Project Overview
Redhill Services returned to a previous EV charger customer on Dereham Road to install solar PV and battery storage. The homeowner wanted to generate their own electricity and store enough energy to support a future air source heat pump.
The project combined 10 solar panels, providing 4.4kWp of installed capacity, with 20kWh of battery storage. The design also allows the customer to store cheaper grid electricity when available through a suitable EV or heat pump tariff.
Challenges
- Retrofitting solar panels onto an existing slate roof.
- Accommodating substantial battery storage within the limited space of a mid-terrace property.
- Sheltering the outdoor equipment from direct sunlight.
- Connecting the consumer unit at the front of the property to the inverter and batteries in the rear garden.
- Preparing for the additional electricity demand of a future air source heat pump.
Our Solution
- Slate Roof Mounting: We used slate hooks with the Genius flashing system to retrofit the solar panels without needing to remove the existing slates.
- Solar Generation: We installed 10 panels with a combined capacity of 4.4kWp, providing renewable electricity for use in the home.
- Large Battery Storage: We fitted 20kWh of storage to retain solar generation and cheaper grid electricity for later use, with the customer’s future heating plans in mind.
- Compact Equipment Layout: We arranged the batteries and inverter vertically to make the most of the available space, adding a purpose-built cover to shelter the equipment from direct sunlight.
- Cable Routing: We routed cabling up the front elevation, across the roof and down the rear elevation to connect the front consumer unit with the garden installation.
Outcome
The homeowner now has solar generation and substantial battery storage within the constraints of a mid-terrace property.
The system gives them flexibility to store solar energy and take advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs, while preparing for a future air source heat pump. Careful equipment positioning and cable routing made the installation possible despite limited space and the distance between the consumer unit and rear garden.
