Commercial Solar PV, Battery Storage & EV Charging in Willersey, the Cotswolds
Helping a local landscaping business reduce energy costs with an integrated solar PV, battery storage and EV charging system.
The Project
KLP Electrical & Renewables recently completed a commercial renewable energy installation for Hortlands, a long-standing client and landscaping company based in Willersey in the Cotswolds.
With an office supporting up to 10 people, five air conditioning units providing heating and cooling, and regular business travel to the company’s London office, Hortlands has significant ongoing electricity demand.
The business wanted to reduce its reliance on grid-supplied electricity, make better use of its available roof space and prepare for the transition to electric vehicles.
Rather than treating solar PV, battery storage and EV charging as separate technologies, we designed an integrated renewable energy system around the company’s day-to-day energy requirements.
The Challenge
Hortlands has consistent daytime electricity demand from its busy office, alongside five air conditioning units used for heating and cooling throughout the year.
The company also travels to London at least three times a week and is transitioning towards electric vehicles.
This created an ideal opportunity to turn the commercial building into its own energy hub — generating electricity on the roof, using that electricity within the office, storing surplus power and supporting EV charging.
Rather than designing the solar PV system in isolation, we considered how each part of the installation could work together to maximise the value of the electricity generated on site.
The Solution
KLP Electrical & Renewables installed a 12.22kWp commercial solar PV system, consisting of:
- 26 × 470W JA Solar panels
- 12kW Sigenergy inverter
- 6kWh battery storage
- 22kW EV charger
- K2 solar mounting system
The 26 solar panels were installed on the existing south-facing metal sheet roof, providing an excellent orientation for solar generation.
The array is connected to a 12kW Sigenergy inverter with 6kWh of battery storage, alongside a 22kW EV charger integrated into the overall energy system.
This allows intelligent management of electricity between the solar array, battery storage, office demand, EV charging and the electricity grid.
Making Better Use of Solar Energy
One of the main benefits of an integrated solar and battery installation is the ability to make better use of the electricity generated by the building.
During the working day, electricity produced by the solar panels can be used directly by the office, helping to reduce electricity purchased from the grid.
When generation exceeds immediate demand, surplus electricity can be stored within the battery for later use or directed towards charging the company’s electric vehicle.
As Hortlands transitions to an EV for its regular London journeys, the business has the opportunity to use more of its own solar-generated electricity for transport rather than simply exporting surplus energy back to the grid.
For a business with substantial daytime energy consumption and planned EV usage, combining commercial solar PV, battery storage and EV charging provides a far more complete renewable energy solution.
Early Solar Generation Results
The early monitoring results demonstrate how quickly the system has started generating useful electricity.
In just two monitored days, the solar PV array generated a total of 77.3kWh of electricity:
- 2 October: 39.6kWh
- 3 October: 37.7kWh
During the same period, the EV charger delivered 26.36kWh of electricity:
- 2 October: 15.87kWh
- 3 October: 10.49kWh
The system is already distributing solar-generated electricity across the office, battery storage and EV charging, helping Hortlands make greater use of the renewable electricity produced on site.
These figures cover only the first few days of operation and should not be considered an indication of expected annual performance.
They do, however, demonstrate how the system is already responding to the building’s electricity demand and EV charging requirements.
Why Commercial Solar Works for Hortlands
Hortlands has several characteristics that make it particularly well suited to commercial solar PV.
The business has:
- Significant daytime electricity consumption
- Five air conditioning units providing heating and cooling
- A large south-facing roof suitable for solar PV
- Regular business travel to London
- An electric vehicle being introduced into the business
- The ability to consume a significant proportion of generated electricity directly on site
Together, these factors make solar PV, battery storage and EV charging an effective combination.
Instead of viewing each system independently, they work together to give Hortlands greater control over when and how electricity is generated, stored and consumed.
This can help the business reduce its reliance on grid-supplied electricity while supporting its transition towards electric vehicles.
The Result
The completed installation gives Hortlands an integrated renewable energy system specifically designed around the way the business operates.
With 12.22kWp of solar PV, 6kWh of battery storage and a 22kW EV charger, the installation can generate electricity, store surplus energy and support electric vehicle charging from one connected system.
Early monitoring recorded 77.3kWh of solar generation across just two days, demonstrating the potential of the company's south-facing commercial roof.
As Hortlands continues its transition towards electric vehicles, the installation will provide further opportunities to use its own renewable electricity for both the operation of the business and regular business travel.
Commercial Solar PV Installation by KLP Electrical & Renewables
At KLP Electrical & Renewables, we design and install commercial solar PV, battery storage and EV charging systems tailored around the individual requirements of each business.
We work with commercial customers across the Cotswolds, Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour and surrounding areas.
Every installation starts with understanding the building, its current electricity consumption and how its energy requirements may change in the future.
For Hortlands, this meant designing a system capable of supporting existing office demand while also preparing the business for increased electric vehicle usage.
Considering Commercial Solar PV for Your Business?
If you are considering commercial solar panels, battery storage or EV charging for your business, speak to KLP Electrical & Renewables.
We can assess your property, electricity usage and future requirements and design a renewable energy system built around the way your business actually uses energy.
Get in touch with KLP Electrical & Renewables to discuss your commercial solar PV requirements.
