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I installed a small solar rooftop array (3.6kW) and a small residential storage battery (8kWh) in my home in 2017. The battery charges whenever there's excess photovoltaic production during the day, and discharges whenever I consume more electricity than I produce (particularly overnight). … View moreI installed a small solar rooftop array (3.6kW) and a small residential storage battery (8kWh) in my home in 2017. The battery charges whenever there's excess photovoltaic production during the day, and discharges whenever I consume more electricity than I produce (particularly overnight). Most of the year that works well enough to keep my home's power consumption almost constant between 1 and 1.5kWh per day, rain or shine, peak or off-peak, summer or winter. However, when I get a few days in a row with overcast, cloudy or stormy weather and little solar production, the battery eventually runs flat, and I have to use power from the grid. Initially I didn't care when that happened, as I was paying the same price per kWh all day and year round.
That changed in 2020, with the introduction of time-of-use pricing by both my lines company Northpower and my electricity retailer Ecotricity. The differences were minimal at first, but since then they've been increasing every April 1st, depending on the time of day and day of the week. That opened up an opportunity to make my battery work better for me and the grid during those times of low solar production. Over the last few weeks, with more rainy and cloudy weather hitting Northland, I've been charging up the battery from the grid at night (more or less, depending on the solar production forecast for the following day), so that it discharges during the day and - together with whatever little solar power is produced - keeps the heat pump running at a cozy 21 degrees. That has three distinct advantages. First, it shifts my electricity demand to the night period when ample generation is available and also "cleanest" (i.e. with the highest percentage of renewable generation, usually well above 90%, according to Transpower's live data). It also keeps my grid demand low during peak periods (like 5:30pm to 8pm, when everybody comes home, cooks dinner, runs the heaters, plugs in the EV and so on, which causes a huge spike in electricity demand), because I'm running on stored battery power. And finally, it even saves me money, because due to the time-of-use pricing I only pay 22c/kWh for the off-peak overnight energy to charge my battery and avoid the more expensive peak (38c/kWh) and shoulder (32c/kWh) time periods.
What I'm doing here is basically what Lake Onslow would do on a grand scale - smoothening out the demand on the grid, by storing energy during periods of ample generation and releasing it during peak usage periods. I have no idea if lots of us doing it at the household level, like me, would be better than doing it at grid scale, like pumped hydro - that is a question for the engineers and scientists to answer. Certainly our increasing number of obese luxury EVs could help with doing it at home, while they're parked and plugged in. That way their oversized batteries (often chosen due to our range anxiety and a profound misunderstanding of how an EV works and drives) would at least do some good.
You can argue that I'm only able to do this because I'm retired and have the time to educate myself and look into all of this, and that nobody who's leading a "busy life" would bother with that or inconvenience themselves - and you'd be right. However, there's no reason that what I'm doing manually at the moment couldn't be done by a bit of smart tech, maybe even powered by some good AI, and help us all smoothen out our electricity demand, keep our grid healthy (and us warm and dry), avoid having to overbuild generation capacity and invest more just to satisfy high demand in short peak periods, and make electrification a bit easier and more affordable for all of us. I think this is the kind of "good green tech" that would have a place in a degrowth world.
Switch up your place with fresh new looks that are high on impact and low on cost with Resene paints.
We know the spots in summer for beaching, camping and warm nights. But which NZ town really comes into its own during winter? Whether it's based on the activities, the beauty of the town or places to wine and dine, share your thoughts and reasons below!
Type 'Not For Print' if you… View moreWe know the spots in summer for beaching, camping and warm nights. But which NZ town really comes into its own during winter? Whether it's based on the activities, the beauty of the town or places to wine and dine, share your thoughts and reasons below!
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
Long weekend coming up... do you have enough beds and bedding for the family & friends visiting?
Choosing a mattress can be a difficult and scary task, but enduring a sleepless night can be far worse. Buying a new mattress doesn't always have to be a skeptical journey, all it takes is a few tips and turns to switch your restless nights into a blissful experience. Our "A to Z Tips for… View moreChoosing a mattress can be a difficult and scary task, but enduring a sleepless night can be far worse. Buying a new mattress doesn't always have to be a skeptical journey, all it takes is a few tips and turns to switch your restless nights into a blissful experience. Our "A to Z Tips for Buying a New Mattress" provides you with the information and confidence to select a mattress that encourages rejuvenation and revitalization. Say goodbye to restless nights and wake up to a world of comfort and relaxation with the perfect mattress selected using the tips provided in this useful guide.
Some of the best hockey players in the Southern Hemisphere will face off in Whangārei this August for a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 🏑
Our Venues and Events team have been working with Hockey Northland and secured hosting rights for Oceania Cup matches: both the mens' and … View moreSome of the best hockey players in the Southern Hemisphere will face off in Whangārei this August for a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 🏑
Our Venues and Events team have been working with Hockey Northland and secured hosting rights for Oceania Cup matches: both the mens' and womens' Vantage Black Sticks vs Australia's Kookaburras Men and Hockeyroos Women.
And there's a special prize for the winning teams: they will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics! Can the Vantage Black Sticks Women defend their 2019 championship?
Our Venues and Events Manager Bea Mossop says:
"The Vantage Black Sticks Men and Women teams will be out and
about in the community during the week, visiting schools and offering things like Skills Sessions to young players."
These matches will be held on Thursday 10, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August at the ITM Hockey Centre in Kensington.
Match fixtures and tickets:
www.blacksticksnz.co.nz...
Dear neighbours, every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of reader recipes using a seasonal crop. This month, we're on the hunt for spring salad recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by July 23, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the September issue of NZ Gardener.
There are some things that just never get old. Grab your retro outfit at the Red Cross shop in Whangārei and share a photo in our FB community Group to be in the draw to win a $25 Red Cross Voucher.
Super cheap mattress, ideal for spare room, holiday home, kids rooms etc. Easy to take home (Queen fits easily in a Suzuki Swift or Mazda Demio). Plus with prices this low, they fit easily into the budget.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Red Cross shop in Dargaville please call us on 09 439 5583 or email us at shop.dargaville@redcross.org.nz or come in and see us at 48 Victoria Street in Dargaville.
There are some things that never get old. Grab your retro outfit at Red Cross in Dargaville - share a photo in our FB community Group to be in the draw to win a $25 Red Cross shop Voucher.
This July we have your chance to win a share of over $5,000 in New World gift vouchers! Simply grab your local newspaper, throw on your thinking cap, and complete the daily puzzle to be in to win.
Beginning on July 3, we will be placing a puzzle in your newspaper each day for a month. Complete … View moreThis July we have your chance to win a share of over $5,000 in New World gift vouchers! Simply grab your local newspaper, throw on your thinking cap, and complete the daily puzzle to be in to win.
Beginning on July 3, we will be placing a puzzle in your newspaper each day for a month. Complete all 28 puzzles for a higher chance to WIN. Once you’ve figured it out, head over to stuff.co.nz/puzzletime to enter the solution and be in to win.
To find out more about participating newspapers, click here
Beware folks. Received the below txt message & was pretty certain it was a scam.
Logged into my IRD account & no such message/tax refund existed. Blocked & deleted.
"After further review, you are due a tax refund. Please visit and enter your details to process your payment at: … View moreBeware folks. Received the below txt message & was pretty certain it was a scam.
Logged into my IRD account & no such message/tax refund existed. Blocked & deleted.
"After further review, you are due a tax refund. Please visit and enter your details to process your payment at: ird-gov-nz.line.pm...
The club meeting starts at 1.30 pm. Doors open 1.15pm. Meet at the Riverbank Centre, Reyburn House Lane, Town Basin, Whangarei
We've had such an amazing response to Bright Spots that we've decided to extend it for another week!
Now that it's the school holidays, why not get the kids or grandkids involved!
Celebrate the most colourful, quirky and joyful places in your community by snapping a photo or … View moreWe've had such an amazing response to Bright Spots that we've decided to extend it for another week!
Now that it's the school holidays, why not get the kids or grandkids involved!
Celebrate the most colourful, quirky and joyful places in your community by snapping a photo or two of a Bright Spot and sharing it here. There are 10 prizes of $250 Resene ColorShop vouchers and $250 Prezzy® cards up for grabs so you can create your own Bright Spot!
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