Project overview
This Grade II listed home had a clear brief: deliver an efficient solar and storage system that blends seamlessly with the property’s historic character. The homeowners wanted a highly functional setup that would be virtually invisible at ground level, with no panels visible from the front, rear or sides.
Constraints and objectives
Listed building with local authority restrictions
No visible panels from ground level
Cabling to be concealed for a clean aesthetic
Winter-ready performance and meaningful bill reduction
The design solution
Following a detailed survey and planning phase, the final design used an in-roof (recessed) solar array positioned within the roof gully so the modules sit flush and out of sight. The system was paired with battery storage, a hybrid inverter, and EPS (emergency power supply) for resilience.
All cabling was concealed; most external runs were placed underground to keep the building’s exterior free of visible conduit.
Installation quality
The on-site team worked to conservation standards: tidy, courteous and careful around heritage fabric. Coordination with the homeowners ensured Listed Building requirements were respected while maintaining the performance targets of the system.
Our local roof stock is a mix of terraces, semis and detached properties with varied orientations and some conservation constraints. The right design can still deliver strong results:
Terraces and semis: compact 3.5–5 kWp arrays with 5–10 kWh batteries often cover a large share of evening usage.
Detached homes: larger roof areas allow 6–8 kWp arrays with 10–20 kWh storage for day-to-night coverage.
Listed or shaded homes: battery-only or optimised in-roof systems keep aesthetics intact while improving resilience.
Results so far
Even in winter, when generation is naturally lower, the impact has been striking.
Daily electricity cost reduced from £10–£12 to under £2
Battery storage sized correctly from day one to maximise off-peak use and evening coverage
Discreet, conservation-friendly appearance with the array virtually invisible from ground level
Why an in-roof system suits heritage properties
Panels sit flush for a low-profile look compatible with sensitive settings
Hidden cabling and trench routes avoid visual clutter
Storage and EPS add resilience without changing the building’s external character
The results have been amazing, even considering we’re in winter and solar generation is lower. Our electricity bills have dropped from around £10–£12 a day to under £2 a day, which is incredible. This is a real testament to the initial planning and making sure the battery storage was sized correctly from day one.