Domestic Solar Panel Case Study: James Burke, Cornwall

Homeowner: James Burke, Cornwall.

In the picturesque setting of Cornwall, homeowner James Burke embarked on a transformative journey with the installation of a 10 kW solar panel system.

This case study delves into James's experience, from the initial motivation spurred by skyrocketing energy costs to the intricate details of the system's installation and performance.

With 23 panels and a sophisticated battery system from GivEnergy, James's story unfolds to reveal the tangible impact of solar power on his daily life and finances.

He navigates through the complexities of solar technology, shedding light on the realities of grid dependency, battery management, and the financial implications of such a significant investment.

As we explore his journey, we also gain insights into the broader context of renewable energy adoption, touching upon the importance of installer credibility, the nuances of different energy tariffs, and the environmental ethos driving individuals like James to make a change.

This case study not only offers a detailed account of one homeowner's transition to solar energy but also serves as a beacon for others considering a similar path, illuminating the practicalities, challenges, and rewards of embracing renewable technology.

PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.

Key Information: 

• James has a 10 kW solar panel system, consisting of 23 individual panels. 

• The system is currently saving him around 70% of his annual energy bills. 

• Current projections place the payback period at around 7 to 8 years. 

Q: Can you tell us about your solar panel system and battery?

A: "I have a 23-panel solar system which I understand the system size to be around 10kw. The system is room-mounted and has been installed with microinverters."

"The battery system is from GivEnergy."

Image showing James Burke's 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.

Q: When did you have your solar panels installed?

A: "They were installed in late September 2023 by Heatable."

"The installation took two days as my panels were installed on two different roofs. The roof is also clad with slate which I believe made the job more complex to install."

Still learning about solar panels? Explore our helpful guides on various topics, including solar panel grants, payback periods, the mechanics of solar energy, determining the number of panels you need, and solar car charging solutions.

Q: What motivated you to invest in solar panels?

A: "I was on a fixed energy deal until October 2023. British Gas had sent me a new proposal where my electricity was increasing from £160 per month to over £320 per month. This seemed absurd."

"Other suppliers were all in the same ballpark so I looked for alternatives."

"I considered solar panels and a wind turbine (we’re in a coastal location). Wind turbines needed planning permission and were reportedly noisy. Solar panels seemed a much more tried and tested option."

Q: How has your experience been since buying the solar panels?

A: "Overall, we’re very pleased with our system. Initially, we assumed that it would be a fit-and-forget type scenario. The panels would generate power, some would be stored in a battery and some would be sold to the grid."

"The system seems to heavily depend on the battery to avoid grid usage, if the battery has been depleted or there is no excess to charge it then we use the grid more than we would have expected to."

"When the sun is out and the battery is fully charged, we rarely use energy from the grid. It’s a funny feeling when the house is being powered purely by solar or the battery. Almost surreal to what we’ve been used to for all these years."

"We find the monitoring app very insightful, and addictive almost."

"More importantly, our monthly electricity bill sits at around £60 per month, 20% of what it would have risen to."

Check out our full in-depth article on whether solar is worth it in the UK. 

Q: Could you describe the process of purchasing and installing the panels?

A: "We did a lot of research before even contacting anyone to get a quote. We found YouTube most insightful and more genuine than most of the websites that purported to be impartial but whose real only ambition was to get me to fill out a form so they could sell on my details."

"After around 2 weeks of research, we started to engage in some conversations with local suppliers and one larger entity (Heatable). We struggled to find anyone locally who’d been in business for more than 12 months, most seemed to be newer startup-type outfits (which is to be expected given that solar is an emerging market)."

"This didn’t fill us with the greatest of confidence as we’d be entrusting our chosen installer with a significant amount of our hard-earned cash. We were not alone in our thought process, most of the horror stories we’d encountered online were not so much about the performance of the product but more the quality and stability of the installer."

"We decided that Heatable would be a more stable outlet and given their Which? status, they’d probably do a decent job of the installation. Price-wise, they were amongst the most expensive (by around £400)."

"The installation took around two days and was relatively painless although the scaffolding took around 10 days to be removed after the installation which was a little annoying."

Q: Do you have a solar battery, and how do you utilise it?

A: "Yes, we have a GivEnergy battery, as recommended by Heatable. We find we need to charge it through winter to about 60% as there simply isn’t enough energy from the panels to fill it through the shorter days. This required us to change the energy tariff so we pay less throughout the night."

Q: How often do you need to rely on grid electricity now?

A: "We find we generally use energy from the grid when the battery has little or no charge. Even if the sun is out. In winter, this was more frequent than in summer until we moved to the Octopus Flux tariff which enables us to charge it from the grid to “see us through the day”.

Q: Can you share the financial benefits you've seen since installation?

A: "The biggest impact has been on our monthly bills, especially since the recent price hikes. From my math, we’re paying around 20-25% of what we should be."

"We earn very little from the export payments. Just enough to pay the standing charges, but this doesn’t overly concern us."

Check out our YouTube video showing our biggest solar panel install to date: 

Q: Have you noticed a change in your electricity bills?

A: "Yes, as above. We’re paying about 20-25% of what we would have been paying since the system was installed."

Q: Are you participating in the Smart Export Guarantee scheme?

A: "Yes, we applied once we switched to Octopus however, we don’t really export much. Maybe this will change in summer."

Q: How long do you expect it will take to recover the cost of your solar panels?

A: "The proposal Heatable gave me stated the payback point to be 11 years. From my math, this will be more like 7 or 8 years, depending on long-term energy prices. The estimates they gave to the reality seem very conservative."

Q: Have you encountered any maintenance issues with your solar panels?

A: "No, not yet."

Image showing the 23-panel solar installation being fitted by the Heatable team.

Q: Are you considering any other types of renewable technology?

A: "We have an oil boiler which we’d like to remove at some point but our property is an old farmhouse so, heat pumps are out of the question. Maybe a biomass boiler."

What should you know before buying solar? Have a flat roof? Read all about flat roof solar and if you have a conservatory, it is possible to have solar on a conservatory roof too. 

Q: Would you recommend solar panels to others, and why?

A: "Yes, definitely. The bill savings are important to us but the real benefit is the feeling we’re doing our bit for the environment and future generations."

"We spent a lot of time researching various options and concluded that we only wanted a system with this technology."

Q: Looking back, is there anything you wish you'd known before the purchase?

A: "Yes, more information on how to get the most out of the system, including off-peak battery charging on shorter or cloudy days."

"The energy tariff you are on is as important as the system you have installed. We have fed this back to Heatable."

Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:

When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:

• How much do solar panels cost? 

• Are solar panels worth it for your home? 

• Is your roof suitable for solar panels? 

• What are the best solar panels available? 

• Is battery storage worth it? 

To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation. 

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• Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.

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• MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.

• Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.

• Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.

• Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.

• Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.

• Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.

• Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.