Domestic Solar PV & Battery Installation in Draycote | KLP
A carefully designed solar PV and battery storage system, prepared for a future air source heat pump installation
The Project
KLP Electrical & Renewables recently completed a domestic solar PV and battery storage installation at a four-bedroom property in Draycote, in the Cotswolds.
The homeowners wanted to generate more of their own electricity, reduce their reliance on the grid and prepare the property for a planned air source heat pump installation.
Rather than designing the system solely around the home’s current electricity consumption, we looked at how its energy requirements are likely to change in the future.
This allowed us to design a solar and battery system that works for the property today while also preparing it for a more energy-efficient, all-electric future.
The Challenge
The property had a good south-facing roof, making it well suited to solar generation. However, the available roof space needed to be carefully designed around two existing Velux windows.
The roof was also covered with thin concrete tiles, which required additional care during installation.
Another important consideration was the cable route.
The battery system was being installed inside the garage, while the solar array was positioned on the rear roof of the property. There was no straightforward external route between the two areas, and the garage only had a suitable external wall at the front of the house.
This meant the cable route had to be carefully planned as part of the overall design to achieve a neat, practical and unobtrusive installation.
The Solution
KLP Electrical & Renewables installed 9 × Jinko 480W solar panels, providing a total solar PV capacity of 4.32kWp.
The panels were mounted using a K2 roof mounting system, with the layout carefully positioned around the two Velux windows and the existing roof structure.
For energy conversion and storage, we installed an all-in-one Fox ESS EVO system, incorporating:
- 5kW inverter
- 10kWh battery storage
The cable route was also incorporated into the system design, allowing the solar array and battery to be connected while keeping the finished installation as discreet and tidy as possible.
Solar PV & Battery System Specification
Designing the Solar System for Future Energy Demand
One of the most important aspects of this project was the homeowners’ plan to install an air source heat pump.
A heat pump will introduce an additional electrical load to the property, particularly during the colder months when heating demand is highest.
We therefore deliberately considered this future electricity demand when designing the solar PV system.
At present, the property is exporting a significant proportion of its solar generation back to the grid.
In this case, that is not necessarily a disadvantage.
Once the air source heat pump is installed, more of that locally generated solar electricity can potentially be used within the home, helping to offset some of the electricity required to provide heating and hot water.
The 10kWh battery adds further flexibility by allowing surplus solar generation to be stored and used later when the solar panels are producing less electricity.
The result is a system designed not just around how the home uses energy today, but around how that energy consumption is likely to develop.
Preparing for an All-Electric Home
The way homes use electricity is changing.
Solar panels were once primarily installed to reduce daytime grid consumption. Today, many homeowners are also considering technologies such as:
- Battery storage
- Air source heat pumps
- Electric vehicles
- Smart EV charging
- Increased electrical heating loads
Planning these technologies together can help homeowners make better use of the renewable electricity generated by their property.
For this Draycote installation, the combination of 4.32kWp solar PV and 10kWh battery storage provides a strong foundation for the planned heat pump installation.
As the property becomes increasingly electrified, more of the energy generated by the solar panels can potentially be consumed directly within the home.
The Result
The completed installation provides the homeowners with a 4.32kWp south-facing solar PV system and 10kWh of battery storage, while also preparing the property for its next stage of energy efficiency.
The current level of electricity export is part of the overall design strategy, with additional on-site electricity demand expected once the air source heat pump is installed.
By combining solar PV, battery storage and future low-carbon heating, the property will be able to generate more of its own electricity and make better use of renewable energy within the home.
Despite the challenges presented by the roof layout, Velux windows, thin concrete tiles and cable routing, the completed installation provides a clean and carefully planned system that can adapt as the household’s energy requirements change.
Solar PV & Battery Storage in the Cotswolds
At KLP Electrical & Renewables, we design and install domestic solar PV and battery storage systems for homes across the Cotswolds, Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour and surrounding areas.
Every installation is designed around the individual property and the way its occupants use energy.
Importantly, we also consider how those requirements may change in the future — whether through the installation of an air source heat pump, electric vehicle charger or additional battery storage.
Considering Solar Panels and Battery Storage for Your Home?
If you are considering solar PV, battery storage or preparing your home for an air source heat pump, KLP Electrical & Renewables can help design a system around both your current and future energy requirements.
Get in touch with KLP Electrical & Renewables to discuss solar PV and battery storage for your property.
