Our client runs a working farm alongside a large family house, with the two properties fed by two separate single-phase supplies. Between them, they were spending £42,000 a year on electricity, and rising energy costs meant that figure was only heading in one direction.
Our Challenge
The obvious first step would have been a three-phase grid connection. But there was a catch: no three-phase supply existed on site, and the District Network Operator quoted a six-month wait just to install a new transformer. That meant six more months of eye-watering bills before any upgrade work could even begin.
Our Solution
Rather than wait for the grid to catch up, we proposed something bolder: a fully off-grid system powerful enough to run both the farm and the house, with no reliance on a new transformer at all.
The system we designed combines a substantial solar array with high-capacity battery storage, all managed from a purpose-built plant room in one of the farm’s barns.
Solar Array
We installed 178 JA Solar JAM54D-40-450-LB panels, giving a total array size of 80.1kW. These 450 watt panels come with a 25 year product warranty and a 30 year linear performance warranty, and together they are expected to generate 64,970kWh of clean electricity every year.
Inverters
Two Sunsynk 50kW three-phase hybrid inverters (SUNSYNK-50K-SG01HP3-EU-BM4) provide 100kW of inverter power. This effectively creates the three-phase capability the site never had, without waiting six months for the grid, and gives the farm ample headroom for heavy machinery and future expansion.
Battery Storage
At the heart of the system sits 122.88kWh of Sunsynk battery storage: 24 high-voltage 5.12kWh LFP modules, arranged as two racks of 12 in professional floor-standing cabinets. Each rack has an integrated Battery Management System designed for commercial use, and the modular design means capacity can be scaled up to 20 modules per cabinet if the site’s needs grow.
The whole installation is housed in a purpose-built plant room inside one of the farm’s barns, keeping it secure, ventilated and out of the way of daily farm life.
The Results
The farm and house now run independently of the grid, powered by sunshine during the day and stored energy through the evening and overnight. Instead of waiting half a year for a transformer, the client had a complete energy solution generating from day one.
With an annual electricity spend of £42,000 before the installation and a system generating nearly 65,000kWh a year, the numbers speak for themselves. This is a solution that pays for itself, then keeps on paying.
System At A Glance
| Solar Array | 80.1kW, 178 x JA Solar JAM54D-40-450-LB 450W panels |
| Estimated Annual Generation | 64,970kWh |
| Inverters | 2 x Sunsynk 50kW three-phase hybrid (100kW total) |
| Battery Storage | 122.88kWh, 24 x Sunsynk HV 5.12kWh modules in 2 racks |
| Panel Warranty | 25 year product, 30 year linear performance |
| Previous Annual Electricity Spend | £42,000 |
Thinking Of Making The Switch?
If the grid can’t give you what you need, there’s a good chance the sun can, for a farm, a business or your home. Get in touch with Solar Footprint for a straight-talking chat about what’s possible on your site.