Solarsense

The historical Bristol Zoo Gardens is a sensitive site which required a careful planning application. As part of the Solarsense specification process the system was designed with ultra-low reflection textured glass all-black panels. A bespoke edge baffle was also engineered to seamlessly bring the edges of the array down to meet the roof.

The zoo has calculated that the system will pay for itself within seven years, and should go on generating for at least another 20.

System size:
46.92kWp

Estimated annual output:
37,929kWh

Annual CO2 emission savings:
21.5 tonnes

Worthy Farm was the UK’s largest family owned solar PV system at its commissioning in 2010. Installed on a commercial cow shed the system helps to offset the dairy farm’s energy use. Worthy Farm’s owner, Michael Eavis, has since returned to Solarsense for an additional 50kWp system.

System size:
249.84kWp

Estimated annual output:
235,099kWh

Annual CO2 emmission savings:
133.5 tonnes

Click the video below to watch a short film of the day the system was switched on.

Specified in partnership with the lead architects, the NCC system was delivered to ensure the site became one of the first industrial buildings in UK to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

System size:
138.46kWp

Estimated annual output:
128,746kWp

Annual CO2 emmissions savings:
71.58 tonnes

The Tobacco Factory’s PV system contributes over 33% of the Theatre’s total energy requirements, demonstrating the effectiveness of solar PV even when roof space is limited.

Not only will it reduce carbon emissions and save the owners money, the system demonstrates the theatre’s leadership within the arts sector and educates audiences, visitors and staff alike about the benefits and possibilities of carbon reduction.

System size:
25.76kWp

First year generation:
24,230kWh

Annual CO2 emmission savings:
12.82 tonnes

The Energy Management Unit at Bristol City Council chose Solarsense as installation partner for their city-wide Bristol Solar Schools project, thought to be the largest local authority solar energy programme for schools.

Installed in just five months, systems ranged from four to 50kWp saving an estimated £60,000 and 280 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Total system size:
568kWp

Estimated annual output:
>500,000kWh

Annual CO2 emission savings:
>280 tonnes

Although often discounted due to the asbestos content of the roofs, the owners of this older industrial unit now benefit from an additional income stream and reduced bills. The module frame was ‘stitched’ to the outer metal sheeting of the roof and the cables were routed to avoid any disturbance to the asbestos.  A certificate of Lawful Development was granted by Bristol City Council.

System size:
44.64kWp

First year generation:
37,780kWh

Annual CO2 savings:
20 tonnes

The former Winsford Cottage Hospital in West Devon was designed by CFA Voysey, leading architect of the Arts & Craft Movement, and is a fine example of the movement's architecture. It is his only building still in public ownership and remains almost entirely as it was when it opened in 1900.

Since being closed by the NHS in 1999 the building was transformed into a community centre serving the local community, however its central heating was too costly to operate regularly. Like many building owners, rising costs of oil and gas were a major concern and the project managers looked to renewable energy for alternatives. 

Now Solarsense have installed a wood pellet boiler as part of the £1.5 million restoration programme. The 70kW biomass boiler has been installed in the existing boiler room, with the wood pellet fuel stored in the adjacent original coal store and automatically blown into a hopper feeding the boiler. Not only is the new heating system environmentally-friendly and much cheaper to run but it can be switched on and off remotely using a smart phone. 

If you are a building owner interested in reducing your overheads please give us a call to discuss how renewable energy can help protect you from continuing energy price rises and shrink your carbon footprint.

As one of the largest solar thermal installations in the UK, the Bristol Lido solar project won ‘Best Renewable Energy Scheme’ at the 2009 Regen SW Green Energy Awards.

As part of a major refurbishment project, more than 800 Thermomax vacuum tubes were installed on the roof and the sun’s energy is now used to heat water for the 24 metre swimming pool, hot tub and showers, as well as heating the building itself.

Although a Grade II listed building Solarsense were able to work with the refurbishment team to breathe new life into this iconic buidling.

Mr and Mrs Z had a 10 year old Solar Thermal system and the pressure kept dropping. Solarsense installed a new Kingspan Thermomax HP200 manifold and 30 new evacuated tubes, as well as a new Resol controller and expansion vessel. 

The couple also decided to take advantage of the Feed-in Tariff for Solar PV, with a 3.8kWp installation. Comprising 16 Moser Baer high performance polycrystalline modules and a Sunny Boy SB3800 inverter from SMA, the array will produce around 3,372 kWh of electricity every year and save over 1700 kg of CO2 emissions annually.

Solarsense installed a 3.84 kWp Solar PV system on the low roof of this bungalow in Winterbourne in 2011. Due to the nature of the roof, which is not only low but a very low pitch, it had a history of occasional leaks, so Solarsense added brush strips along the bottom and sides of the array to prevent driving rain.

The array, comprising 16 Moser Baer 240Wp polycrystalline solar modules and a Sunny Boy 3800V inverter from SMA, will yield over 3,200 kWh of electricity each year, and save around 1687 kg of CO2 emissions annually.

Mr W and Ms S wanted a Solar Thermal system to provide their hot water, but lacked an appropriate roof space to install the system. Solarsense installed a ground mounted array instead, comprising a manifold of 20 Thermomax HP200 tubes which sits next to the vegetable patch of their farmhouse cottage near Taunton.

Mr B opted for both Solar PV and Solar Thermal for his home in an old school building, a large old detached property near Stroud. Solarsense installed a manifold of 20 Thermomax HP 200 evacuated tubes and a 210 litre twin coil hot water cylinder from Newark Copper Cylinders.

The PV engineers then installed a 2.16kWp array, comprising 12 high performance polycrystalline modules from British manufacturers Romag, and a Sunny Boy SB2000HF inverter from SMA.

With a predicted annual energy yield of 1836 kWh, the array saves almost 9500 kg of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere every year. 

Solarsense installed a 30 tube solar thermal system at Mr M's modern house in Llandenny, Usk. The pipes from tubes are hidden above the vaulted ceilings and run to a 250 litre, twin-coil pressurised cylinder. The system provides virtually all their hot water requirements from April to November and around 30% through the winter months. It has been chosen by the BRE as a study system and monitoring equipment has been installed.

Word has spread and in this tiny hamlet Solarsense have now installed 9 solar heating and PV systems, plus also fixing his neighbour's system - installed badly by a high pressure-selling solar company.

Mr & Mrs B had both Solar PV and Solar Thermal systems installed in 2010 and were immeditely very happy with the way they are performing.

Mr B reporting on the performance said:

"in the first 6 months (8/6/10 to 8/12/10) we received cheques to the value of £985.68; to that needs to be added the money saved on our import account, which we believe is in the order of at least £150.

Investing £20,000 with returns at this level is a "no brainer". I cannot understand why more people are not doing it."

St. Bridget’s Church in Chelvey, Somerset, dates from the 12th century and is believed to be the oldest roof in the UK to have had solar panels installed. The building is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. The church is dedicated to the Irish saint Brigid of Kildare.

Solarsense worked closely with the church architect on the design to ensure that the panels were as discreet as possible. To this end we used solar modules with a dark, minimal reflective finish to match the existing roof slates. It was necessary to avoid fixing directly into the medieval wooden rafters - which are actually ancient branches!

The solar PV system will provide an income to contribute to the church’s upkeep for years to come.

System size:
3.6 kWp

Estimated annual output:
2689 kWh

Annual CO2 emmission savings:
1390kg

Mr and Mrs J’s 4-bedroom cottage in Pensford previously used an oil-fired heating system, meaning that they were able to claim the £850 upfront grant available under the Renewable Heat Premium Payments scheme for the installation of an air source heat pump. Not only that, but having a Solar PV system installed too means that they can power the heat pump using the free electricity generated from their own roof during the daytime!

The heat pump will also be eligible for tariff payments under the Renewable Heat Incentive when this comes into force for domestic housholds.

For more than 40 years Tracklements has been handmaking an award-winning range of over 60 products, from the UK’s first wholegrain mustard to the original English Onion Marmalade.

Tracklements were both looking to reduce their utility costs and be greener to the environment so contacted their electricity supplier, Good Energy, for advice on how renewable energy could help. Solarsense has now installed a 82kWp Solar PV system which will provide more than 69,000 kWh of electricity per year. During operating hours 100% of the green electricity will be used on-site.”

System size:
82.56kWp

Estimated annual yield:
69,100kWh

Annual CO2 emmisson savings:
36.4 tonnes

Solarsense installed a 14kWp Ecodan air source Heat Pump for Mrs S in October 2012. As well as supplying clean, green electricity, Mrs S was able to claim the Renewable Heat Premium Payment of £850 and will be eligible for the RHI when it comes into force in spring 2014.