Solar Panels MH

Back in 2011, we liked the idea of generating our own electricity, and looked into photovoltaic arrays.  We could not have a roof-mounted system because our home has a thatched roof. We therefore decided to build a mounting platform on the bank of our northern boundary as it had a good southerly aspect and the solar array would not affect the view of the house.

We found a local installer, Patrick Criddle of Lightwork Solar (now Lightwork Energy).  Under his leadership, his team installed a Suntech 3.92kWp system which was connected to a Sunnyboy PV inverter that was neatly located in an adjacent shed.  Fortunately, the shed was already connected to the electrical system in our house so we avoided the cost of providing a new connection.  

PV solar panels were much more expensive in 2011 than they are now, and the PV system cost £9,975 at that time. The system would be much cheaper today, but the feed-in tariffs of the time justified the expenditure.  

The installation was completed very quickly and efficiently in November 2011.  In the following five years up to 15th December 2016, it produced 16,821 kWh of electricity, which is approximately 3,364 kWh per annum.  The MCS installer certificate dated 22/11/2011 predicted that the system would produce an estimated annual generation of 3,365 kWh which is impressively close to the actual average annual generation during the subsequent five years.  By December 2020, the system had produced 29,871 kWh of electricity.

We do not currently have any battery storage for the surplus electricity that is generated, but we shall be monitoring the situation in the future, especially if we have any power-cuts over the next few years.