An NGRE customer with an eye for a smart finish, opted for an in-roof PV system, creating a sleek, modern finish to his home’s new garages and office space.
Groundworks boss, Tom Wilson, from Hailey in Oxfordshire, moved into his current home last year and wanted to add a new PV system to help pay for a sizable electricity bill.
With the construction of the new garages and first floor office space came the opportunity, NGRE helping Tom integrate the new in-roof PV system into the build and subsequently a new GivEnergy battery storage system.
Tom said: “We moved-in in September and soon discovered our electricity bills were massive. We’ve got single glazing and electric heaters and I wanted to reduce the bills.
“I wanted the panels as flush as we could and so this in-roof system was ideal.”
He added: “We’ve got the panels on the bottom of the roof in a line with 600mm of slate each side and Veluxes above. It looks really smart.”
In-roof Vs On-roof
While a conventional solar array is mounted on top of an existing roof, an in-roof array replaces that section of roof-covering, with a purpose-made, water-proof frame fixed to the roof battens. The PV panels are then fixed flush with the tiles or other roof-covering around them.
Not only do in-roof systems provide an elegant, flush finish, they are compatible with all roof coverings, customers are able to offset the cost of the system as tiles or other roof coverings are not needed underneath, and they are able to choose from virtually all PV panels on the market as in-roof systems use the same panels as on-roof systems.
NGRE fitted a GSE In-roof System to Tom’s project, one of the most popular on the market. As well as the conventional rectangle configuration, the GSE mounting system provides scope for other panel configurations such as ‘T’ shape, ‘U’ shape or pyramid, panels can be mounted landscape or portrait, the system can be seamlessly integrated with Velux windows and features air gaps under the panel to assist with cooling.
Very Similar Price
NGRE managing director, Greg Bishop, said: “An in-roof system makes most sense for a new build, extension or roof renovation project as opposed to a standard retrofit project, although that can be done.
“The cost of both systems are very similar. In Tom’s case, the in-roof system came out slightly more expensive than a conventional retro-fit array but then you have to factor in the savings he has made through reduced slate.
“It looks really nice and he’s really pleased with it.”
The PV System
Tom’s new in-roof system comprises 9, high performance 375w LG solar panels (3.375kWp) estimated to provide annual energy of 3,078 kWh. The panels are some of the best on the market and are guaranteed to provide more than 90% of their original performance after 25 years. The array is connected to a 3kW SolarEdge inverter with optimisers.
The Battery Storage System
Since the installation of his in-roof PV system, Tom has decided to take his investment one step further, employing NGRE to install a GivEnergy battery storage system. Tom’s new GivEnergy battery storage system consists of an 8.2kWh Lithium battery with a 3kW AC Coupled inverter.
Tom added: “I wanted to be able to use as much of the energy we produce as possible.”
The GivEnergy storage system is designed to maximise Tom and his family’s self-consumption and by smartly managing their PV system, so that they can use as much clean, self-generated energy as they can and pay for as little energy as possible from their supplier.
Using a variety of modes, the system is able to store excess energy from the PV system not used at home and either use it in the evening or at night, at particular times when buying energy is expensive, or sell it back to the grid for profit. If used with flexible tariffs, such as Agile Octopus, the system can also be charged from the grid at times when electricity is cheap and even charge from the grid during ‘price plunge’ events where users are actually paid to use energy.
NGRE
And why NGRE?
Tom said: “Compared with other companies that I contacted, Greg seems to have that personal touch which I really appreciated.”
Greg said: “Customers like the way we come out to visit in person and give honest advice.”
Are you interested?
If you’re interested taking advantage of the benefits a solar PV system, in-roof or on-roof, and/or a battery storage system, fill out our contact form, and one of our experienced team will be in touch.
NGRE specialise in the supply of the latest renewable solutions for architects, builders and homeowners in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas and have more than 10 years’ experience. We are MSC accredited installers of solar PV systems which all come with a 25-year warranty.
GivEnergy inverters come with a standard 10-year warranty and GivEnergy batteries come with a standard 10-year standard warranty or a throughput of 10MWh per 1kWh stored capacity (whichever comes first).