Roof + fence
Solar generation using different parts of our property.
02 / Solar & home storage
Start with your life.
Then plan your solar.
Your electricity use, your home and your goals should shape the system. Talk through the possibilities with someone building and learning from his own.
What do you want energy to do?
A good plan begins
with good questions.
Lower bills? Charging an EV? More use of the energy you generate? Or keeping selected essentials running during an outage?
Those are different goals. The right combination of panels, storage and equipment depends on when you use electricity, what your home can accommodate and what you want to spend.
Menno brings his battery experience and a practical, questioning approach to these conversations. Get in touch to discuss the guidance he can offer for your situation.
Talk through your plans ↗ Our home project · In progressPutting the questions
Putting the questions
to work at home.
Our household includes an EV, a heat pump and electric cooking. Menno is developing a substantial solar and battery setup around those needs.
Panels are on the roof and part of the fence. Battery storage, inverters, battery management and the connection to the house are being developed as part of the project.
The goal is to support more of our household use through periods of poor weather. Actual performance will be shared as the system is completed and measured.
Home battery
A substantial storage project designed around our household.
Home + EV
Planning for transport, heating, cooking and everyday electricity use.
Roof & fence possibilities
Another way to look
at your outdoor space.
Alongside roof-mounted panels, a fence could be part of the conversation. These examples show a few possibilities to explore for your property.
Part of the fence.
Panels set into a timber fence above a slatted base.
A garden boundary.
A continuous row of panels along the edge of a lawn.
Panels as the boundary.
An example of upright panels being positioned between posts.
Solar fence inspiration: these images illustrate possible approaches and are separate from our home project described above.
The conversation starts here
Make the choices
fit your household.
Our own system is a case study. Your home may need a very different approach.
How do you use power?
Electricity bills, daytime and evening use, heating, hot water and EV charging all help build the picture.
What do you want to change?
Be clear about your priorities, budget and future plans before deciding how much equipment to buy.
Which options fit?
Explore solar, storage, a staged approach or changes to when you use electricity. Bring an existing quote if you have one.
Practical guidance
A clearer starting point
for your next decision.
This is an advice service. Contact Menno to discuss your plans and agree what help is available.
Any installation work, electrical connection and system approvals need to be arranged separately with the appropriate professionals. A consultation does not replace an installation design or approval.
For a first conversation, share your location, what you want to achieve, any existing solar or battery equipment, and an overview of your electricity use.
A practical next step
What would you like your system to do?
Tell us about your home, your energy use and the questions you’re working through.