Off-Grid Power

Electricity can be completely renewable, and incredibly versatile. It is able to run almost everything in your home, and as a result it is the heart and the starting point of any off-grid power system. The system needs to be carefully sized to suit the needs of the property and its occupants, with focus always placed on energy consumption minimization, particularly in winter.

A full analysis of the electrical consumption of everything you plan to run on your system, is essential. You need to make sure you are able to produce and store all the energy you will need, as well as making sure that the system is able to cope with high demand items. We will look at every device, how much electricity it uses, its peak load, how often it is used daily, and at different times of the year. We will design an off grid energy system to suit, as well as advising on ways to minimise consumption.

Solar PV is a starting point in most Off-Grid power systems, as it gives such reliably high outputs for its cost.

The solar PV array is sized in accordance with your required energy consumption, as well as the limits of the site or property concerned.

A solar pv array will produce loads of free and storable energy all year round.

The array and your subsequent system will be designed to ensure adequate production and storage is possible, for you to have an uninterrupted supply even during the winter months.

We install a variety of solar panel outputs and looks, so we can tailor an array to your specific requirements.

The LE-600 wind turbine is often used as a wind power addition to an off-grid power system to compliment the Solar PV panels. It can provide more power in the winter months and cut down on backup generator usage, and to reduce the need to oversize the pv array and the battery bank.

As the wind blows more at night and in the winter months when the pv array is producing less, a wind turbine is a great addition to any pv based off-grid system.

The LE-600 is particularly suited to domestic off grid requirements, due to its size and output and reliability. Designed and made in the UK for domestic applications, in harsh environments, it has a unique low inertia axial flux generator which utilises Neodymium rare earth magnetic materials to allow the turbine to spin, in the lightest of breezes and to react quickly to gusts. This means it is able generate power at even low wind speeds.

The combining of a wind turbine with your PV array can make it possible, and affordable, to run a completely off grid renewable energy only system, potentially removing the requirement for a back-up generator entirely.

The battery bank is a critical part to your off-grid power system. It enables renewably generated power to stored, to be then drawn as required, and when required, as opposed to when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. It gives an off grid system the flick of a switch properties of an on grid system. Power is there whenever you require it. The type battery bank will depend upon the pattern of usage and budget. The size of the battery bank will be related to your consumption needs, as well as the likely output of your solar panel array and /or turbine, at different times of year.

Lithium Ion Batteries

If you are likely to be using high demand appliances, and using power in a typical modern home fashion of peaks and lows, then a lithium battery bank is the most suitable and compact solution.

Lead Acid Batteries

Economically priced and most suited to applications with a steady draw of power. A very environmentally friendly option as almost all the material in a this type of battery can easily be recycled. Rolls in particular make some very high performance batteries that can almost match the LiOn options.

An all in one off-grid power solution, that combines both charge controllers, inverter and AC distribution.

This makes it a very conveniently cost effective solution to smaller off grid domestic pv installations.

With versions capable of a constant output of up to 5kW, and peaks of up to 11kW, it is big enough to handle domestic size installations. Their smaller versions are the perfect solution for smaller installations.

It is also able to accept a backup generator input.

The Multi and Quattro are sophisticated battery charger controllers and AC inverters, that can control multiple power inputs (PV, Turbine, Generator) to produce a system that can satisfy even the largest power demands.

Not only are they suitable for large off grid application, they are also the very effective centre of larger domestic off-grid systems. Capable of handling peak power of up 10kW and a constant output of up to 5kW.

Separate charge controllers or inverters also required.

The Victron solution for larger installations.

The Victron Systems are not only highly programmable, but also can be supplied with some advanced monitoring tools, both via user friendly apps and on the wall displays, as well as via Victron’s sophisticated web monitoring portal.

The Victron Colour Control GX provides control and monitoring for your Victron system through a colourful graphical display. Connecting the Colour Control to the internet can provide free online monitoring via the Victron VRM portal. Once your system is on the VRM Portal your system can also be monitored via the Victron Energy app.

Packed full of innovative technology, the Sunny Boy HF series provides one of the highest yields for transformer-based inverters in this performance class. With its modern graphic display and wireless Bluetooth communication system make the devices highly user-friendly. With unrivaled build quality it is the Rolls Royce of inverters.

Up to 1.5% higher energy output due to SMA’s OptiTrac system, which enables the inverter to react quickly and accurately to changes in conditions e.g. shading.

Clear, user friendly, graphic display providing relevant performance values in an easy to understand format. Bluetooth interface means no unnecessary wiring for a neat and tidy installation.

A high quality solution to both solar PV and wind turbine generation.

The Sunny Island is of unrivaled quality and reliability in off grid use, and is used on more off-grid system than any other brand.

With outputs ranging from 2.3kW to 6kW and capable of peaks of up to 13kW it is suitable for even larger domestic off grid applications. Able to accept pv, wind and generator inputs and controllable from the SMA user friendly interface, the Sunny Island is a truly comprehensive package for a worry-free, reliable and self-sufficient off grid electricity supply.

We are currently seeing a very rapid advancement of smart home technology, and the integrated smart solar home systems now taking shape. SMA are leading the way with their smart home system, and promise the greatest level of system future proofing, and ability to develop the system as there are further technology developments.

The SMA home management system gives the compatibility of your off-grid SMA systems with smart sockets and appliances, as well as EV charging, and other emerging technologies. The smart system will help your smart off-grid home make the best usage of all the renewable power you generate. Maximising the effectiveness of your system, and luxury off-grid living.