Case Study · Commercial Solar + Battery
14.4kWp Solar & 23.04kWh Battery Storage Installation — Wallington, Surrey
14.4 kWpSystem Size
23.04 kWhBattery Storage
10,652 kWhAnnual Output
89%Energy From Solar
59%Grid Independence
3 TonsCO₂ Saved/Year
The Project: Premium Solar & Battery System for a Commercial Property in Wallington
Commercial energy bills don't pause — and for a Wallington vape shop looking to cut overheads and lock in long-term energy cost certainty, a full solar-plus-battery system was the right call. The premises at Woodcote Road, Wallington, Surrey needed a premium, future-proof solution capable of delivering genuine independence from the grid, not just a modest top-up.
Sol4r Energy designed and installed a 14.4kWp solar PV system with 23.04kWh of FoxESS battery storage — a high-performance commercial hybrid package. The installation features 30 premium AIKO 480W panels (model AIKO-A480-MCE54Db) mounted on tilt racks, paired with a FoxESS H3-12.0-Smart 12kW hybrid inverter and 2 × FoxESS EP12 Plus battery units. A Sigen Energy Gateway and Emlite generation meter complete the system, enabling precise monitoring and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) eligibility.
The result is a system that generates 10,652 kWh per year, covering 89% of the site's electricity consumption from solar alone — and with the battery pushing grid independence up to 59%, the business draws remarkably little from the grid across the full year. Commissioned and MCS certified in July 2026, this installation demonstrates exactly how modern solar-plus-battery technology can transform a commercial premises into an energy-generating asset.
Before & After: The Transformation
✗ Before Sol4r Energy
- 100% reliant on expensive grid electricity at peak commercial rates
- 12,000 kWh annual consumption — entirely grid-purchased
- Energy bills at £0.25/kWh with no protection from price rises
- No storage — any solar surplus lost to grid at low export rates
- No visibility of daily energy usage
- Zero renewable generation on-site
✓ After Sol4r Energy
- 10,652 kWh generated per year from 30 AIKO 480W panels
- 89% of consumption now met from solar energy
- 23.04kWh FoxESS battery bank stores surplus for evenings & overnight trading
- 59% grid independence with solar + battery combined
- 3 tonnes of CO₂ saved every single year
- Smart Export Guarantee income from surplus solar exported to grid
Installation Photos & Video — Woodcote Road, Wallington
System Specification
| Component | Specification | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | 30 × AIKO 480W (AIKO-A480-MCE54Db) | 14.400 kWp total — Aiko Energy, 30 Year Product + Performance Warranty |
| Inverter | FoxESS H3-12.0-Smart (12kW) | 1 × H3 Smart Hybrid Inverter, 10 Year Warranty — Fox ESS |
| Battery | 2 × FoxESS EP12 Plus | 23.04kWh total storage / 20.73kWh usable — 10 Year Warranty |
| Gateway | Sigen Energy Gateway | 1 × SIG-GATEWAY-SP-12K (Sigenergy Sigenstor HomeMax, 3–12kW) |
| Generation Meter | Emlite 1-ph, 100A (EM-ECA2) | 1-ph generation meter incl. Cover — 1000 pulse/kWh |
| Mounting | Tilt Racks | 30 panels — Azimuth 100°, Tilt 20° |
System Performance Data
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Installed Capacity (kWp stc) | 14.400 | kWp |
| kWh/kWp (Kk) | 787.8 | kWh/kWp |
| Shade Factor (SF) | 0.939 | — |
| Estimated Annual Output | 10,652 | kWh |
| Annual Consumption | 12,000 | kWh |
| PV Self-Consumption (solar only) | 3,939 | kWh |
| Grid Independence (solar only) | 32.8% | — |
| Usable Battery Capacity (EESS) | 20.73 | kWh |
| PV Self-Consumption (with battery) | 7,074 | kWh |
| Grid Independence (with battery) | 59.0% | — |
| Total Energy Discharged (per annum) | 15,137 | kWh |
First-Year Monthly Solar Generation & Bill Savings
| Month | Solar Gen (kWh) | Grid Import Before (kWh) | Grid Import After (kWh) | Exported (kWh) | Export Credit (£) | Est. Savings (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 165 | 1,199 | 1,034 | 0 | 0 | £41 |
| Feb | 280 | 1,170 | 891 | 0 | 0 | £70 |
| Mar | 674 | 1,163 | 500 | 0 | 0 | £166 |
| Apr | 1,181 | 989 | 143 | 316 | 23 | £234 |
| May | 1,657 | 881 | 0 | 759 | 54 | £275 |
| Jun | 1,611 | 837 | 7 | 769 | 55 | £262 |
| Jul | 1,694 | 811 | 0 | 878 | 63 | £265 |
| Aug | 1,450 | 794 | 7 | 645 | 46 | £243 |
| Sep | 960 | 873 | 119 | 203 | 15 | £203 |
| Oct | 575 | 974 | 415 | 8 | 1 | £140 |
| Nov | 260 | 1,112 | 852 | 0 | 0 | £65 |
| Dec | 144 | 1,197 | 1,053 | 0 | 0 | £36 |
Monthly Electricity Bill — Before vs After Solar
Projections based on British Gas Standing Variable Tariff: £0.25/kWh usage, £0.07/kWh Smart Export Guarantee, £14.80/month fixed charge. Energy costs projected with 7% annual increase. May–Aug bills go into credit — the site earns income from excess solar exported to the grid.
Financial Snapshot
10,652 kWhAnnual Solar Generation
89%Energy From Solar
59%Grid Independence (with battery)
32.8%Grid Independence (solar only)
£21,094Est. Annual Energy Bill Savings
3 TonsCO₂ Eliminated Per Year
FoxESS EP12 Plus — 23.04kWh Smart Battery Storage
Two FoxESS EP12 Plus units working in tandem deliver 23.04kWh of total storage, with 20.73kWh available for self-consumption. Solar energy captured during the day is stored and intelligently dispatched through the evening and overnight — dramatically reducing grid dependence.
23.04kWh Total Capacity
2 × FoxESS EP12 Plus units with 20.73kWh usable — enough to power the commercial premises through the evening and overnight on a sunny day.
59% Grid Independence
Self-sufficiency jumps from 32.8% (solar only) to 59.0% when the battery is included — nearly doubling the business's energy independence.
Evening & Night Cover
Day-generated solar energy is stored and released through peak evening trading hours, cutting the business's reliance on expensive grid electricity.
15,137 kWh Discharged/Year
Total annual energy discharged by the combined solar + battery system, representing significant offset of grid consumption throughout the year.
FoxESS H3 Hybrid Integration
Seamlessly paired with the FoxESS H3-12.0-Smart 12kW hybrid inverter for optimised charge/discharge cycles and full system monitoring.
10 Year Battery Warranty
FoxESS EP12 Plus backed by a 10 Year Product Warranty, ensuring long-term performance and peace of mind for the business owner.
Environmental Impact
89%
Consumption Offset
3 Tons
CO₂ Reduced Per Year
521
Trees Planted Equivalent (Lifetime)
58
Long-Haul Flights Avoided (Lifetime)
Over the system's lifetime, the Wallington installation is projected to avoid 81,018 km of car travel equivalent in carbon emissions — all while powering a commercial premises with clean, locally generated energy. The system covers 89% of the site's annual consumption from zero-emission solar generation, making this one of the highest-performing commercial solar installations in the Surrey area.
Warranties & Certifications Included
30 Year Panel Product Warranty (AIKO)
30 Year Panel Performance Warranty
10 Year Inverter Warranty (FoxESS)
10 Year Battery Warranty (FoxESS EP12 Plus)
10 Year Workmanship Guarantee
20 Year Online Monitoring & Performance Support
2 Year Annual System Maintenance
MCS Commissioning Certificate
HIES Warranty — Maximum Consumer Protection
Building Regulation Compliance Certificate (NAPIT)
Electrical Certificate
Birds Protection
All Sol4r Energy residential installations include full DNO notification, access equipment, solar PV and battery earthing and connectors, commissioning and testing, and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) registration support.
Why Businesses Choose Sol4r Energy
Premium Equipment Only
We specify only the highest-performing panels and inverters available — AIKO's 480W N-Type panels deliver industry-leading efficiency, while FoxESS hybrid inverters are trusted across thousands of UK commercial installations.
Full Turnkey Service
From site survey and structural design to DNO application, MCS certification, HIES warranty, and SEG registration — we handle everything. No hidden costs, no sub-contractors, no surprises.
Decade-Long Support
With 10-year workmanship and inverter warranties, 30-year panel warranties, and ongoing online performance monitoring, your system is backed for the long term — not just to installation day.
More Sol4r Energy Installations
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