Hey everyone! I've been enjoying my solar battery backup system in Texas for a year now, but I've hit a snag. My energy provider charges me if I generate excess power, which means I can't sell it back to the grid like some folks do. I feel it's a bit frustrating to reach a full 100% battery by 11 AM and then basically have to stop generating power to avoid those charges. I'm looking for clever ideas to use that excess power to generate a little income after 11 AM! I've been considering a few options like crypto mining, 3D printing, and even installing a well to save on water bills. I'm open to investing a couple of thousand bucks in a new project, but I want something that doesn't require a heavy time commitment. Any other cool ideas I might be missing?
3 Answers
Wow, I can’t believe your energy provider charges for excess power! That’s wild. Depending on how much extra power you're generating, have you thought about shifting when you use appliances? That way, you might maximize your solar production and lower your grid usage. A giant setup for outdoor lighting that kicks on automatically when you hit those high storage levels could also be fun!
Great ideas! Maybe run the dishwasher or washing machine during those peak solar times.
There’s a Swiss company selling Bitcoin miners that double as space heaters. They're pretty quiet and can handle 1kW or more. This could be a cool way to utilize excess energy during winter months while keeping your home warm!
That’s ingenious! I love versatile tech.
This sounds perfect for winter! I might look into that.
You might want to check out the concept of a 'dump load,' which is typically used in wind systems but can work with solar too. Essentially, once your batteries are fully charged, your system can automatically use any excess power to run high-demand appliances like AC, heating, or even hot water systems. If you can set up an automated system, it could work well with your schedule. For example, I'm working on a system to heat water for a hot tub and greenhouses using my excess power!
That sounds like a great use of excess energy! I love the idea of heating greenhouses during winter.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into setting something like that up!
Right? It's a real bummer about the charges. Shifting usage sounds smart!