Tofts Farm Depot, Solar PV

Rothwell Plumbing Services have been appointed under the NEPO233 Framework to provide the complete design, supply & install of Solar PV to Tofts Farm Depot.

Tofts farm depot is the main maintenance hub for Hartlepool Borough Council housing the headquarters for the council’s refuse & recycling operations, as well as the facility being used to service, repair, and test the council’s fleet of over 250 vehicles. This project was selected by Hartlepool Borough Council as part of its decarbonisation programme.
 

We have successfully installed 277 solar panels to Tofts farm, completed within a 2 week delivery period. The project was delivered In 4 stages:

• Stage 1 – Mounting kit installation

• Stage 2 – Optimiser installation

• Stage 3 – DC cabling

• Stage 4 – Panel installation

Following a structured programme ensured a safe and efficient project delivery.

Works on site commenced in February and achieved practical completion in 2 weeks. Our delivery team was made up of 7 operatives in total: 5 undertaking roof works and 2 dedicated to electrical works.

All required components were procured prior to mobilisation, meaning there were no supply delays to impact the programme.
 

Products Installed:

• Panels – Longi 535w LR7-60HVD-535W

• Inverter – SolarEdge SE100K

• Optimisers – 139 × SolarEdge S1000

• Mounting – SFlex Trapezoidal Steel Roof Fixing

Challenges

The pre-installation roof survey identified a number of defects, RPS Group carried out roofing repair works to maximise the operational lifespan of the PV system. This eliminated the need for separate procurement and ensured that the roof repairs and PV installation ran smoothly ahead of project commencement.

Hartlepool Borough Council have a Net Zero target of 2050. SolarEdge remote monitoring was activated prior to work commencement allowing Hartlepool Borough Council to track real time energy production from day one. The installation is set to reduce CO₂ Emissions by 23.62 tonnes/year supporting Hartlepool Borough Council’s aim to improve energy efficiency and increase sustainable energy.