Client: Domestic
Location: Ballina, Co. Tipperary
Property Overview
- Home: Two-storey dwelling with slate roof
- Roof Orientation: Direct South (180°)
- Roof Pitch: 30°
Client Objectives
They contacted Moontree Solar to:
- Reduce increasing electricity costs
- Gain reliable backup power during frequent grid outages
- Ensure the home could remain operational during power cuts
Key Challenges (Pain Points)
- High and rising electricity bills
- Regular grid loss — at least once every two weeks, often in the morning and sometimes lasting all day
- Need for a system that would continue operating during outages, not shut down
Moontree Solar Solution
Following a full site assessment, we designed a system focused on strong solar generation, battery storage, and uninterrupted power during grid loss.
Installed Solar PV System
Solar Panels
- 24 × TW Solar 445W panels
- Installed on the main south-facing roof in two strings
Mounting System
- Solarmount tile hooks – 64 installed
- Solarmount Quick-Flash slate system – 64 flashes
Inverter, Battery & Backup
- Sigenergy EC-5.0-SP Energy Controller (5kW inverter)
- Sigenergy BAT 8.0 – 8kWh battery
- Sigenergy HomeMax SP Gateway (full backup capability)
System Capacity & Output
- Total System Size: 10.68kWp
- Estimated Annual Generation: 7,596kWh
Equipment Locations
- Inverter & Battery: Side entrance drying room
- Gateway: Pantry, adjacent to the main fuse board
- Fireshunt: Main attic
- Solar Panels: Main house roof
Installation Notes
- Roof was clean, dry, and easy to work on
- Six broken slates discovered during hook installation — replaced before panel fitting
- Challenging cable runs:
- Attic to inverter required extensive drilling
- ESB meter to pantry routing was equally demanding
- Mains supply cable upgraded:
- Original 10mm² cable replaced with 16mm²
- Isolator fitted at the ESB meter to support Gateway installation
- An unexpected challenge encountered in the attic — a beehive:
- Works were carried out carefully to avoid disturbance
- Time in attic limited and protective measures taken
- Nest removed safely a few days later
System Performance
Commissioned:
📅 8th August 2025 – 14:20
- Day 1:
- 12.94kWh generated
- 4.12kWh exported
- First full day (9th August):
- 41.84kWh generated
- 21.69kWh exported
Performance Summary
(8th August – 31st December 2025)
- Total Solar Generated: 2.73MWh (2,730kWh)
- Battery Charged: 872.89kWh
- Self-Consumption (Load): 4.23MWh
- Exported to Grid: 1.1MWh
- Imported from Grid: 2.72MWh
System Behaviour & Learnings
- The 8kWh battery is undersized for the amount of solar generation
- Household usage is low during daytime (home empty while occupants work)
- Battery typically fills by midday
- Excess solar from midday onward is exported to the grid
- Evening usage draws from battery, often leaving ~50% capacity by night
- Grid outages highlighted the importance of battery management
Backup Power in Action
Grid loss occurs frequently in this area.
Thanks to the Sigenergy HomeMax SP Gateway:
- Solar generation continues during outages
- The home remains operational while neighbouring properties lose power
One learning moment:
- A grid outage occurred after a dull day, with only ~1kWh left in the battery
- Low solar generation the following morning meant the battery depleted quickly
System Adjustment (Convenience Upgrade)
To prevent future inconvenience:
- Battery charge scheduled daily from 2am–4am
- No cost saving under current tariff, but:
- Ensures a full battery each morning
- Provides peace of mind during early-day grid loss
- Allows solar to take over charging later in the day
Electricity Tariff Review
- Current tariff: Flat 28c per unit (24hrs)
- No night-rate advantage at present
- Planned switch to Day/Night tariff when contract expires
Recommended Tariff (Yuno):
- Day Rate: 26.3c
- Night Rate: 15.73c
- Export Rate: 15.89c
- Peak Rate: 29.54c (5pm–7pm, avoided where possible)
Next Steps
1️⃣ Increase Battery Storage
- Add Sigenergy BAT 10.0 (9kWh)
- Total storage increased to 17kWh
- Benefits:
- Stronger morning backup
- Increased self-consumption
- Reduced exports of valuable solar energy
- Less reliance on grid imports
2️⃣ Switch to Day/Night Tariff
- Unlocks low-cost overnight charging
- Improves overall system economics
Project Synopsis
- 10.68kWp solar array delivering excellent performance
- 2,730kWh generated in just 5 months
- Battery stored ~833kWh for self-consumption
- 1.1MWh exported, creating additional value
- Gateway provides critical backup during frequent grid loss
Outcome
✅ Reduced electricity costs
✅ Strong solar generation
✅ Reliable backup power
✅ Future-ready battery expansion
The Sigenergy system installed by Moontree Solar delivers real savings and keeps the lights on when the grid goes down.
