I Have a New Hobby. A Battery.

My new hobby doesn’t take up much of my time each day, but it is enormously satisfying.

Usually, at about 10.55am, I open up my battery app and watch. I love seeing the energy from my solar panels flow into my battery instead of the grid.

But it’s when the clock hits 11am that the excitement really kicks in.

Suddenly, I see power from the grid flow into my battery – FOR FREE!

Okay, I don’t watch for the full three hours while the battery charges from the grid. To be honest, it gets a bit monotonous after a few minutes. It’s the changeover that’s exciting.

Suddenly, the green importing line comes alive. The numbers speed up. It feels strangely triumphant.

For years, it’s annoyed me that the energy generated by my solar panels earns me a pittance, while I’ve had to fork out a lot of money to my electricity provider for the power I buy from the grid. So unfair.

But not anymore. I’m happy to say.

Now the power I generate stays with me. And between 11am and 2pm each day, I get some of their power back for free to use through the rest of the day and night.

It’s amazing how satisfying that feels.

P.S. Remember that old argument about renewables not working when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow? I’ve had a water tank for years, so I’m able to have a drink when it’s not raining. Turns out storage for electricity works too. Funny that.