By kilowatts.uk • 2025-08-10 04:46:58
See how a Broadstairs, Kent household is cutting bills and earning from exports with a £7,300 solar + battery system — real performance data, savings, warranties, and why now is the perfect time to act.
This Kent solar battery case study shows how a Broadstairs installation can cut bills and earn from exports. Energy bills remain unpredictable, so most households are looking for more control. This project features a well-designed 4.5 kW solar array with a 5.32 kWh battery delivering proven real-world results. It is a tidy, quiet system that prioritises self-consumption by day and battery power in the evening, with surplus energy exported under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). The total installed price for this specification is £7,300.
Figures shown are taken directly from the app on the day of capture. Your site, roof, usage and tariff will determine your final results.
The system includes 10 DMEGC Solar Infinity RT 450 W modules (DC 4.5 kW, AC 3.92 kW), a Sunsynk ECCO 5 kW hybrid inverter, a Sunsynk 5.32 kWh battery, Fastensol pantile mounting and black mesh bird protection. The specification lists a maximum depth of discharge of 100 per cent and round-trip efficiency of around 95 per cent. In practice, most installations keep a 10 to 20 per cent reserve for battery longevity, which still provides strong evening autonomy.
Panels: 25-year product and 30-year performance. Inverter: 5 years. Battery: 10 years. Mounting: 12 years.
On a mild overcast day at about 20.2 C, the system generated 16.4 kWh. Of that, 4.50 kWh was used directly in the home, 3.40 kWh charged the battery for evening and night use, and 9.80 kWh was exported to the grid. The battery reached a full state of charge during the day, and the home drew only a few hundred watts from the grid for extended periods. This Kent solar battery case study highlights how self-consumption, battery storage and export payments work in harmony.
One day does not define a year, but it demonstrates how self-consumption, storage and export work together.
The app and specification indicate 5.32 kWh usable capacity, 100 per cent maximum depth of discharge and round-trip efficiency of about 95 per cent. In real use, a reserve of 10 to 20 per cent is common to protect lifespan and provide backup for night-time loads. With that reserve and efficiency, typical delivered energy into the home is around 4.0 to 4.6 kWh per full cycle. The reserve can be adjusted to suit priorities for battery life versus daily autonomy.
This Kent solar battery case study installation has already reduced 3,421 kg of CO2, cut 90.2 kg of sulphur dioxide, saved the equivalent of 1.9 trees planted and avoided 1,125.6 kg of standard coal use. These savings are cumulative and grow month by month.
System efficiency is shown at around 87 per cent. With round-trip efficiency close to 95 per cent and sensible usage controls, more of your generation turns into real savings — especially if you shift flexible loads to daylight hours.
Using an import tariff of £0.36 per kWh and an SEG rate of £0.06 per kWh, a well-sited 4.5 kW array in the South East typically yields 3,800 to 4,500 kWh annually. A conservative case of 3,800 kWh with 60 per cent self-consumption and 40 per cent export returns about £912 per year. A typical case of 4,000 kWh with 70 per cent self-consumption and 30 per cent export returns about £1,080 per year. An optimised case of 4,500 kWh with 85 per cent self-consumption and 15 per cent export returns about £1,418 per year. At £7,300 installed, this Kent solar battery case study demonstrates a simple payback of roughly 5 to 8 years, with faster returns possible if import prices rise or more usage is shifted to sunny periods.
Balanced sizing with 4.5 kW DC and a 5 kW hybrid inverter allows for brief peaks while keeping clipping low. The 5.32 kWh storage capacity offers reliable evening coverage without unnecessary overspend, making it a sweet spot for many households.
Every home is different. We consider roof pitch, such as 30 degrees, azimuth, such as 287 degrees, shading, export limits, daily supply charges and your usage profile to fine-tune the design. Our survey checks structural integrity, electrical layout and smart controls to ensure your system performs as modelled or better.
Panels: 25-year product and 30-year performance. Inverter: 5 years. Battery: 10 years. Mounting: 12 years. We only work with installers who stand behind their work and provide clear documentation, aftercare and support.
We are a UK-wide platform that connects you to vetted, trusted installers and keeps everything transparent. Use our tools to compare systems, understand trade-offs and get fair pricing without the hard sell. Start with a free assessment, then choose the installer and package that fit your goals and budget. Learn more on our Kent solar page.
Book a free solar survey to check your roof, electrics and usage so we can size the ideal system. Create a solar project to describe your goals and let vetted installers compete for your work. Compare solar options to explore panel and battery combinations, yields and return on investment side by side.
10 × DMEGC Solar Infinity RT 450 W panels (4.5 kW DC), a Sunsynk ECCO 5 kW hybrid inverter, a Sunsynk 5.32 kWh battery, Fastensol pantile mounting, black mesh bird protection, fully installed for £7,300.
It produced about 16.4 kWh. Roughly 4.50 kWh was used directly in the home, 3.40 kWh went into the battery for evening use, and 9.80 kWh was exported for SEG income.
A well sited 4.5 kW system typically generates around 3,800 to 4,000 kWh per year, depending on roof orientation, pitch, and shading.
With bill savings of about £1,200 to £1,350 and SEG income of £200 to £250, total yearly benefit is roughly £1,400 to £1,600. That puts payback at around 4.5 to 5 years.
A representative import tariff of £0.36 per kWh and an SEG export rate around £0.06 per kWh were used for the estimates.
The Sunsynk hybrid can provide backup via an EPS or backup circuit if specified and wired by your installer. Whole-house backup usually requires additional design and may be limited by the inverter rating.
Most single-phase homes are limited to 3.68 kW export under G98. Your installer will either set an export limit to comply with G98 or apply for G99 permission if higher export is required.
Panels carry a 25-year product and 30-year performance warranty. The inverter has 5 years, the battery 10 years, and the mounting system 12 years.
We assess pitch, azimuth, shading, structure, electrics, and your actual consumption pattern. Designs are sized to maximise self-consumption and comfort while meeting any export limits.
It stores daytime surplus to cover the evening peak, lifting self-consumption and reducing imports when electricity is usually most expensive.
Solar PV is low maintenance. Keep panels clear of debris, ensure bird mesh stays intact, and have periodic electrical checks. The system is monitored so issues are easy to spot.
Yes. The system is expandable. Many households start with one battery and add capacity as needs grow.
Yes. SEG requires metered exports. A smart meter or approved export meter is typically needed by your chosen SEG provider.
Book a free survey to check your roof and electrics, or create a project so vetted installers can quote. You can also compare options side by side on our platform.
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