RHA Wales – Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council ORP 2.2
Solar PV and battery storage supplied and installed to 14 properties by Welsh Manufacturer GB-Sol
Background
Solar PV and battery storage supplied and installed to 14social rented properties in the CF42 area by Welsh Manufacturer GB-Sol. Due to the timing of the requirements to spend ORP 2.2, RHA decided to continue the format of ORP 2.1. IES were supplied by Sero and these were installed by our local framework contractor Flair. All the homes achieved at least a high EPC B rating following the works. WHQS (pre 2023) EPC A/rdSAP 92 was our key driver in preparation for the requirements of WHQS 2023. The project started in February 2022 and was complete in March 2023.
Project learning
This was the third Solar PV and battery installation project for RHA, therefore this project was quicker to complete as we had already completed ORP 1 and 2.1. We continued to see that the grid currently can not accommodate full export and so for this project export limitation of 1 kw was enforced by the National Grid (as per ORP 1 and 2.1). This was the first project that we decided to utilise both pitches of the roofs using an east/west design, enabling us to maximize the size of the PV systems to 3.9 kw. If we had not done this the systems would have only been around 1.95 kw.
Project innovation
RHA utilized the services of GB-Sol who are a local Welsh manufacturer and installer of Solar PV panels. We also installed batteries to further increase the consumption of energy generated from the solar PV.
Challenges
The main challenge was access to properties. One tenant refused the works and so a substitute local property had to be found so that the project could be delivered. We faced no challenges with workforce or skills. GB-Sol are an experienced specialist contractor and Flair, once trained by Sero, were competent to install the IES systems.