Your Energy Needs – Tailored Renewable Energy Solutions in the UK

Before designing your system, it is important to review where your electricity is currently being used and reduce unnecessary consumption wherever possible. Simple steps like installing energy-efficient lighting or replacing electric heaters with alternatives such as gas or wood can make a noticeable difference. Spending a little on efficiency now will save you much more later.

To begin the assessment, list all the electrical appliances you use—this forms your Load. For smaller systems, 12V DC appliances are often more efficient than their 240V AC counterparts, even if the purchase price is higher. These include certain lights, laptops, fridges, travel kettles, and portable tools. If your setup includes both DC and AC appliances, list them separately. Larger homes typically use a high-power inverter to convert battery power into standard 240V AC, feeding electricity into your home circuits just like the national grid.

Next, note the POWER CONSUMPTION of each appliance. This is usually printed on a data plate. Since the listed rating is often the maximum rather than the average, it may be reasonable to adjust the figure slightly. Sustainergy can provide an approximate consumption guide upon request to help you complete your load assessment.

Then, record the HOURS OF USE per day. Ideally, this should be estimated for each month due to seasonal variations, but mid-summer and mid-winter values are generally sufficient. Remember that appliances like refrigerators and freezers typically run for about 12 hours per day in summer and around 8 hours in winter.

Multiply POWER CONSUMPTION × HOURS OF USE to calculate DAILY CONSUMPTION (in watt-hours). This is the most important number—it reveals how much energy each appliance uses and highlights the largest energy consumers in your home.

Finally, click on the Load Assessment Table (download…) to access the spreadsheet. After filling it out, email it back to us. Once we receive your completed form, our engineers will begin designing a customised Renewable Energy System tailored specifically to your energy needs—completely free of charge.