Solar power, seamlessly integrated into a Lake District self-build five years in the making. When hydro alone couldn’t carry Eddie through the summer months, solar stepped in to keep the energy flowing.

For the past five years, Eddie has been single-handedly transforming a former water mill into a family home, a true self-build project driven entirely by his own hands and vision. With hydro-electric power already harnessed from the beck running past his property, Eddie needed a way to keep the energy flowing through the summer months, when Environment Agency restrictions limit river use. Solar was the natural answer: a way to complement his existing system and keep his home powered year-round, without compromising the character of the building he’d worked so hard to restore.

To meet the client’s needs, The Love Solar Solution was a 3kWp in-roof solar PV system, combining eight 375W Solfit in-roof panels with a Solis 2kW string inverter for a sleek, integrated finish. The system is designed to generate 2,370kW annually, delivering combined savings of £1,953 a year through a mix of export payments and reduced electricity costs. With a predicted payback period of just 6 years, the client can look forward to years of low-cost, clean energy well beyond that point.

The panels were installed directly to the felted and battened roof in a single day, allowing Eddie himself to slate around the perimeter. The electrical install was integrated with his existing hydro system to create a seamless transition between energy sources.

Eddie was extremely happy with the end result. The Solfit panels were a perfect match for the building and Eddie has received several comments from walkers who believe it is exactly the innovation that we should be seeing more of in the countryside – the integrated, sleek visual style has helped with this.