This one took a different route to the roof. With plenty of space in the orchard, the array sits on a ground-mounted ballasted system out in the open, catching full sun all day and leaving the house itself completely untouched.
The home and the goal
The orchard offered open, unshaded ground, so the array could go there and leave the house untouched. The aim was a large system with enough storage to run the house into the evening and through a power cut.
What we installed
- 30 x Aiko Energy 485W all-black panels (14.55 kWp)
- Ground-mounted ballasted console system
- SolaX X1-IES 8kW hybrid inverter
- 2 x SolaX Triple Power batteries, 20.4 kWh of storage
- Whole-house backup (EPS)
- 3.68kW export limit to meet network requirements
Why we designed it this way
Ground mounting is often the better answer where a roof is the wrong shape, the wrong orientation or simply not suitable, and it makes future maintenance far easier too. A ballasted system sits on the ground under its own weight, so there are no deep foundations to dig.
The 3.68kW export limit keeps the system within the network operator’s rules without restricting how much the home itself can use.
How it works day to day
With 20.4 kWh of storage indoors and whole-house backup wired in, this property can run on its own solar well into the evening and ride out a grid outage without missing a beat.
Questions homeowners ask about a system like this
Does a ground-mounted array need planning permission?
Many domestic ground-mounted systems fall under permitted development, but there are size and siting limits. We check this for each site before quoting.
What does an export limit mean for me?
It caps how much power is sent back to the grid at any moment. It does not limit how much solar the home can use or store.
Related reading
Want a system like this on your home?
Every project starts with a free survey and a written design for your home, sized around how you actually use power. No obligation and no hard sell.
Get a free quoteCall 01202 985 888Equipment details are from our installation records.
