. During the >>>>> day with the loads being met by your PV system and Powerwall being at or >>>>> near full state of charge (97-100 percent), Powerwall will shift the >>>>> frequency from 60 to 66 Hz in order to turn off the PV inverter(s). That >>>>> is, the PV inverter(s) see the frequency out of spec and shut down as >>>>> they’re expected and required to do. Why? Because with Powerwall at or >>>>> near full and the house loads being met, there’s nowhere for any >>>>> additional >>>>> solar generation to go. Powerwall will wait for its the state of charge >>>>> to >>>>> drop below 96-97 percent before shifting the frequency back to 60 Hz which >>>>> allows the PV system to restart and generate solar power again. This >>>>> frequency shifting can take place repeatedly over the course of the day >>>>> depending on load demands, solar potential and Powerwall state of charge >>>>> and is perfectly normal and does not damage the PV inverters.* >>>>> >>>>> *· **66 Hz and home appliances: when Powerwall is at 66 Hz, >>>>> some of your house loads may be affected. What I and other Powerwall >>>>> owners have noticed, while not a comprehensive list, can include: >>>>> electronic clocks running fast, motors sounding different (microwave, >>>>> washing machine, pumps), uninterruptible power sources (UPS) not charging >>>>> and going into back-up power mode, appliances having a computer behaving >>>>> unusually.* >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>>> >>>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>>>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>>>> >>>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>>> >>>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches. > org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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