Solar PV for a local garage in Withernsea
DW Autos is a commercial garage in Withernsea, on the East Yorkshire coast. A garage uses power all day, for lifts, compressors, diagnostics, lighting and heating. That makes it a great fit for rooftop solar. The owners wanted to cut their energy bills and make use of the big pitched roof over the workshop.
The challenge
The building has a pitched metal-sheet roof. It’s strong and well suited to solar, but it needs the right fixings so the roof stays weatherproof. The design also had to get the best out of every panel, rather than letting the weakest panel on a string set the pace for the rest.
On the paperwork side, the install fell under Permitted Development, so we didn’t need planning permission. We did need DNO consent from the local network operator before we could commission the system. At first, the system ran with an export limit, which was later lifted.
What we installed
We designed a 17.63 kWp system using 43 × Hyundai HiE-S410DG(FB) 410 W all-black panels. The all-black finish looks neat and sharp on the roof.
To get the most from every panel, we fitted Tigo TS4-A-O optimisers. They let each panel perform at its best on its own, so one underperforming panel doesn’t drag down the rest. The panels are mounted on Renusol MetaSole+, an above-roof system made for metal-sheet roofs, which fixes directly to the sheeting without disturbing the roof structure.
All of the output goes through a single Solis 20 kW three-phase inverter, with a dedicated PV distribution board to keep everything tidy and easy to maintain. The garage chose not to add a battery, because most of the solar is used on site during working hours.
Timeline
- Design and DNO application: consent obtained before commissioning
- 9 July 2024: system commissioned
- Later: the export limit was removed, so surplus power can be exported freely
Results
The MCS certificate puts the system’s expected generation at 14,885 kWh a year. Based on that, we estimate lifetime savings of about £97,234 and a payback period of around 4 years 3 months. These savings figures are estimates and depend on energy prices and how much power the garage uses on site.
For a small business, that’s a big cut in running costs, from a roof that was doing nothing before. The system is covered by our 24-month workmanship warranty, as well as the manufacturers’ product warranties.
Could your business roof pay for itself?
See more on our commercial solar page, read about commercial solar in Hull and East Yorkshire, or check the areas we cover.
Run a garage, workshop or unit on the coast? Contact us for a free, bespoke quote.
