When Malcolm Douglas-Kellie and his wife Jackie first considered whether solar panels are worth it, they were put off by the cost of solar.
One firm in 2019 quoted them £24,000 for a large array of panels and a battery. Energy prices were lower back then, so they shelved the project.
But now their new solar array has slashed their energy bills by two thirds and it provides a unique benefit for Jackie.
“I was born with a heart condition,” Jackie said, adding that she had an operation on her arteries as a teenager.
She has needed concentrated oxygen as she has gotten older, which she gets from a concentrator when power is available, and bottled gas otherwise.
If the power goes off, an alarm sounds to alert her, and it means that Malcolm has to go and get bottled gas for her to maintain her supply of oxygen. This often happens at night, disturbing their sleep.
But their new solar panels now deliver 24-hour power since they opted for a battery backup, which can kick in if there is a blip in the mains.
“I don’t even notice it, just the battery kicks in and that’s it,” said Jackie. “It’s just seamless”.
Read more: Independent
