Project Quick Facts
Solar array and high-capacity storage system for a Grade II listed heritage property with extremely high energy demands.
- Location: North Woodchester, Gloucestershire
- Installed: October 2025
- System: 70 x 450 Watt Panels, 2 x Force-H3 35.8kWh Battery Storage , Solis S6 Hybrid Inverter - 3PH DC (30-50kW)
The Challenge
Decarbonising a High-Usage Heritage Estate
The Old Priory, a magnificent Grade II listed property in North Woodchester, faced a modern dilemma. With an extensive footprint and high energy demands, the estate was consuming 75,000 kWh per year, resulting in projected annual electricity bills exceeding £20,000.
The challenge for Fit Solar was two-fold
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Strict Compliance: Designing a large-scale system that satisfied the aesthetic and structural requirements of a Grade II listed building.
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Energy Intensity: Engineering a solution powerful enough to make a meaningful dent in a 75,000 kWh annual load while navigating the limitations of a historic grid connection.
The Solution
A Bespoke 31.5 kWp High-Density Array
Fit Solar designed a high-performance system centered on "invisible" efficiency and smart energy management. By utilising all-black components, the installation maintained the property’s historical integrity while delivering industrial-grade power.
The Strategy: Smart Tariff Arbitrage To maximise ROI, Fit Solar configured the system to work in harmony with the Octopus Flux tariff. This allows the property to:
- Peak Shave: The 71.6 kWh battery bank discharges during the expensive 4 pm–7 pm window, avoiding the £0.38/kWh peak rate.
- Off-Peak Top-Up: During the "Flux" window (2 am–5 am), the batteries fast-charge from the grid at a low rate of £0.16/kWh to ensure the home is powered by cheap energy even on cloudy days.
Heritage Success
By managing the technical design and local authority building control notices, Fit Solar proved that heritage status is no longer a barrier to the green energy revolution. The Old Priory is now future-proofed, generating clean, silent energy for decades to come.
The Results
Energy Independence & Rapid Payback
The installation transformed The Old Priory from a high-cost energy consumer into a leader in residential sustainability.
Financial Impact:
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Annual Savings: Estimated at £7,846 in the first year alone.
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Lifetime Gains: Projected savings of over £303,917.
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Rapid Payback: Despite the scale of the project, the system is on track for full ROI in just 4 years and 3 months.
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Self-Sufficiency: A 37% total consumption offset, drastically reducing reliance on the national grid.
Environmental Impact
Solar has no emissions. It silently generates pure, clean energy for the Stroud community. Each year, this system reduces 7 tons of CO₂.
Over the system lifetime this equates to:
- 210,211 km of car distance avoided.
- 1,351 trees planted equivalent.
- 150 long-haul flights avoided.
Lower your energy bills in Stroud
Is your high-usage or heritage property ready for an energy revolution? Fit Solar specialises in Solar solutions for all property types.
