Since winter set in and the returns from the solar panels hit the floor, I have noticed a tendency by folk to dismiss the concept of panels as being pointless if they cannot generate significant energy for weeks on end. I sigh a little before explaining to them that the way to approach this is to look at what is generated over a year. If that figure meets expectations then the investment should come up to scratch. So to the monthly update. Not a lot!
The snow has gone so the panels have returned to making the most of their incident light. But a persistent high pressure system over the UK laid a blanket of cloud that darkened the skies and I haven't gained a full daily unit since mid December. When the blanket shifted, in came a huge front that threatened to dump more snow on the panels. I will admit, I am surprised how low output has been over the solstice but since there so little light anyway, the loss isn't too great.
So to figures. Total generated is 1,771 units. I hope to make 2,480 by 18 May. The overall daily average is 7.63 units, edging close to the 6.85 figure that I want to beat by the system's anniversary. The 30-day average, once up at 15 is almost not worth bothering about - 0.63 units.
