Background
This project installed solar PV to 93 social rented homes in the CF39 postal area. The project started in July 2024 and is set to complete in March 2025. The installations were made by GB-Sol, a Welsh based manufacturer and installer of supplied and fitted the PV systems. iOPT monitoring was used to comply with the environmental sensor requirements which was installed by local contractor Flair.
RHA Wales worked with GB-Sol to design the solar PV systems for each home to give the greatest increase in SAP ratings possible, in order to give tenants as much free energy as possible to use. EPC A/rdSAP 92 was our key driver in preparation for the requirements of WHQS 2023.
Project learning
The key learning from this project was the new PAS standard in relation to batteries. Following review of this, RHA decided (with WG approval) to not install batteries. This enabled us to increase the number of homes in the project by around 50%.
The project is projected to make 30 of the homes EPC A and 58 of the homes EPC B with the remainder being high C.
Project innovation
RHA utilised the services of GB-Sol who are a local Welsh manufacturer and installer of Solar PV panels.
Challenges
Access has continued to be a problem. We have received 4 refusals from tenants despite trying to convince them. This has resulted in, in some cases, substituting in void properties instead as we felt that this may then increase the letting potential of the properties.
We faced no challenges with workforce or skills. GB-Sol are an experienced specialist contractor and Flair once trained by iOPT were competent to install the IES systems.