A Solar Journey at Our Church
We’re excited to share the story of our ambitious solar panel installation project – a journey that began with generous hearts and ended with clean, renewable energy powering our church community.
A Legacy of Sustainability
Our solar story began with the generous £25,000 legacy gift from Brian Bliss, which set the wheels in motion for a major sustainability transformation. This gift aligned perfectly with our goals to achieve the ECO Church Gold Award and reduce our environmental impact.
Taking the First Steps
In late summer 2024, we began our journey toward energy independence with a comprehensive approach to reducing our reliance on gas central heating. Our initial focus was on simplifying our heating requirements for the winter months ahead.
In September, we converted several small downstairs rooms to electric-only heating, disabling the central heating in those areas. This change not only reduced unnecessary heating but also gave us better control over our energy consumption. We also upgraded our heating controls with TADO room stats and management systems for the three gas boilers serving each hall. Special thanks to Glynis, who manages our room bookings and took on the programming of the gas heating system.
Planning Our Solar Future
With our heating management sorted, we turned our attention to solar power. After discussions with National Grid and a comprehensive site visit, we learned about the technical requirements for our installation. Due to G99 solar export limits, we were restricted to a maximum export of 17kW on our three-phase connection.
The recommended approach was to install a 22kW system with export capped at 16.5kW. This apparent overcapacity was actually strategic – it means our system produces useful output even on gloomy winter days, while maximizing production during summer months.
Finding the Right Partner
Following a thorough tender process in autumn 2024, we received detailed quotations from December onwards. After careful evaluation of three comprehensive proposals, including site visits and design comparisons, we selected Naked Solar as our installation partner in March 2025, with installation scheduled for May.
Overcoming Unexpected Challenges
Like many worthwhile projects, ours encountered some unexpected hurdles. When scaffolding was erected at the end of May 2025, our installer discovered that the roof fittings couldn’t achieve adequate purchase on the existing battens. The issue lay with smaller cross battens and a lack of secure fixing points for the solar rail system.
What followed was a determined problem-solving process that extended through the summer. Various specialized bracket options were investigated, and multiple UK suppliers were consulted – though some simply refused to engage with the complexity of our unique roof structure.
In August 2025, a comprehensive roof survey revealed that the steel RSJs weren’t evenly distributed, complicating load calculations and requiring an alternative approach to handle wind loads. The solution involved upgrading the solar rails from 40mm to 60mm cross-section to span the 2-meter widths safely. The design was further refined by removing 2 panels and adjusting rail positioning to fix directly to the steel roof RSJs for optimal stability.
Success at Last
The larger rails weren’t available in the UK and had to be imported from the EU, but the wait was worth it. Installation was completed in September 2025, and our system was commissioned on September 12th.
Our final installation includes:
- 46 solar panels
- 21kW total capacity
- 3-Phase Solis inverter capped at 16.5kW
On commissioning day at 13:15, during a brief sunny period between showers, our system immediately performed at 100% of its rated capacity – a perfect 16.5kW output!
Looking Forward
The final piece of our solar puzzle will be the installation of anti-bird mesh while the scaffolding remains in place, protecting our investment for years to come.
Lessons Learned and Gratitude
While our project faced delays due to the non-standard nature of our church roof and the rigorous requirements for MCS accreditation, the outcome demonstrates what’s possible with determination and the right partner.
We’re incredibly grateful to Naked Solar for their persistence in finding a solution that works specifically for our building. Their decision to provide extended scaffolding at no additional cost not only enabled our successful solar installation but also allowed us to address long-standing gutter issues.
A Brighter Tomorrow
Thanks to Brian Bliss’ generous legacy and the dedication of everyone involved, our church now generates clean, renewable energy that will benefit our community and the environment for decades to come. This project represents more than just solar panels – it’s a testament to what we can achieve when we combine vision, generosity, and perseverance.
We’re proud to be one step closer to our ECO Church Gold Award and look forward to the positive impact this installation will have on both our carbon footprint and our energy costs.
Here is a link to our Solar Dashboard.
Stay tuned for updates on our energy generation and savings as we begin this exciting new chapter in our church’s sustainable journey.