Mr and Mrs C of Hockley, Essex, were looking for a reliable local solar installer after an unsatisfactory experience with another company had left their solar journey complicated and frustrating.
Having initially started the process with another solar company, the project became difficult due to a lack of coordination between multiple third-party contractors. Rather than continue with a service that wasn’t meeting their expectations, Mr and Mrs C decided to start again and chose SolarTherm UK to design and install their new solar PV and battery storage system.
The result is a 6.11 kWp solar PV system, comprising 13 Aiko Neostar 2S Mono-glass 470W solar panels, paired with a 9.4 KWh Hanchu ESS battery storage system.
The Solar PV System
With an annual electricity consumption of approximately 8,345 kWh, Mr and Mrs C had significant potential to reduce their reliance on electricity from the grid.
The new system consists of:
- 13x Aiko Neostar 2S Mono-glass 470W solar panels
- 9.4 kWh Hanchu ESS battery storage
- Bird protection mesh
The system is expected to generate approximately 5,389 kWh of clean electricity every year, helping the homeowners generate a significant proportion of their own electricity directly from the sun.
Making More of Their Solar Energy
The addition of a 9.4 KWh Hanchu ESS battery allows excess solar energy generated during the day to be stored rather than exported immediately to the grid. This stored energy can then be used when the solar panels aren’t generating enough electricity, helping to increase self-consumption and reduce the amount of electricity Mr and Mrs C need to purchase from their energy supplier.
The battery also works alongside their chosen Octopus Flux tariff, allowing the system to take advantage of different export rates throughout the day.
Under the tariff, the quoted export rates are:
- 2am-5am: 4.99p/kWh
- 4pm-7pm: 29.32p/kWh
- Daytime export: 10.11p/kWh
This combination of solar panels, battery storage and a suitable time of use tariff provides greater flexibility in how the household uses and exports its electricity.
Predicted Savings
Based on the system design and the customer’s energy consumption, we were able to provide estimates on the system’s performance. The installation is predicted to provide £1,258 in savings during the first year.
The estimated payback period is approximately 7 years, while projected savings over 30 years are estimated at £121,540.
**Savings and payback figures are predictions based on the system design, estimated generation, electricity consumption and tariff assumptions. Actual performance and savings will vary depending on energy usage, weather, electricity prices and export rates.
Reducing Carbon Emissions
As well as reducing electricity costs, the Hockley installation will help reduce the household’s reliance on grid electricity and generate renewable energy locally.
The system is predicted to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ every year. Over the minimum 30 year lifespan of the system, this equates to an estimated 32.33 tonnes of CO₂ reduction – equivalent to planting approximately 51 trees every year.
A First-Class Customer Experience
For Mr and Mrs C, choosing the right installer was particularly important after their previous experience.
They were looking for a company that could manage the entire project properly, from the initial quotation and technical survey through to installation and certification.
Following completion of their installation, they left SolarTherm UK a five-star Trustpilot review titled “Efficient, Friendly and Cost Effective”.
They highlighted the contrast between their previous experience and their experience with SolarTherm UK, explaining that they were “extremely pleased” with their installation and describing the service as “absolute first class from the very beginning.”
They particularly praised the smooth progression from the quotation and technical survey through to installation, noting that everything was coordinated effectively and that the project “worked like clockwork.”
They concluded:
“It has been an absolute joy to work with a truly professional local team who deliver on their promises. We couldn’t recommend SolarTherm UK highly enough!”
For SolarTherm UK, this feedback is particularly meaningful because it reflects not only the finished installation, but the importance of providing a fully managed service throughout the entire solar journey.
System Summary
| Location | Hockley, Essex |
| System size | 6.11 kWp |
| Solar panels | 13x Aiko Neostar 2S Mono-glass 470W |
| Battery storage | 9.4 kWh Hanchu ESS |
| System protection | Anti-bird protection mesh |
| Estimated annual consumption | ~8,345 kWh |
| Estimated annual solar generation | ~5,389 kWh |
| Predicted year 1 savings | £1,258 |
| Estimated payback period | 7 years |
| Predicted 30 year savings | £121,540 |
| Annual CO₂ reduction | 1.07 tonnes |
| 30 year CO₂ reduction | 32.33 tonnes |
| Equivalent to trees planted | 51 trees planted every year |
Another Successful Solar Installation in Essex
The completed Hockley installation provides Mr & Mrs C with a modern 6.11 kWp solar PV system and 9.4 KWh battery, designed around their relatively high annual electricity consumption and chosen Octopus Flux tariff.
With an estimated 5,389 kWh of annual solar generation, predicted first year savings of £1,258, and a projected £121,540 in savings over 30 years, the system is designed to deliver long term financial and environmental benefits.
Most importantly, the project demonstrates the value of working with an experienced local solar installer who can take care of the entire process – from system design and technical surveying through to installation, grid applications, certification and aftercare.
Ready to Start Your Solar Journey?
If you’re considering solar panels and battery storage for your home in Hockley, Rochford, Southend or elsewhere in Essex or the wider South East, let SolarTherm UK help you make the most of your investment.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for your free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice – and the time you need to make an informed decision.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
