5.4kW Solar PV with Battery Storage — Didsbury Victorian Semi

The Challenge

The Hendersons had been considering solar for several years but were concerned about the visual impact on their characterful Victorian property in one of Manchester's most desirable suburbs. Their substantial five-bedroom home, originally built in 1903, had been carefully restored to maintain its period features, and the family wanted any solar installation to enhance rather than detract from the property's appearance. They also faced typical challenges of older properties: slate roof tiles requiring careful handling, complex roof geometry with multiple gables, and a wiring system that needed careful upgrading to accommodate the new solar circuits safely.

Beyond aesthetics, the family had clear financial objectives. Their annual electricity bills had risen from around £1,200 in 2020 to over £2,400 by 2023, driven by both higher prices and increased usage from working-from-home arrangements and electric vehicle charging. They wanted a system substantial enough to make a meaningful difference to their bills, with battery storage to capture surplus generation for evening use.

Our Solution

Following our initial site survey, our designers proposed a 5.4 kWp system using 12 premium all-black REC Alpha Pure panels, installed on the rear south-facing roof slope. We specifically chose the all-black aesthetic to provide a clean, uniform appearance that integrates seamlessly with the existing slate tiles. The panels feature blacked-out cells, frames, and back-sheets, eliminating the visual discord that traditional silver-framed panels can create on heritage properties.

For battery storage, we recommended a GivEnergy 9.5 kWh All-In-One unit, providing substantial capacity to capture daytime solar surplus for evening use. The integrated design houses the battery and inverter in a single elegant cabinet, which we installed in the family's garage, hidden from view but easily accessible for monitoring and any future servicing.

The electrical infrastructure required careful upgrading, including a new consumer unit with appropriate protection for the solar and battery circuits, full earth bonding verification, and integration with the property's existing tariff arrangements. We coordinated closely with the family's electricity supplier (Octopus Energy) to switch them to the Octopus Flux tariff, which provides exceptional value for solar plus battery installations.

Installation Process

The installation was completed over four working days, with our team arriving each morning at 8am and finishing by 5pm to minimise disruption. Day one focused on scaffold erection and roof preparation, including careful removal of slate tiles where mounting brackets needed to be installed. Day two saw the mounting rails installed and panels fitted to the south-facing rear roof. Day three involved the electrical work including running cables, installing the consumer unit modifications, and mounting the battery system in the garage. Day four was dedicated to commissioning, testing, and homeowner training.

Throughout the installation, we treated the family's home with respect — using protective sheeting throughout, vacuuming up any debris each day, and being mindful of the family's young children. The Hendersons commented particularly on how clean and tidy our team kept the worksite, and how friendly and professional everyone they met was.

Results and Performance

The system has been operating for nearly twelve months at the time of writing, generating approximately 4,750 kWh of electricity in its first year — exceeding our original prediction of 4,400 kWh per year. The combination of a south-facing roof with no significant shading and the high-efficiency panels has delivered exceptional generation. Of this generation, approximately 78% has been consumed directly by the household — partly because the battery captures most daytime surplus for evening use, and partly because the family has adapted their consumption patterns to take advantage of solar generation.

Annual electricity bill savings have been £1,950, comprising both reduced grid imports and Smart Export Guarantee payments for the small amount of surplus electricity exported to the grid. Combined with the upgrade to a smart tariff that takes advantage of cheap overnight rates for any battery top-up needed, total annual savings have substantially exceeded our original projections. At current performance levels, the system will achieve full payback in approximately seven years.

Client Feedback

"We couldn't be happier with our solar installation. The system looks fantastic — you really can't tell the panels are there from the front of the house — and our electricity bills have transformed. The Nova Volt team were brilliant from start to finish, with proper attention to detail throughout. We're recommending them to everyone we know." — Mrs Henderson, Didsbury