The Client
Watters Electrical is a retail business based in Cullaville, Co. Armagh. Running a retail unit means lighting, heating, equipment and day-to-day trading all depend on a steady supply of electricity, and over recent years that electricity had become one of the biggest costs on the site.

The Challenge
Like many businesses across Northern Ireland, Watters Electrical had seen energy prices climb and stay high. They had little control over the cost, and every price rise went straight to the bottom line.

They wanted to take back control of their energy costs with a long-term solution that would pay for itself and keep saving money for years to come, rather than another short-term fix.

Why Solar Made Sense
Retail businesses are well suited to solar. Most of their electricity is used during daylight trading hours, which is exactly when solar panels generate the most power. The energy is produced and used on site at the same time, so far less has to be bought from the grid.

Adding battery storage takes this a step further. Instead of exporting surplus generation to the grid at a low rate, the business can store it and use it later in the day, which gets the most value out of every unit generated.

Our Approach
We started with a review of the site's energy bills and usage patterns, to understand exactly when and how the business used power. We then carried out a full site survey, looking at the roof structure, orientation, shading and existing electrical infrastructure.

From this, we designed a 64.61 kWp solar PV system with battery storage, sized to match the site's daytime demand and make the best use of the available roof space. Before any work began, Watters Electrical received a clear proposal setting out the projected savings, payback period and long-term return on investment. That way they could make the decision with full confidence in the numbers.

The Installation
We delivered the project from start to finish, including installation, testing and commissioning. The installation ran smoothly, without complications, and the system was handed over on schedule.

Once the system was commissioned, we walked the client through how it works and how to monitor its performance. That way they can see exactly what it is generating and saving.

The Results
The system is projected to cut Watters Electrical's electricity costs by more than half.

• £10,644 estimated annual saving

• 53% reduction in electricity costs

• 5-year payback period

• £191,000+ net present value over the life of the system

• 56 tonnes of coal burning avoided every year

With a 5-year payback, the system will have covered its own cost within a fraction of its working life. From then on, the savings go straight back into the business.

The Bigger Picture
Beyond the savings, Watters Electrical now generates a large share of its own electricity on site. This makes the business less exposed to future price rises and gives it more predictable running costs.

It also reduces the site's carbon footprint every year, which matters more and more to customers, suppliers and the wider community.

For a local business, the result is lower overheads, a strong long-term return and a more sustainable way of operating. It's a clear example of what commercial solar can do when it's designed around how a business actually uses energy.

Savings figures are estimates based on system modelling. Actual savings vary with usage and tariff.