20.40kW Solar PV & Battery Storage Installation – Eastrea Centre, Whittlesey

Project Overview

The Eastrea Centre, located in the heart of Whittlesey, serves as a vibrant hub for the community, hosting fitness classes, children’s groups, social events, private bookings, and more. As a modern facility heavily dependent on electricity for heating, cooking, and hot water, the centre faced a substantial and consistent demand for energy, resulting in high running costs.

With energy prices continuing to rise and dedicated funding available to support greener community initiatives, the trustees recognised that investing in Solar PV and Battery Storage would reduce operational expenses, boost sustainability, and enhance long-term energy resilience.

Optimum Electrics designed and installed a 20.40kW system, purpose-built to support the centre’s current energy needs while planning for future additions such as EV charging. The system was intentionally oversized based on future plans for EV charging in the car park. Installing additional capacity now prevents costly upgrades later and protects the centre from increased grid demand and tariffs once chargers are installed.

System Overview

Installation Process

To deliver this large-scale installation without interrupting the centre’s community activities, Optimum Electrics carefully coordinated all works around the Eastrea Centre’s busy weekly schedule. Our team planned installation hours to avoid peak usage times, ensuring minimal disruption to classes, events, and private bookings.

Administrative & Compliance Support

Ahead of installation, our administrative team managed the entire DNO application process, handling all paperwork required for a system of this size and ensuring full approval prior to work commencing. This included export agreements, grid notifications and all system design documentation.

Upon completion, Optimum Electrics also supplied the centre with:

• Full commissioning certificates

• Electrical installation reports

• Product warranties

• As-fitted schematics

• Handover and user documentation

This ensured the trustees had complete, compliant records for future funding, maintenance, and insurance requirements.

On-Site Installation

The installation included:

• Fitting 40 AIKO Neostar 510W panels across the large, rear south-facing roof

• Mounting the 25kW Sigenergy three-phase hybrid inverter externally on the building’s side wall

• Installing 30kWh of Sigenergy battery storage in secure external cabinets

• Using the durable Renusol Metasole+ mounting system for long-term stability

• Installing bird protection around all panels to prevent nesting and protect the long-term performance of the system

Results & Benefits

The Eastrea Centre now benefits from:

• Much lower operational electricity costs

• Reliable stored energy to support evening events and peak demand

• A future-ready electrical setup designed to integrate upcoming EV chargers

• Reduced carbon footprint and increased sustainability

• Long-term energy security for community programming

By investing in solar PV and battery storage, the centre can redirect savings into improving services and supporting local groups.

Conclusion

This 20.40kW installation demonstrates how community centres and public buildings can significantly reduce costs and improve energy resilience through modern renewable technology. With thoughtful design, future-proof planning, and a carefully managed installation schedule, the Eastrea Centre is now positioned for a greener and more cost-efficient future.

Thinking about solar for your home or business?

Contact our team today for expert advice and a free, no-obligation quote and solar design. 

01733 601698 

enquiries@optimumelectrics.co.uk