Adding a Battery to an Existing PV System - Saving Hundreds of Pounds Annually

Client: Dai Rees

System Size: Existing 4.0 kWp PV array

Annual Predicted Generation: 3,500 kWh

Solar Panel Make/Model: 2005 Kyocera 125W panels and newer 285W Ying Li panels

Inverter Make/Model: SolaX X1 G4 3.7D Hybrid

Mounting Frame: Existing ground-mounted frame

Battery System: SolaX TP30 – 12.0 kWh

Monitoring System: SolaX Cloud

The client has had the solar array in place since 2005 and was wanting to add batteries to maximise the use of self-generated electricity, and also to utilise lower cost night time electricity tariffs during the winter months. The system feeds into the client’s low-energy house but also supplies power to a 50kW wood pellet boiler that feeds 4 properties and also runs various outbuildings, so the load is quite high for a residential property. The client also wanted to have backup power in the event of a grid failure. We removed the existing SMA inverter and replaced it with a 3.68kW SolaX Hybrid inverter/charger. The batteries are connected to the inverter/charger via a Battery Management System (BMS). The client reports savings of hundreds of pounds annually.