Project at a Glance
Project details
- Location: Sierra Blanca, Marbella
- Solar panels: 60 × AIKO Black Edition 515 W (30.9 kWp)
- Inverter: Growatt three-phase hybrid inverter, 25 kW, with backup function
- Battery storage: Growatt batteries, 64 kWh
- Mounting: flat roof, part on an aluminium structure and part on Solarbloc supports
- Handover: all certificates and registration documents for the station were delivered to the client
- Surplus energy: sold at €0.06 per kWh
- Estimated payback: 4.2 years
Why This System Size
The client’s consumption is far above that of an average home, so we designed the largest system the roof could hold. After measuring the roof and studying the electricity bill, we fitted 60 AIKO Black Edition panels (30.9 kWp) across almost the entire usable roof area.
If you are weighing storage for a similar home, see our guide on whether a battery is worth it, and our overview of solar panel installation in Marbella.
How We Did It, Step by Step
1. Survey and design
- The client contacted us and we visited the house.
- We measured the roof to see how much area was usable.
- We analysed the electricity bill to understand how much energy the home uses and when.
- We sized the system from the consumption and the roof area. Consumption was much higher than the roof could cover, so we used almost the whole roof.
2. Quote, contract and delivery
- We issued the invoice and the client reviewed our contract.
- The client agreed and made the first payment.
- After payment we started delivering the mounting structure and the solar panels.
3. Installation
- Mounting structure: first the aluminium structure and the Solarbloc supports on the flat roof.
- Panels and cabling: we installed the panels, connected the cables and earthed the station, bonding the panels to each other.
- DC cabling: the cables run down from the array to the inverter in 4 strings.
- Protection board: we built a separate board for the station with fuses, a residual-current device (RCD) and surge protection, and connected the inverter to it.
- Grid connection: the inverter was then connected to the grid.
- Smart meter: we fitted a smart meter in the main board so the system can see where the energy flows.
4. Handover and monitoring
- Phone app: we set up the app on the client’s phone. The client now sees how much the station generates, how much the house consumes and how much goes to the grid.
- Certificates: we gave the client the certificates, who sent them to the electricity company. The client now sells surplus energy at €0.06 per kWh.
- Monitoring: we check the station remotely every month.
Grants and Savings
We helped the client obtain the IBI (local property tax) bonus. A further grant application is still pending. Incentives depend on the municipality, the date and the call, so we confirm them case by case. See our guide to solar subsidies in Andalucía.
Aftercare Included
- 2 free panel washes during the first year
- Free remote performance analysis of the station for 5 years
- 3-year warranty on the mounting structure, extendable to 5 years
Location: Sierra Blanca, Marbella
Questions About This Project
It is a 30.9 kWp hybrid system: 60 AIKO Black Edition 515 W panels, a three-phase Growatt hybrid inverter (25 kW) with a backup function, and 64 kWh of Growatt batteries.
The client’s consumption is much higher than a typical home, so we aimed for the largest system the roof could hold. After measuring the roof and analysing the electricity bill, we fitted as many panels as the roof allows.
We combine two things: the usable roof area measured on site, and the consumption shown on the electricity bill (how much and when the home uses energy). The system is then sized to fit both.
Part of the array sits on an aluminium mounting structure and part on Solarbloc supports. The layout is chosen for each roof during the design stage.
In this project the backup supplies the whole house from the 64 kWh battery, and the client controls it himself. Which circuits are covered depends on the home, so we define it for each property during design.
Yes. After the station’s certificates were handed to the client and sent to the electricity company, the client sells surplus energy at €0.06 per kWh. Tariffs differ between suppliers and contracts, so this is the price for this installation.
The estimated payback for this installation is 4.2 years. It depends on consumption, the tariff, the surplus price and available incentives, so we calculate it separately for each property.
The client received two free panel washes during the first year and free remote analysis of the station’s performance for 5 years. The mounting structure has a 3-year warranty, extendable to 5 years. We also check the station remotely every month.
Want a System Like This for Your Home?
Book a free survey. We visit your property, measure the roof, analyse your electricity bill and send you a written proposal with the system size, equipment and price.
