SHARE
Jack Taylor | 19 Sep 2022
A huge milestone has been reached towards achieving net-zero flats in the UK. The SolShare’s ability to connect solar PV panels directly to flats is the keystone technology in the initiative.
In a world first, Allume’s SolShare has been combined with other world-leading, energy-saving technologies to create a near net-zero apartment building in London. Allume’s SolShare, alongside technologies created by MyEnergi, Sunamp, & NexGen have been combined to create a solar energy solution that more than doubles the energy bill savings and carbon reduction for every household within the apartment building, if compared to a standard solar system.
Project Overview
The solution achieves this by ensuring that close to 100% of the solar energy generated by the solar panels is used by the flats. Maximising the solar that’s consumed by the flats is vital because the more solar consumed on-site, the more money the residents will save on their energy bills.
As a comparison, a traditional solar system on a standalone home averages just 40% consumption. Increasing this to nearly 100%, by enabling the solar energy to be stored for times when the sun isn’t shining, enables every resident to enjoy huge energy bill savings, no matter the time of day they choose to use energy.
The Whetstone Green development has solar connected to all 20 flats.
Project Consortium
The development, called Whetstone Green Apartments in north London, was brought together by SHA Environmental for MKM Developments and consists of an Allume SolShare solar PV system that connects rooftop solar panels to all 20 flats. Within each flat is a MyEnergi PV diverter, Sunamp Heat Battery and NexGen infrared heating system.
Kelly Lemon, MKM Director said “As a developer, we are proud to be bringing such a progressive scheme to the market. We have proactively worked with the various elements to bring the best technology to the scheme and we’re thrilled with the results.”
Technical Details
Whenever solar energy is being generated, the SolShare will direct it to the flats to cover their instantaneous energy demands from appliances, devices, lights etc. By doing this, each flat minimises its grid energy usage and maximises its energy bill savings. This optimised delivery is a standard feature of a SolShare solar PV system and already increases the solar consumption from 40% to 50-70%.
However, this project takes it one step further by using a PV diverter to direct any unused solar energy into a Sunamp heat battery charging it for use. The residents can then use this stored energy, in the form of hot water, at a time that suits them. This reduces the residents’ requirement for grid energy, keeping their energy bills even lower.
Industry Excitement Over Solar for Flats
The solution has already gained industry acclamation, with the consortium invited to present the solution at the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition, Solar & Storage Live. If you are interested in attending the ‘Solar & Storage for Flats’ talk, click here.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about this project or the companies and technologies that make up the solution, please contact the team at Allume.
