Building a new home is one of the best opportunities to get solar right from the outset. This project in Wantage saw us installing a full solar and storage system across a development of new-build properties, meaning homeowners will be generating their own electricity from the moment they move in.
Specifying solar at the build stage avoids the disruption and additional cost of retrofitting later, and allows the system to be properly integrated with the property’s electrical setup from the start.
System highlights
- 32 x Trina Vertex S+ 445W panels
- Total capacity: 14.24 kWp
- 1 x SolarEdge HomeHub 10kW three-phase inverter
- 3 x SolarEdge 4.6kWh home batteries (13.8kWh total storage)
- 1 x SolarEdge three-phase backup interface
What does this mean in practice?
The system is estimated to generate between 55 and 65kWh on a good summer’s day, 30 to 45kWh in spring and autumn, and 6 to 12kWh in winter. For a typical household, that covers an estimated 85 to 95% of electricity demand in summer, 55 to 75% in spring and autumn, and 25 to 40% in winter.
With 13.8kWh of battery storage, surplus solar generated during the day is available for use in the evening, significantly reducing what needs to be drawn from the grid. The batteries are also compatible with off-peak tariffs, allowing them to be charged overnight at lower cost and discharged during peak hours. The backup interface means the system can continue to supply power to essential circuits during a grid outage, giving homeowners an additional layer of resilience.
The DC-optimised SolarEdge architecture ensures each panel performs independently, so shading or variation across the roof does not drag down the output of the whole array.
New build properties qualify for zero-rated VAT on solar installations. For developers and self-builders, incorporating solar at the planning stage also has the potential to add between 4 and 14% to the value of the finished property.
Building a new property or working with a developer? Get in touch to find out how to make solar part of the plan from day one.
