Care around the slate
Flashing around each roof hook helps keep the mounting points watertight. The roof finish matters as much as the equipment it carries.
DOMESTIC CASE STUDY · TANFIELD, COUNTY DURHAMA larger home.
TANFIELD · COUNTY DURHAMA larger home.
A smarter way
to power it.
A 9.6 kWp solar array and 16.4 kWh of Fox ESS battery storage. Thoughtfully designed for a slate roof, a three-phase supply and the way this home uses energy.
Designed and installed by our family-run North East team.
- Installed solar capacity
- 9.6kWp
- Battery storage
- 16.4kWh
- 400 W Risen solar modules
- 24panels
- Fox ESS hybrid system
- 3phase
THE BRIEFMake the roof work harder.
Make the roof work harder.
Keep more energy at home.
This large Tanfield property had a high electricity bill and the roof space to do something about it. The job was to bring solar generation and battery storage together in a system that suited the house.
We installed twenty-four 400 W Risen panels, giving a total solar array of 9.6 kWp. An 8 kW Fox ESS hybrid inverter connects the panels to a 16.4 kWh battery system and the property’s existing three-phase supply.
The important decisions weren’t just about the equipment. Mature trees and the shape of the main roof affected the available daylight. We positioned the panels slightly off centre on the extension to reduce shading and make better use of the roof.
Designed around the property.Panel position, roof finish, electrical supply and household demand all shaped the final installation.
LOOK CLOSERGood workmanship.
Good workmanship.
From every angle.
Our own photographs of the completed Tanfield installation. A considered layout, carefully fitted to the existing slate roof.
Room to store the surplus
Four Fox ESS Cube modules provide 16.4 kWh of storage, giving the household a way to keep surplus solar electricity for use later.
A system that works together
The three-phase hybrid inverter brings generation and storage together. The battery can also be charged from the grid with suitable settings and a compatible tariff.
View drone footageTANFIELD / THE COMPLETED INSTALLATIONSEE THE PROJECT FROM ABOVEA proper look
A proper look
at the finished work.
The drone footage puts the design in context: the house, the trees, the two roof areas and the finished array.
It’s a useful way to see the work before you speak to us about your own home. If you have a similar roof or a larger electricity demand, we’d be happy to talk through what might work for you.
View drone footageWHAT THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO DOGenerate on the roof.
Generate on the roof.
Use more of it at home.
Produce electricity in daylight
The 9.6 kWp array gives this home its own source of electricity, with generation varying through the day and across the seasons.
Keep some for later
Battery storage can hold surplus generation for times when the home needs it, including after the panels have stopped producing.
Have a local team to call
Installation is the beginning of owning the system. Our Washington team also provides servicing, repairs and advice after handover.
These are the installed specifications and intended benefits. Actual generation, grid use and savings depend on the weather, household demand, settings and tariff.
Family-run. North East through and through.Established in 2006 · Based in Washington
THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR INSTALLATIONA long-term investment.
A long-term investment.
A local team to call.
Good solar starts with people who know their trade. It should come with people you can speak to afterwards, too.
Stephen and Haley Fairless started Sustainable Energy Engineering in 2006. Twenty years on, we’re still a family business, still focused on the North East and still taking pride in getting the details right.
We bought our own Washington premises in 2022. With more than 2,000 projects behind us, we have the experience to guide you through the choices and the local base to support your system in the years ahead.
MCS-certified Which? Trusted Trader Local servicing & repairs
Meet our family and the teamREPUTATION IS EARNEDThe best reassurance?
The best reassurance?
People who chose us.
MORE NORTH EAST HOMESDifferent homes.
Different homes.
The same attention to detail.
Explore more of our installations, from a family home in Boldon Colliery to a Tesla Powerwall system in Newcastle.
Solar + battery
Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside
A complete system for everyday life.
Twelve AIKO panels paired with a Fox ESS EP11 battery. Designed, installed and commissioned by our team in July 2025.
- Solar array
- 5.28kWp
- Battery storage
- 10.36kWh
Solar + battery
Hexham, Northumberland
Solar and storage, with the details covered.
Sixteen AIKO panels and Fox ESS storage, including bird protection, generation metering and the G99 grid-connection application.
- Solar array
- 7.04kWp
- Battery storage
- 10.36kWh
Tesla Powerwall
Newcastle upon Tyne
Solar meets Tesla Powerwall 3.
All-black AIKO panels and a Tesla Powerwall 3, with grid approval arranged before installation and a complete handover afterwards.
- Solar array
- 8.16kWp
- Battery storage
- 13.5kWh
STRAIGHTFORWARD ADVICEA few questions
A few questions
worth asking.
You don’t need to know all the technical terms. Tell us what you’d like your system to do and we’ll talk you through the options.
0191 340 7001Would a system this size suit my home?
That depends on your roof, electricity use and what you want the battery to do. This Tanfield property needed a larger system and had a three-phase supply. We’ll assess your home on its own merits and explain a sensible panel count, inverter and storage capacity in your proposal.
Can solar panels be fitted to a slate roof?
Yes, with a suitable mounting system and careful installation. At Tanfield we used flashing around the roof hooks to maintain a watertight finish. Roof condition, access and structural suitability are all part of planning an installation.
Why did this installation use a three-phase inverter?
The property already had a three-phase electrical supply. The Fox ESS 8 kW hybrid inverter was selected for that supply and for the solar and battery system being installed. Most homes have different requirements, so we check your electrical setup before recommending equipment.
Is there 0% VAT on solar panels and battery storage?
Qualifying installations of solar panels and electrical battery storage in residential accommodation currently benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. Eligible standalone battery installations and battery retrofits are included. Equipment bought on its own is not covered by this installation relief. We’ll confirm the VAT treatment in your quotation.
Who do I contact if I need help after installation?
Our Washington team remains your local point of contact. We explain the system and monitoring at handover, provide the relevant documents and can help with questions afterwards. We also offer servicing, fault finding and upgrades. Your quotation sets out the warranties and installation cover that apply.
YOUR NORTH EAST SOLAR SPECIALISTSLocal knowledge.
Local knowledge.
Across the region.
From our Washington base, we install and support solar panels and home batteries throughout Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside.
YOUR HOME. YOUR NEXT STEP.Like the thinking?
Like the thinking?
Let’s apply it to your home.
Tell us about your roof, your electricity use and what you’d like to achieve. We’ll help you understand the options.
Free initial advice and quotation. No pressure to go ahead.SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL TEAMReal people.
Unit 11 Whitworth Road, Armstrong Industrial Estate,
Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 1PP
Real people.
Ready to help.
Unit 11 Whitworth Road, Armstrong Industrial Estate,Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 1PP
WASHINGTON · NORTH EAST ENGLAND
Closer than you think.
Our North East base, serving local homes
and businesses since 2006.