Community Photovoltaic Systems

Solstice Energy has developed a lot of valuable experience working with community buildings from initial design, through funding applications, to careful and efficient installation, and assistance with export arrangements.

Funding is often important for community installations, but this is not as widely available as it was before the FiT was introduced. Please download case studies and funding information.

We developed a bespoke lead roll clamp for use on the twelfth century, grade 2* listed St Mary's Church in Hinckley (photo bottom right). The existing alternatives were a heavy ballasted system or fixings into the roof. Our solution is lightweight and non-invasive, and we hope will open up the possibilities for many other lead rolled roofs.

Our installers are rope access trained which means we can often save the damage and expense of scaffolding structures on large buildings.

Case Study: St Aldhelm's Church halls

On May 13th 2006 the Mayor of Enfield switched on the 18.4kWp system at St Aldhelm's church community halls in Edmonton, North London. The system has been widely used as a prime example of what is possible when there is a will.

Among the exposure has been a BBC report made during installation, and filming took place there for the channel 4 programme "God is Green".

Mr Chris Littler, St Aldhelm's hall manager, collected the award and a cheque for £500 from the Bishop of Ealing for "Energy Saving in Church Buildings" at The Church Times Green Awards on November 19th 2007 at St Mary le Bow.

St Aldhelm's have 3 big South-facing roofs, and at 18.4kWp it is a large system - most community PV projects tend to range between 5 and 12kWp. St Aldhelm's have signed up with electricity suppliers Good Energy Ltd who source all of their power from renewable energy.

The numbers

  • 18.4kWp system installed May 2006
  • Cost £92,400, £78,700 of which came from funding.
  • No maintenance costs to date (this is typical)
  • Actual generation 17000kWh / year

Download St Aldhelm's recommendation.

Marshalswick Baptist Free Church highly recommends Solstice Energy as consultants and installers of photovoltaic energy equipment.

Solstice have helped us in every stage of the process from the exploration of the feasibility of installing Photovoltaic Panels through the process of grant application to the actual installation of 60 panels on the roof of the church building.

At every stage of this process they have explained clearly in layman's terms what was needed and how to go about it. They were highly sensitive and sympathetic to the constraints we were working within, and during the installation period acted in a very professional manner, working around the constraints of the site with minimum disruption and a high quality of workmanship.

Rev Graham Clarke
Minister
Marshalswick Baptist Free Church St Albans

Solstice Energy has installed a 9kWp Photovoltaic System on the roof of our church hall, Hornsey Moravian Church, Priory Road, London, N8.

Solstice have been helpful and supportive from the moment of the first contact, and have also given very valuable support in applying for grant funding.

The work has been carried out on a precise time scale and within budget. The quality of the work is superb.

Rev Joachim Kreusel
Minister
Hornsey Moravian Church