Case study: Energy savings from solar panels in Kent
A homeowner in Tonbridge, Kent, was facing rising energy bills, due to the high electricity demand of their household appliances and the cost of heating a swimming pool during the summer months. Their electricity costs had soared to over £450 a month, an unsustainable figure for the household.
Wanting to secure long-term energy savings, they chose Good Energy to install their solar panel and battery storage system in July 2024.
Key stats
- Solar panels: 27 430W solar panels
- Inverter: Enphase microinverter system
- Battery storage: 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall 3
- Annual generation:10,858 kWh
- Annual savings: £4,000
- Return on investment: 5-6 years
The challenge: A Kent home with electricity costs of over £450 a month
Our customer in Kent was feeling uncertain about their future energy prices, which had risen substantially during the energy crisis. With an energy-hungry swimming pool alongside the typical household appliances, their electricity costs were already over £450 a month – much more than they could comfortably budget for.
Our customer has a large property, with rooftops facing east, west and south – presenting a lot of opportunity to optimise solar energy generation throughout the day.
The solution: A bespoke solar and battery solution, reducing electricity costs by 70%
Good Energy carried out an in-depth assessment of energy consumption patterns, roof orientation, and available space at this Kent home. Based on this analysis, we designed and installed a bespoke solar panel system with the latest Tesla Powerwall 3 battery storage to meet the following goals:
1. Maximised solar energy production: With roof surfaces facing east, west, and south, we optimised the solar panel layout to capture sunlight throughout the day. This multi-directional approach ensures that the system generates energy from sunrise to sunset, capitalising on all available daylight hours.
2. Energy independence during the summer months: From April to September, the household is now able to generate enough solar power to cover nearly all of their energy needs, including the power required to heat the swimming pool. During these months, the property operates largely off-grid, reducing their monthly direct debit to £150 year-round, a saving of around £4,000 a year.
3. Battery storage for winter efficiency: To address the challenges of reduced solar generation during the winter months, we installed a 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall 3.
This system allows the customer to take advantage of smart energy tariffs, charging on a cheaper rate overnight and using the power during peak times throughout the day. By leveraging this off-peak charging strategy, the customer can power their home more affordably even when solar generation is lower.
4. Future-proofing against rising energy prices: The combination of solar energy and battery storage has given the homeowner greater control over their energy usage and costs. By minimising reliance on the grid and maximising self-consumption, the customer is now protected from volatile energy price increases in the future.
5. A vastly reduced carbon footprint: By using their own solar power, the household relies much less on electricity from the grid.
If you are facing rising energy costs and are looking for ways to reduce your household’s dependence on grid electricity, contact Good Energy for your free solar consultation. We’ll help you explore how solar power and battery storage can work for you.
