The result
A 27.60 kWp commercial solar installation designed to reduce electricity costs for an arable and pig farming business already generating renewable power from an on-site wind turbine.
The system is estimated to generate 21,259 kWh a year, deliver an approximate £3,596 financial benefit in year one and achieve a five-year payback.
At a glance
Location
Sector
Agriculture – arable & pig farming
System Size
27.60 kWp
Panels
60 × 460W AIKO Neostar
Battery Storage
Fox ESS 20kW T Series
Existing Use
Approx. 20,000 kWh
EST. Generation
21,259 kWh
Est. Year-one Benefit
Approx. £3,596
Est. Payback
5 years
Est. CO₂ Reduction
4,378 kg per year
Demand Covered
Approx. 45%
Est. solar used on site
Approx. 42%
The client’s objective
The farm was already generating renewable electricity from an on-site wind turbine, but was still using approximately 20,000 kWh of electricity from the grid each year.
The client wanted to reduce those remaining electricity costs and increase the amount of energy generated directly on site.
One important consideration was whether adding solar generation would affect the farm’s existing export arrangements for the wind turbine.
The Phase Energy solution
We designed a 27.60 kWp commercial solar PV system using 60 AIKO Neostar 460W panels.
The system was installed on a south-facing farm building close to an existing sub-main with suitable provision for the solar connection.
A Fox ESS 20kW T Series inverter was specified for the installation.
The system was sized around the farm’s existing energy consumption, with annual solar generation predicted to be broadly comparable with its existing annual electricity use.
Why the system was designed this way
The available south-facing roof provided a strong location for the solar array and was conveniently positioned close to the existing electrical infrastructure.
The system was designed around the farm’s electricity consumption rather than simply filling the maximum available roof area.
No DNO export restriction was recorded for the project.
Before installation, however, the client wanted reassurance that the presence of the existing wind turbine would not prevent the new solar installation from participating in the site’s existing export arrangements.
Phase Energy liaised directly with the client’s export provider, which confirmed that the solar generation could be accommodated. This gave the client the reassurance needed to proceed with the project.
Installation
The solar installation was completed over two days.
No significant physical installation challenges were recorded. The main issue to resolve was administrative rather than technical: confirming the export arrangements alongside the existing wind turbine before work went ahead.
Predicted energy and financial performance
Existing annual electricity use
Approx. 20,000 kWh
Estimated annual generation
21,259 kWh
Estimated electricity demand covered by solar
Approx. 45%
Estimated solar generation used on site
Approx. 42%
Estimated solar generation exported
Approx. 58%
Estimated year-one financial benefit
Approx. £3,596
Estimated payback
5 years
Estimated CO₂ reduction
4,378 kg per year
Although the predicted annual solar generation is slightly higher than the farm’s stated annual electricity use, much of the generation occurs at times when on-site demand is lower. The proposal therefore anticipates using approximately 42% of the solar electricity directly, with the remainder exported.
These are proposal-stage estimates rather than guarantees. Actual performance will depend on weather conditions, farming activity, electricity consumption and export tariffs.
Finance
The project was self-funded by the client.
Working alongside existing renewable generation
This project is slightly different from many commercial solar installations because the farm already had an operational wind turbine.
The solar system was therefore designed as an addition to an existing renewable-energy setup rather than a standalone first installation.
Phase Energy’s discussions with the existing export provider helped establish that the additional solar export could be accommodated before the client committed to the project.
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