Last week Athena Electrical volunteered with Hackney Energy and some of the interns from neighbouring Banister House Solar Co-op, to find out why London’s first grid-connected solar pv tile system stopped working 2 years ago. 

Designed and installed by Wind & Sun in 1995 at the Homerton Grove Adventure Playground in Hackney, the 1.94kWp Solar PV system was expected to generate approximately 1500kWh annually. We wanted to see if we could bring back Solar Power to the playground and it seemed only right that some of the interns we had with us, had used the playground themselves when they were young. 

Early tests showed that the solar panels were still producing well, but after more than 15 years in service and clocking up more than 32000kWh, the inverter had given up.   

After some adaptations to the wiring and the installation of a new inverter provided at subsidized cost by Wind & Sun, rain stopped just as the team finished testing the solar array. At 5 o’clock the sun came out and we switched on the system returning Solar Power to Homerton Grove. 

Bridget Handscomb of Hackney Play Association said she was delighted with the results of everyone’s hard work and looks forward to raising awareness and developing understanding of energy matters. 

Hackney Energy is a group of enthusiastic Hackney residents working to set up renewable energy and low carbon projects that benefit the Hackney Community. If you have a solar project in mind and would like some support, the group would love to hear form you contact hello@hackneyenergy.org.uk.