Installation of Solar Panels & Battery Storage.
In February 2024 on behalf of Elsenham Community Association the VCSE
Energy Efficiency Scheme funded an Independent Energy Assessment of
Elsenham Memorial Hall. This was undertaken by Groundworks UK, and a
Strategic Energy Report (SER) was produced. The SER highlighted that the
installation of Solar PV Panels, with associated battery storage, would make a
considerable improvement to the energy efficiency of Elsenham Memorial
Hall.
The Memorial Hall is on an open area of the Elsenham Playing Field and is
not overshadowed. Therefore Solar Panels and Battery Storage system is an
extremely efficient method of providing electricity with the bonus of feeding
energy back to the grid and providing us with revenue. The battery can be
programmed to be topped-up overnight on the low night electricity tariff and
excess generated electricity can be fed back to the Grid at the higher daytime
tariff. The income generated during the summer months will help to
subsidise our winter outlay. We already had the appropriate smart meter
installed.
The Building emission rate was estimated at 17.33 kg CO²/m²per year. Having
implemented the recommended upgrades to heating and lighting and
installing the solar panels the SER indicated that this will achieve an Energy
Performance improvement from D77 to A25. The SER estimates a carbon
reduction of 1.80 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide, a percentage change (carbon) of
67%. The Building Emission rate is estimated to reduce to 5.67 kg CO²/m² per
year.
After obtaining 3 quotes and with details from the SER we applied to the
Uttlesford District Council Zero Carbon Communities Fund in November 2024.
in February 2025 we were awarded funding of £15,000.
Greenscape Energy Ltd. of Ipswich was our preferred supplier.
In April 2024 Greenscape installed a 15KW solar PV system comprising :
29 solar panels, inverters, pigeon proofing, £10,000
Battery £6,000
Scaffolding (23metres of single storey roof) £1,600
VAT @ 0%
Total approximately £17,600.
Installed April 2025
The installation was done over 3 days. The scaffolding was up for approximately 2 weeks in total.
There was a 3 month delay before all the paperwwork arrived to apply for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme such that we can receive a credit for electricity sent to thegrid. There will be a further 8 week delay before the SEG is implemented by Octopus Energy.
However
In May 2024 our electricity bill was £214. In May 2025 our electricity bill was
£31.
