"Always something there to delay me..."

...as Sandy Shaw famously once never sang.

Despite the Solar Fence project being started back in December, with the panels mounted well before Christmas, they still aren't connected to the grid! There are two reasons for this (three, if you count my laziness): First, the hideous, wonky patio we inherited from the previous owners of Chateau Lessgrid was apparently laid by gentlemen with horses and stetsons. Consequently, it sits too high against the house and, while not breaching the damp course, it is perilously close. Close enough to warrant digging out and relaying a good few inches lower. Secondly, ever since discovering the aforementioned patio problem, the effects of climate change appear to have singled out our garden for special attention and rarely has there been a dry day. (Well, there have been a few, but we've buggered off out for a walk when that's happened. Too nice to stay at home digging...) Anyway, it's all conspired to delay installation of the main cable between panels and house, which will be running under the patio. Nevertheless, I am still hopeful that the installation will be complete before we lose an ice cap.

Lavender doing well

On a happier note, plans to turn this previously neglected end of the patio into a micro nature reserve are ticking along quite nicely. January saw an explosion of snowdrops under the panels and now, as February draws to a close, daffodils are about to put in an appearance. It looks like the ground under the panels receives a good amount of dappled sunlight, which should be good for shade-tolerating woodland plants. Plans to plant the area in front of the array with lavender are in hand. Deb has got a propagator on the go and already we have plenty of seedlings appearing. We're growing Hidcote and Munstead strains, both chosen for their compact size and fragrant, bee-friendly flowers.

World's first solar powered bird box?

Finally, a couple of weeks ago, in a fit of sudden, uncharacteristic activity, I stuck a spare bird box to the end of the timber array frame. The local blue tits have been in and out on a daily basis ever since, so I am hopeful that we will see a pair take up residence when the nesting season gets underway.

Solar Fence - phase 1

You know that moment, when you begin to stir from your slumber and, for a second or two, dreamworld and reality become entwined? I blame that. Anyway, for whatever reason, I'd decided that dangling some solar pv off the (south-facing) fence between us and next door would be a great idea. The fence panels needed replacing anyway...

There was some method behind the madness:
- Our 3.7kW on-roof solar pv system could potentially dump around 14A onto the grid when running flat out.
- Under UK guidelines for connection of small-scale generation, we are allowed to connect up to 16A of potential export without seeking prior permission from the grid operator. That's 2 whole amps to play with!
- We currently dump excess solar generation into space heating (a 400W panel heater currently, and a 1.8kW storage heater in the process of being hooked up), so as far as generation goes, the more the merrier.
- Everyone needs a hobby...

The new system wouldn't qualify for the Feed-in Tariff, so it was important to keep costs down. This was done by judicious choice of components and by collecting the bulky stuff from local suppliers where possible, thus saving a fair bit on shipping charges.

The initial idea was for a couple of cheap 250W crystalline panels mounted at approx. 60 degrees inclination (to both maximise winter generation and take up less space) connected to a dinky Mastervolt Soladin inverter. Output would be knobbled by shading from the house until mid-morning, but from then until virtually sunset, the panels would be in full sun. A bit of computer modelling in PVSyst showed it was a goer. I then came across Solar Frontier's 150W thin film panels, available from Dulas. Thin film technology works better in low light conditions and is more shade tolerant than crystalline technology. Three Solar Frontier 150's came in at a similar price to a couple of typical 250W poly panels but, according to PVSyst, would far outperform them. I could also collect from Dulas' warehouse in Welshpool... and they look better than crystalline panels... and are a little shorter (which helps with positioning). Job done and three panels were soon sat in my garage awaiting somewhere to put 'em.

Solar Frontier 150W thin film panels

Ubiquitous Mastervolt Soladin - perfect for small systems

I soon discounted mounting the panels directly off the concrete fence posts, via some dodgy framework of dubious strength. Instead I plumped for a more traditional ground-mount frame, using treated timber. A few rough sketches later and something resembling a frame was soon knocked up in front of the fence (ropey fence panels first replaced!). Panels were attached to the frame using a traditional aluminium rail and clip system. This was sourced from the ever-helpful people down at REDtip (STF Fasteners) in Bilston, a handful of miles down the road. Driving home with 3.2m rails sticking out of the passenger window of a van with a 2m long load bay was 'entertaining'. Fortunately no pedestrians were impaled. 

Framework up. Very sturdy.

Rails and clips in place, ready to take the panels.

My dad was roped in to give me a hand positioning the panels and these were soon clamped up, tested and terminated in a DC isolator, mounted to one of the timber uprights. Phase 2 will see the inverter mounted and the electrical connections made.

Panels on. Ooh, shiny.

The new ground mount system beneath part of its big brother

The new system occupies a previously unused end of the patio. However, we will be planting the strip of ground in front of it with some bee and butterfly friendly lavender and adorning the timber frame with all manner of insect and bird friendly habitats. A small 'water feature' to the right of the panels will hopefully encourage more wildlife and I might even see if I can get some sunflowers to grow up the gap between panels and fence! Should look nice in a couple of years, when everything has established.