Off-grid solar & storage

For buildings the grid never reached, and for people who'd rather not depend on it. Designed around your actual usage so it still works in February.

Off-grid

Power where there's no supply, or no desire for one

Getting a new grid connection to a remote building can be eye-wateringly expensive, and sometimes it simply isn't practical. A properly designed off-grid solar and battery system is often the cheaper answer, and it's one we install regularly on Fox ESS equipment.

The engineering is genuinely different from a grid-tied installation. There's no grid to fall back on when the battery runs low, so the design has to survive a still, overcast week in midwinter rather than perform well in June. That means sizing generation and storage against your real seasonal usage, and being honest about what the system will and won't run.

Every off-grid system we design starts with a conversation about what you actually need to power and when. Get that right and it's reliable year-round. Get it wrong and you're running a generator in January.

Barn conversions and agricultural buildings
Outbuildings, workshops, stables and studios
Remote and new-build sites with no economic grid connection
Fox ESS off-grid solar and battery storage systems
Designed against winter worst-case, not summer best-case
Backup generator integration where the load profile demands it
Hybrid setups that stay grid-connected but run independently when needed

Off-grid solar and battery storage installation

Common questions

Things people usually ask

Is off-grid cheaper than a new grid connection?

Often, yes, particularly where the DNO quote runs to tens of thousands because of the distance or the groundwork involved. It's always worth getting the connection quote so you've got a real number to compare against, and we'll work up an off-grid proposal alongside it.

Will it work in winter?

It will if it's designed to. December generation in this part of the country is a small fraction of June's, so an off-grid system has to be sized around that, with storage to match. This is exactly where undersized systems come unstuck, and it's why we ask detailed questions about your usage before quoting.

Can I run a whole house off-grid?

Yes, though it changes the design significantly: electric heating and hot water in particular need careful thought. For many properties a hybrid approach works better: stay connected, generate and store most of what you use, and keep the grid as backup rather than as your primary supply.

Do I still need a generator?

Not necessarily. Some off-grid designs include one as insurance for prolonged dull spells, especially where the loads are critical. Others don't need it at all. We'll be straight with you about which category your site falls into.

Can you convert an existing outbuilding?

Yes. Barn conversions, workshops and stables are some of the most common off-grid jobs we do. If there's an existing supply we can also look at a hybrid system that reduces your reliance on it without cutting it off entirely.

Where we work

Royston, and about half an hour around it

Off-grid work takes us to some out of the way places, but it is still local work. We're based in Meldreth, three miles outside Royston, and cover Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Bedfordshire from there: Royston, Melbourn, Baldock, Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin, Stevenage, Saffron Walden, Cambridge, Buntingford, Duxford and the villages in between. Close enough to come back if you ever need us.

Get started

Free, no-obligation survey and quote

Tell us a bit about your property and we'll come and look at it. You'll get a straight answer either way, including if solar isn't the right fit.

Get a free quote Call 07971 199 642