Case Studies

Solcentric has now been involved in over a hundred solar installations. Some of our latest solar PV and solar thermal installations are listed here.

Ground mounted Solar PV system - Devoran, Cornwall

This 3.96kW ground mounted PV system was installed in a south-facing, sloped garden and is estimated to provide a £1880 p.a return from a combination of feed-in-tariff, sales back to the grid and reduced electricity bills.

2.88kW Solar PV roof mounted system - Feock, Cornwall

This south facing, domestic installation using 12 x 240w Sanyo HIT solar panels ie estimated to provide an 11% return on investment and generate/save the owners £1367 per annum

30 tube Solar Hot Water panel on a  barn conversion - Truro

This 30 tube solar hot water panel feeds a 250 litre un-vented cylinder. Installed onto a south facing, slate roof on a renovated barn building just outside of Truro.

1.84kW Solar PV system - Nr Bude, Cornwall

This house had limited, unshaded roof space for solar panels. The challenge was to ensure they were visually balanced so as not to detract from the overall beauty of the house and to provide enough energy to ensure a good return on investement.

3.96kw ground mounted solar pv system - Penzance, Cornwall

Set the south facing gardens of the home, this ground mounted solar PV system is made up of 22 x BP 180w panels. Installation took 3 days.

Renovation - Mylor, Cornwall

Twin 20 tube MCS accredited installation feeding a 300ltr solar thermal store. Metalflex pipe work is hidden behind interior plaster board beneath the roof.

Solar PV Grid Tie System - Maenporth, Cornwall

This south facing house in Cornwall now has a 2.7kW grid tied solar array and a 250ltr hot water cylinder integrated to achieve minimum annual running costs. The PV system is generating over 8% return on the initial investment and this is due to rise as electricity prices escalate.

30 Tube Design

This house had hot water delivered via an Aga. This is a very expensive method of heating water, with either the aga on all summer, or an immersion heater being used. A thirty tube array feeding a 200ltr cylinder, integrated to the existing system but cutting out the Aga is saving a lot of money each year.

Guest House - Maenporth

The owners of this Guest house took the opportunity to install a 30 tube system to heat a 250 ltr hot water system to the main part of the house

Manor House - Swindon

We designed a two twin 30 tube systems to provide hot water and heat dump radiators for this seven bedroom manor house near Swindon. As a listed building the panels are on the south facing inner roof of the concealed double roof. This satisfies planning and saves a fortune in heating costs. The heat dump system helps keep out the damp during extended periods of non occupancy.

South and West System - Truro

Designed to maximise solar input from a restricted roof space this twin 20 tube array heats a 200ltr cylinder.

School Hot Water - St Columb, Cornwall

As part of a practical renewable energy programme to promote and educate, this solar/wind installation included a 14kW photo voltaic system, 500ltr hot water system for kitchen and bathrooms and a 6kW wind turbine.

St Erme Sports Club, solar hot water panel installation - Cornwall

This 4 x flat plate solar hot water system, integrated with a heat pump, has been designed to provide hot water & heat throughout the building.

Solar Powered Garage - Truro

Lighting and power sockets installed for a garage in Truro. This saved digging up the drive to lay armoured cable, and for under £600 provides ample lighting and ring main for power tools.

Hotel Swimming Pool - Polzeath

Large hotel swimming pool on the North coast of Cornwall. Installation saving thousands of pounds per year. 7 x 30 tube panels arranged south facing on the pool pump room roof.

Hot Water with Heat Dump Radiators - Truro

As part of an extension/refurbishment a 300ltr hot water pressurised system using 50 58mm tube array. Oversised to compensate for valley roof and South East facing this system incorporates a heat dump that provides hot water to towel radiators in the summer and complete hot water supply from March through to October. It has been designed so that the heat dump can be switched to under-floor heating and additional panels added in the future. If the house is left for long periods the solar system can be used to provide background heat

Tractor Shed - Longdowns

Light and power supply for a remote tractor shed. A solar photo-voltaic panel combined with 400A/H battery bank, 3000W inverter and 12V Compact fluorescent lighting system. This saved considerable cost and upheaval digging in and laying armoured cable, and will continue to supply electricity with no bills for decades to come.

New Build - Penryn

300 ltr solar hot water system incorporated during staged new build. Panels and initial pipe work fixed during roofing stage, cylinder and controls added during 2nd fix. Costs kept to a minimum by working with existing building programme. The panels are situated on a South West facing part of the roof and remain almost invisible.

Garage Solar PV - Truro

Light and power supplied by 2000W inverter 125W solar Photo-voltaic panel. Controller, 200A/H battery bank, 12V compact fluorescent lighting and switch gear all included. This saved digging up patio, tarmac drive and laying armoured cable.

Swimming Pool - Plymouth

2 x 3047 panels provide solar heating to this 45m² swimming pool based ion the basement of a house in Plymouth. The pool is well insulated, and indoors, and the panels significantly reduce the running costs to maintain this pool at 29°C. The system is closed loop glycol fed via a stainless steel heat exchanger.

Farmhouse Solar Hot Water - Stithians

Solar hot water added to existing vented water system. Retro fit coil used to reduce cost and replacement of otherwise perfect and recent hot water cylinder. This system allows the Rayburn to be turned off earlier in the year and saves a lot of oil.