Case Study · Commercial Solar + Battery
48.8kWp Solar & 30.72kWh Battery Storage Installation — Broadwood Rise, Crawley
48.8 kWpSystem Size
30.72 kWhBattery Storage
40,634 kWhAnnual Output
£12,888Year 1 Savings
1,548%Total ROI
2Y 11MPayback
The Project: Large-Scale Solar & Battery for a Community Building in Crawley
With community buildings facing some of the sharpest rises in operating costs in recent memory, the opportunity to tackle 43,000 kWh of annual electricity consumption head-on was both urgent and significant. The property at Broadwood Rise, Crawley, West Sussex required a system capable of making a meaningful dent in a substantial energy bill — and Sol4r Energy delivered exactly that.
Sol4r Energy designed and installed a 48.825kWp commercial solar PV system with 30.72kWh of Rahvolt battery storage — one of the largest residential-scale hybrid systems we have built in the South East. The installation uses 105 premium AIKO 465W black frame panels, four Rahvolt RV12kH-T2 hybrid inverters delivering 48kW of AC output, and six Rahvolt RV-LB 5K battery units. The result is a system that doesn't just generate solar energy — it stores it intelligently, ensuring the building draws as little from the expensive daytime grid as possible.
Commissioned and MCS certified in July 2026, this installation already ranks among Sol4r Energy's flagship South East projects. With a 2-year, 11-month payback period, a 37.8% annual rate of return, and £603,554 in projected net savings over 25 years, the financial case is as strong as it gets in commercial solar.
Before & After: The Transformation
❌ Before Sol4r Energy
- 100% reliant on expensive grid electricity
- 43,000 kWh consumed at 31p/kWh — over £13,000/year
- No storage — solar surplus wasted or exported at low rates
- Bills rising with every energy price increase
- No visibility of daily energy usage
- Zero renewable generation on-site
✅ After Sol4r Energy
- 40,634 kWh generated per year from the roof
- Bills go negative May–August — site earns from the grid
- 30.72kWh Rahvolt battery bank covers evening & overnight demand
- 51% self-sufficiency with solar + battery combined
- 10 tonnes of CO₂ saved every year
- Live energy monitoring via WiNet-S2 module
Installation Photos — Broadwood Rise, Crawley
105 × AIKO 465W black frame panels, 4 × Rahvolt RV12kH-T2 inverters, 6 × Rahvolt RV-LB 5K batteries (30.72kWh), bird protection, three-phase smart meter and WiNet-S2 monitoring — all installed by Sol4r Energy's in-house team at Broadwood Rise, Crawley.
Project Overview — Solar & Battery at Broadwood Rise, Crawley
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Broadwood Rise, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 |
| Property type | Community building |
| Commission date | July 2026 |
| Annual electricity consumption | 43,000 kWh |
| Annual solar generation | 40,634 kWh |
| Self-sufficiency — solar only | 33.6% |
| Self-sufficiency — solar + battery | 51.0% |
| Tariff | Octopus Energy Intelligent — Day 31p, Night 7p, SEG 15p/kWh |
| MCS certified | Yes — commissioning certificate issued on completion |
Technical Specifications — Solar & Battery System
Every component in this installation was selected for maximum output, reliability, and long-term performance. Sol4r Energy uses only premium-grade equipment with comprehensive manufacturer warranties across every project:
| Component | Product | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | 105 × AIKO 465W | AIKO-A465-MAH54Mw Black Frame (30mm) · 48.825 kWp total · 30yr product & performance warranty |
| Inverters | 4 × Rahvolt RV12kH-T2 | 48kW total AC output · Hybrid solar + battery inverter · 10yr warranty |
| Battery Storage | 6 × Rahvolt RV-LB 5K | 30.72 kWh total storage · 10yr warranty |
| PV Optimisers | 2 × TS4-A-O | Module-level PV optimisation |
| Smart Meter | 1 × DTSD1352-C/1(6)A | Three-phase smart energy meter |
| AC Isolators | 2 × IMO-IS4P125 | IMO Stag 4-pole 125A AC isolators |
| Monitoring | 1 × WiNet-S2 | Wireless plug-and-play communication module · 2.4GHz Wi-Fi · IP66 · remote monitoring |
| Bird Protection | Full perimeter | Installed across all panels to prevent nesting |
Energy Performance & Self-Sufficiency
| Performance Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Total installed capacity | 48.825 kWp |
| Annual solar generation | 40,634 kWh |
| Annual site consumption | 43,000 kWh |
| Self-sufficiency — solar only | 33.6% |
| Self-sufficiency — solar + battery | 51.0% |
| Electricity exported (Year 1) | 18,714 kWh — earning income via Smart Export Guarantee at 15p/kWh |
| Export credit (Year 1) | £2,808 |
The battery makes a decisive difference to self-sufficiency. Without storage, much of the midday solar generation that exceeds on-site consumption would simply be exported at 15p/kWh. The 30.72kWh Rahvolt battery bank captures that surplus and deploys it during peak evening hours — pushing self-sufficiency from 33.6% to 51%, meaning over half of all electricity consumed now comes from the roof at zero marginal cost.
Monthly Savings Breakdown — Year 1
From May through August, the system generates more electricity than the site consumes. Bills go negative — the Octopus Intelligent Smart Export Guarantee pays the building for surplus generation at 15p/kWh:
| Month | Solar Gen | Imported | Exported | Export Credit | Old Bill | New Bill | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 992 kWh | 3,343 kWh | 13 kWh | £2 | £1,339 | £1,112 | £227 |
| February | 1,381 kWh | 2,978 kWh | 132 kWh | £20 | £1,314 | £985 | £328 |
| March | 2,686 kWh | 2,175 kWh | 625 kWh | £94 | £1,307 | £669 | £638 |
| April | 4,468 kWh | 1,307 kWh | 2,152 kWh | £323 | £1,152 | £199 | £952 |
| May | 5,891 kWh | 725 kWh | 3,369 kWh | £505 | £1,054 | −£143 | £1,198 ✦ |
| June | 5,646 kWh | 634 kWh | 3,198 kWh | £480 | £1,015 | −£138 | £1,153 ✦ |
| July | 6,012 kWh | 533 kWh | 3,551 kWh | £533 | £991 | −£212 | £1,203 ✦ |
| August | 5,395 kWh | 677 kWh | 3,139 kWh | £471 | £976 | −£112 | £1,088 ✦ |
| September | 3,730 kWh | 1,174 kWh | 1,697 kWh | £255 | £1,047 | £244 | £804 |
| October | 2,388 kWh | 1,932 kWh | 770 kWh | £115 | £1,138 | £600 | £538 |
| November | 1,287 kWh | 2,800 kWh | 68 kWh | £10 | £1,261 | £950 | £311 |
| December | 759 kWh | 3,548 kWh | 0 kWh | £0 | £1,338 | £1,177 | £161 |
| ANNUAL TOTAL | 40,634 kWh | 21,826 kWh | 18,714 kWh | £2,808 | £13,932 | £5,541 | £12,888 saved |
✦ Negative bill = the site earns from the grid via Octopus Intelligent Smart Export Guarantee (15p/kWh). Projections assume 7% annual energy price increase.
Financial Returns — 25-Year Projection
£12,888Year 1 Savings
2Y 11MPayback Period
£642,554Lifetime Bill Savings
£603,554Net 25-Year Savings
1,548%Total ROI
37.8%Annual Rate of Return
With energy prices projected to rise 7% annually, the savings compound dramatically over time. By 2030, the site saves over £15,000 per year. By 2040 that figure crosses £26,000. By 2050, the building is saving over £47,000 every single year — against a system that had fully paid for itself before the end of 2028. The net present value of the investment stands at £216,425, with a discounted payback period of just 3 years, 4 months. For organisations across Crawley, West Sussex and the wider South East looking to reduce overheads long-term, commercial solar with battery storage consistently outperforms any alternative capital investment.
Battery Benefits: Why the Rahvolt Storage Makes All the Difference
Why the battery makes all the difference
The 30.72kWh Rahvolt battery bank doesn't just store solar energy — it changes the fundamental economics of the building's electricity supply.
51% Grid Independence
Without batteries, only 33.6% of electricity would come from solar. The Rahvolt battery bank pushes this to 51% — over half the building's electricity from its own roof at zero marginal cost.
Evening & Night Coverage
Midday solar surplus charges the battery rather than being exported. By evening, the battery powers the building through its highest-usage hours — avoiding expensive 31p/kWh daytime grid electricity.
SEG Export Income
When the battery is full and solar continues generating — primarily May through August — excess electricity earns 15p/kWh via the Smart Export Guarantee, pushing bills into negative territory.
Night Rate Charging
Under the Octopus Intelligent tariff, the battery can draw from the grid at 7p/kWh overnight when solar isn't generating — then supply the building during the day at a massive 24p/kWh saving per unit.
Live System Monitoring
The WiNet-S2 module provides real-time monitoring of generation, consumption, battery state, and grid import/export — giving the building management full visibility and control.
Compounding Returns
With energy costs rising 7% per year, the battery's contribution compounds annually. By 2035 annual savings reach nearly £20,000. By 2050, over £47,000 saved every year from the same initial investment.
Environmental Impact
10 tonnesCO₂ saved per year
1,987 treesEquivalent over lifetime
309,048 kmCar distance avoided
221 flightsLong-haul avoided
Over 25 years of operation, this system will prevent carbon emissions equivalent to 309,048 km of car travel — the same environmental benefit as planting 1,987 trees or cancelling 221 long-haul flights. For a community building, the ability to demonstrate this level of environmental commitment to those who use the space is a powerful statement of values — and the solar array is visible evidence of that commitment every single day.
Why Sol4r Energy
🏆 MCS-Certified, Award-Winning
UK Enterprise Award winner and MCS-certified — the accreditation required for the Smart Export Guarantee and all manufacturer warranties. The Broadwood Rise project was delivered fully in-house by Sol4r Energy's own installation team.
🔬 Premium Equipment Only
Sol4r Energy specifies only Tier 1 components. AIKO's ABC cell technology delivers exceptional panel efficiency. Rahvolt's RV12kH-T2 hybrid inverters handle both solar generation and battery management in a single, tightly integrated architecture.
📋 Complete End-to-End Service
From free site survey to DNO notification, three-phase wiring, MCS commissioning, smart meter setup, WiNet-S2 monitoring configuration, bird protection, and ongoing maintenance — Sol4r Energy handles everything.
Certifications & Warranties Included
MCS Commissioning Certificate
30-Year AIKO Panel Product Warranty
HIES Consumer Protection Warranty
30-Year Panel Performance Warranty
NAPIT Building Regulation Certificate (NAPIT)
10-Year Rahvolt Inverter Warranty
Electrical Safety Certificate
10-Year Rahvolt Battery Warranty
2-Year Annual System Maintenance
20-Year Online System Monitoring
All certifications issued on completion. Every Sol4r Energy installation includes full DNO notification, access equipment, solar PV and battery earthing and connectors, commissioning and testing, and birds protection as standard.
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