A local charity recently made strides to reduce its environmental impact by installing a 30kW solar PV system. This initiative will help reduce energy dependence on the grid. Additionally, the site features EV (electric vehicle) charge points, allowing the charity to power its vehicles with clean energy they generate themselves.
Dave Watton Electrical Ltd was subcontracted by Green Power & Heat Ltd to complete this solar installation. Green Power & Heat Ltd held the nationwide renewable energy contract for the charity and chose us to handle the local work. Our involvement also aligned with an existing maintenance contract we had through IPM Facilities Ltd, the previous site maintenance provider.
For this project, we installed 30kW of solar panels across four custom-built cantilever frames. These frames were designed to maximize energy generation from the panels. The setup included:
- 78 JA Solar 395W all-black panels,
- Mounted to galvanized frames with Van der Valk aluminum rails,
- Connected to four Solis three-phase inverters.
In addition to installing the solar panels, we handled the design and installation of the AC electrical system to power the inverters and integrate the system into the plant room’s existing setup. We routed and secured cabling through pre-installed ducts, ensuring a neat and compliant installation.
The project, completed in November and December 2023, came with challenges due to wet and windy weather. Despite these conditions, we maintained high standards of quality and safety, delivering a fully functional and reliable solar power system.
Due to the size of the project, witness testing was required by the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). An SSE engineer visited the site to verify that the new PV system met grid standards. Our team coordinated this testing in-house, further ensuring compliance and quality.
This project was a successful collaboration and is a testament to our ability to deliver complex renewable energy installations, even in challenging conditions.
