I am so pleased with our new solar system. Andrew and his team were a pleasure to work with and I was supported throughout the installation with all my questions. Thank you Totnes Energy.
The roof space was extremely limited on the south elevation, which was unusually at a pitch of 80 degrees.
The customer wanted a system to match her consumption, so we opted for a medium sized system on the north elevation. Surprisingly, north facing roofs at a lower pitch provide 80% of the energy of a south facing roof!
Very happy with the newly installed system. Good communications, respectful workers, everything happened as planned.
The roof space was extremely limited in size due the length of the south facing roof being very short. We selected six larger format panels with 650W output, giving a total generation of 3.9kW. The customer also wanted backup and a hot water diverter which we were able to do using the Smart Port on the power cut backup gateway. We removed the existing solar thermal and feed-in tariff solar PV system and replaced we an entirely new system.
Excellent advice on system options. Installation really neat. Would recommend completely. The solar panels Totnes Energy fitted 12 years ago are still working perfectly, and we have now added to the system with a Totnes Energy battery set-up. Very happy with the performance.
The customer had an existing feed-in tariff system and wanted to add a battery to store the solar energy. We chose Dyness since the battery has heated cells for outdoor installation. We chose a Solis inverter since we have been using them since 2013 and they have proven to be very reliable. The Solis inverter also has a screen to control the system, so the inverter and battery can be controlled if there is no internet. The Solis inverters are compatible with many batteries, making them very resilient.
I am very impressed with Totnes Energy who have just installed solar panels, battery and an EV charger. The installation was very professional from the planning stage right through to handover. Andrew and his team pay attention to detail (even down to squirrel proofing!), were never pushy, and very polite and considerate throughout. I now have an amazing solar energy installation and system that is incredibly effective. I am so pleased.
The customer wanted the largest solar system possible without the risk of compromising the integrity of the large flat roof. We installed on four separate pitched roofs (including the north facing roof). The largest roof had significant shade from an oak tree, so we specified Aiko panels (with advertised better shade performance) with Tigo optimisers to maximise output.
There were squirrels around, which can cause a significant amount of damage to solar systems, so we fitted black wire mesh around the system. The wire mesh causes a lovely platform at the top of the panels for nesting birds so we fitted black stainless steel bird spikes along the top edges.
The solar system automatically feeds the home; then charges the SigEnergy home battery; and finally fills the EV car battery. The system will automatically charge the car and home battery overnight at cheap overnight rates if it sees the weather the next day is not sufficient to cover average home energy needs.
I am very impressed with Totnes Energy who have just installed solar panels, battery and an EV charger. The installation was very professional from the planning stage right through to handover. Andrew and his team pay attention to detail (even down to squirrel proofing!), were never pushy, and very polite and considerate throughout. I now have an amazing solar energy installation and system that is incredibly effective. I am so pleased.
The customer wanted a solar system on a building within the grounds of a listed building. The customer therefore needed to apply for planning permission before starting the installation of solar panels. They wanted a system with basic power cut backup capability, so we fitted a double socket so they could plug in their freezer in the event of a power cut.
We also fitted a Zappi car charger so they can benefit from the lower Octopus Intelligent Go tariffs to charge the EV battery and home battery at cheap rates overnight.
Great experience fitting an EV charger to a new supply. Professional, on time, high quality. Recommended.
Andy and his team have been impeccable throughout. I wanted a custom and complicated system, but I could not be more pleased with the result. A very professional outfit, I would highly recommend
The customer was building a new property and wanted to run the property entirely from electricity. They installed 3 phase to the property to allow a high level of solar and battery export. They chose 24kW of solar; 20kW energy controller; 40kWh of battery storage; and whole home power cut backup.
The large energy controller allows them to charge and discharge the battery at 18.4kW. In the winter, the 40kWh battery allows them to store cheap overnight electricity for use in heating during the day – a modern night storage heater. In the summer, spring and autumn the solar system should cover the energy needs of the property.
I sought a few quotes for a battery storage system with whole house backup to augment my solar panels and realised straight away that Andrew of Totnes Energy was the person I wanted to deal with. He is extremely knowledgeable and answered all my questions. His quote was competitive and the installation was carried out in a very tidy and clean fashion. I am happy to give him my whole-hearted recommendation.
The customer had an existing solar system on lucrative feed-in tariffs which they wanted to keep. We installed a AC coupled 10kW energy controller; 20kWh of battery storage and a gateway so the customer could go off-grid during a power cut. They wanted a simple to use system, which is what SigEnergy offers. The AI Mode is designed to be a “set-and-forget” feature, providing a higher level of intelligence than traditional, time-based, or manual settings.
The AI mode considers:
- Tomorrow’s weather forecast to determine whether to charge overnight or let the solar charge the battery the next day.
- Consumption patterns.
- Energy supplier tariffs at different times of the day – it can even look at half-hourly supplier rates.
It even let’s you know what its plan is in the next 24 hours and explains the strategy!
I had several quotes by various suppliers when i decided to go solar. What I liked about Andrew, at Totnes Energy, was his knowledge and understanding of I wanted, He is not a salesman, he designs builds and installs with his team.
My install was probably not the usual as I didn’t want to see any wires, either from the panels or from the battery, and after doing several site visits, Andrew designed a suitable system. I of course changed things and asked for more panels and then decided on a gateway too! None of this was too much trouble, even when I asked them to move the gateway as its wasn’t quite lined up how I wanted it!
I would have no hesitation in recommending Totnes Energy for any of your Solar, battery or charger installs, they know what they are doing and make sure they leave the customer with a project completed to a very high standard.
Why Tesla Powerwall 3 rather than SigEnergy?
The Tesla Powerwall 3 has a lower start up voltage than SigEnergy, which allows just two solar panels to be installed on a string. This enabled two additional panels to be installed on the south elevation and two solar panels to be installed behind the dormer window. Having the two solar panels behind the dormer on their own string means the dormer shade will not reduce the output of the rest of the system.
I recently used Totnes Energy for a solar installation and had an excellent experience. They were the first company to visit and provide a quote, and from the start the communication was clear, professional, and never pushy. They took the time to explain options without trying to upsell or pressure me into a decision.
Once I decided to go ahead, the installation was completed in just two days, exactly as scheduled. The team was efficient, tidy, and respectful of my home. They hid the cables from the roof so nicely its not even seen. Everything worked smoothly from quote to completion, and the whole process felt straightforward and stress-free.
I went with SigEnergy and really like the usability of the app and how easy it was to get support from them when needed.
If you’re looking for a reliable installer who prioritises good communication and professionalism rather than sales pressure, I would highly recommend Totnes Energy.
Mr D wanted advice on alternative systems to reduce his bills, so we provided quotes for a range of different devices. He opted for SigEnergy – one of the three premium systems we offer. He chose not to install the powercut backup gateway due to the infrequent powercuts in the area.
I had an excellent experience with Totnes Energy, Andrew is very knowledgeable and designed a system optimised for me. The workmanship was excellent from him and all his contractors. Everything was well organised, communication was great, and everyone turned up when they said they would. Andrew gave clear technical explanations, great advice, and excellent after-sales service. He really worked around my needs, I would highly recommend!
This customer was very keen on SolarEdge because her brother had a good experience with their system. Also there was shade from the chimney, which makes SolarEdge ideal since it has module level solar panel data and control. The fully integrated nature of SolarEdge means a single app controls the hot water, solar panels, hybrid inverter, batteries, powercut backup gateway and electric vehicle charger, making it very easy to use. It also means there is a single warranty and one point of contact for after sales support.
Absolutely fantastic knowledge & service with a seamless installation … I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Why 4kW inverter?
We used a higher power inverter to allow extension of the system when the flat roof is replaced. We pre installed extra DC cables to make any extension straightforward.
5 Star service from the beginning to the end, and I would have no hesitation in using them again, great company, great service, thank you !
We really do appreciate the ease of dealing with you and the service you’ve given us, thank you !
The original Fronius inverter had an internal fault and needed to be replaced. We replaced it with a Fronius Primo inverter since it was the only inverter we could source which would work with a single string of panels outputting over 500V.
A DC fault was showing on the inverter and when tested it was clear there was a significant issue with cable damage on the roof. We removed all the solar panels and checked every cable for damage and removed and checked every cable connector. Due to rodent damage, we replaced over 15 sections of cable.
I contacted Totnes Energy on spec and got an immediate response. Andrew visited and was very helpful and professional – rather than a salesperson, which other companies sent, he’s a highly knowledgeable engineer, and was keen to find the right solution for our needs, rather than flog us some stuff and pocket the commission, which is the definite vibe we got from some competitors!
Throughout the installation process the communication was excellent, with all our questions answered and quick responses. The installation was well planned, and executed with the minimum of disruption, with all the associated contractors being equally professional. I’m very happy with the system we now have, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Totnes Energy to anybody needing similar services.
Mr F wanted a cost effective system to maximise his return on investment. He already had Solis on his own home which he was very happy with. We paired the Solis hybrid inverter with a Dyness battery since the battery has internal heating pads suitable for installation in an unheated garage. The other key advantage if Solis is that it is resilient – it can be paired with over 150 different batteries.
Lesley and I just want to take this opportunity to thank you, Andrew, and your team, for the work that you have undertaken to install solar panels at our property in Brixham.
The whole experience has been positive from the moment that we first met you, until the completion of the project, and the panels are now busily at work helping us to control our energy bills.
You can be certain that we will happily recommend you to any friends or family who show an interest in installing solar panels on their properties in the future.
Mr & Mrs G asked for a cost effective and reliable system which worked in the background with little user input. We selected Solis and Dyness since it is very easy to use when set up to operate automatically with time of use tariffs. We chose solar panels with a white backsheet to lower the cost and also to maximise performance of the solar system.
I’ve been waiting for the right time to have Solar Panels fitted on my house and Andrew and his team made the process of installation run smoothly from beginning to end. I’m really happy to have chosen Totnes Energy to fulfil my aspiration of having Solar Panels up and running.
Totnes Energy have done a superb job fitting a 15 panel system to our challenging roof shape. The team were highly professional, hardworking and very helpful & friendly. We have obtained a high quality system at an extremely competitive price and can’t fault the workmanship or service. The whole process was made effortless with Andrew’s assistance helping us through all the technical aspects. We would not hesitate to highly recommend Totnes Energy. Thanks for a great job.
We highly recommend Totnes Energy for their in-depth knowledge of the product options in a PV installation along with the comparative quotations. This was very helpful in deciding the most suitable option balanced between our affordability and the energy delivery, cost and eventual savings of a system. Relating to previous quotes from other suppliers, Andrew’s was not only the cheapest but he out-shone the others with his professionalism and realistic assessments. The installation of the panels and all the electrical work was to a high standard completed in a day by two teams who were considerate and amiable. A smooth and enjoyable experience to actualizing a worthwhile investment. The addition of the ‘immerSun’ monitor and controller to the system has engaged the household with a daily connection to a working partnership with the raw energy of the sun. We recognize in gratitude it’s sustaining presence and now with PV on the roof in a tangible way this technology is sustaining our household.
When deciding on having a solar installation I had several firms quote for this job. Andrew from Totnes Energy was the most professional and his wealth of knowledge on solar power made me decide to give him the job. The whole process was organised to the last detail and the two installers were first class. The electrician was able to hide all of the cables. I am very happy with the work done and the ongoing support. I would recommend Andrew and his staff to anybody considering a solar installation.
Totnes Energy did a fantastic job – from quote to completed installation. No fuss, excellent helpful service, all the way to completed FIT paperwork. Thank you!
Totnes Energy has dealt with everything quickly and efficiently – all admin work carried out by Andrew. Would highly recommend to anyone considering solar PV panels.
I was very impressed with the information provided and the care taken to find and explain the relative benefits of each of the possible systems. The time available to ask questions was very generous. The installation itself was carried out on time and with competence, confidence and good will. It was a pleasure to meet a team who took such pride in doing their work and who were looking to create a benefit, by its very nature, to wider society.
Many thanks for your work in designing and arranging our solar panel system. Both the fitters and the electrician were really good – the end result not only looks good, but is working better than I had expected. Even today, with it being overcast and dull, we have managed 500 Watts for a significant part of the day. Since the ‘switch-on’ on Wednesday our Electric meter has remained in credit, which great in early March! Putting the inverter in the loft is a much better idea than I have seen in friend’s houses – lots of room up there! and the small cable running through the house is totally discrete.
Thank you very much for the service that you and your team provided in installing the solar panels to our property this week. We were very impressed with the professionalism of you, the installation team and JD Electrics.
We have been most impressed by the service and attention to detail by Totnes Energy. At all stages we received clear and well-informed advice; installation was carried out efficiently and courteously and follow up, regarding setting up the feed-in tariff, carried out personally so that all questions could be addressed and paperwork completed. We will certainly recommend Totnes Energy to our neighbours and friends.
We were impressed by your approach to our enquiry re solar panels. Your knowledge and the information you gave made us feel that you cared about our request, which was reassuring. Your technicians on the installation were consistently hard working and efficient, including the electrician who managed to insert the three extra pieces of equipment in our control box where there did not seem to be space for any of them. We have had no problems with any of the equipment since installation and the WiFi connection is working as it should. Although we have not managed to have a visit from tree surgeons yet, our panels have produced about 55 kWh in the past fortnight, even though all the panels on the south-facing roof have suffered from considerable shading … The three west-facing have out-generated the other ten every day. We look forward to years of production and lower electricity bills.
