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This system consists of 16 roof mounted 400W REC Pure Alpha panels and 6 wall mounted 400W Sunpower high efficiency panels for a total of 8.8kW of generation. There are also 2 inverters and 5 5.8kWh batteries to maximise the off-grid power available all year round and minimise dependency on the grid.
Zappi car charger and inverter
This small system was installed to help the customer meet the new build EPC values, but it was also designed to allow fitting more generation in future.
1kW was fitted on this slate garage roof initially, with capacity for 4.5kW total, and a Zappi car charger was fitted to use the extra solar to charge the customers Tesla EV.
Even though this is the smallest system we’ve fitted to date, it’s still having an impact on the overall consumption of the property, and the environment.
A set of solar panels connected together is known as a ‘string’ – and what affects one panel in the string (eg shade from a tree) can affect them all, like a blockage in a garden hose. So what if you can’t get all your panels on one roof, or you have two rooves facing different directions, can you still get your system to perform at it’s best?
One solution is to use a separate inverter, known as a microinverter, on every panel so that each panel works independently. This will work fine but can add extra expense and complexity to the system, and if all of the panels are facing the same direction it’s not really necessary.
A better solution is often to use a dual input inverter, allowing you to split the system into two separate strings, so that if one set of panels is in shade during parts of the day, or if it’s facing a different direction, it won’t affect the other – and in the unlikely event a panel becomes faulty you still have the rest of the system producing at maximum efficiency.
Myenergi Eddi smart hot water energy diverter
In this example the split-level roof meant the dual input inverter was perfect to separate the two sets of panels, so that both strings would work independently at their optimum power output throughout the day, and maximise the roof space available.
We also fitted a 5.8kWh battery and Eddi hot water diverter to squeeze the most out of the power produced, and as a result the customer’s grid consumption has dropped on average by more than 90%. Plus the Eddi will save on gas to heat their hot water too, so it’s a win-win.
Another tidy install! 🙂
According to new data from MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) – the national standards body for renewables – solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on British homes equates to 3GW of electricity for the UK grid for the first time ever last year.
This represents £20billion, the estimated cost of construction for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, which will have an energy output of 3.2GW. With installation numbers soaring, the MCS installation database predicts that solar PV will surpass the Suffolk reactor’s output by spring this year.
The data also shows that, in 2021, 61,320 UK properties had solar panels installed – an increase of 71% on the previous year (35,841*). This takes the total number of ‘sunny roofed’ residential properties to one million, according to the Solar Energy UK.
Solar PV installation in the UK
Ian Rippin, chief executive of MCS, said: “The rate at which domestic solar PV systems are being installed is hugely positive and shows continued confidence in home-grown energy.
“Consumers are increasingly keen to invest in low-carbon technology for the home because installation costs are falling as energy prices soar. Behavioural changes brought about during the pandemic also continue to influence the purchasing decision.
“Every homeowner should feel empowered to find the right renewable energy technology to power their homes, particularly given the long-term economic and environmental benefits. These include saving money and the environment, adding value to their homes, and supporting the businesses that are certified to install them.”
Kevin McCann, policy manager at Solar Energy UK, added: “The MCS-accredited solar market is flying, with more than 61,000 installations in 2021. This shouldn’t be a surprise: solar is a proven way to cut costs and lower carbon emissions. We expect changes in building regulations and investment in sustainability to continue to drive uptake.”
MCS is a quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It provides the framework for the certification of microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from low-carbon sources.
The MCS also recently launched its industry-first Battery Installation Standard, which outlines the requirements for MCS certified installers who supply, design, and install electrical energy storage or battery systems. It covers installations up to 50kW and Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS) classes 1 – 4.
*Rate of installations impacted by Covid-19
This week chancellor Rishi Sunak announced cutting VAT to zero upon installing energy efficient systems such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation, but what does this mean for the price of an install?
Although installers will still pay VAT on the materials they fit, the VAT on the installation will be reduced to zero, meaning the price of an average installation will be around £1,000 cheaper, which is a big deal. This reduction is currently planned to last for the next 5 years and applies to batteries as well as solar panels, so will make a significant impact on the cost of going green and reducing electricity bills. Mr Sunak went on to say “A family having a solar panel installed will see tax savings worth over £1,000 and savings on their energy bill of over £300 per year.” however with a battery installed we believe the average household will save at least £500 per year and potentially much more.
This is great news for anyone considering using solar PV to reduce their bills, it’s a good way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and a good thing for the environment, so we say bravo Rishi!