Case Study /

Residential home, Net-metering with battery back up in Niagara on the lake.

Building a new garage and shop to included solar and whole home battery back up.

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Client: Private Residence
Location: Vineland, Ontario
Project Type: Residential Solar + Whole Home Battery Backup
System Size: 9.6 kW DC SolarEdge system with Battery Backup
Purpose: Energy independence, off-grid resiliency, and emergency backup

Overview

The homeowner set out to build a custom garage with a small living unit above — but with a clear sustainability goal: integrating a solar energy system with full battery backup to ensure long-term energy resilience. Informed Energy was brought on early in the process to design a system that not only generates clean energy, but also allows the home to disconnect from the grid and run independently during outages.

This project combines architectural planning with technical foresight, and delivers a complete solar-plus-storage solution in a compact, efficient design.

The Challenge

With limited rooftop space, the solar array had to be carefully sized to meet as much of the home’s annual energy needs as possible. The client also wanted seamless energy backup for the entire property in case of blackouts — not just for essential loads.

The challenge was to fit both the solar and storage systems within the footprint of the new building, while still delivering strong year-round performance and off-grid capability.

The Solution

Informed Energy designed and installed a 9.6 kW SolarEdge system with a whole home battery backup. Using the SolarEdge backup interface controller, the system automatically disconnects from the grid in the event of a power outage and begins supplying the property with stored energy.

When the sun is shining during a prolonged outage, the solar panels recharge the battery during the day, allowing the house to stay powered without interruption. Once the grid is restored, the system seamlessly reconnects and resumes normal operation, exporting excess solar to the grid for credit.

Installed System: 9.6 kW DC SolarEdge + Whole Home Battery
Backup Interface: Grid disconnect and full-house power during outages
Daily Functionality: Battery recharged by solar during prolonged outages

Results

  • The system provides complete backup coverage for the home, making it resilient to short, medium, or extended power failures.
  • While the current solar array produces about 85% of the home’s annual needs, the homeowner is actively working on energy efficiency upgrades to reduce consumption.
  • Future panel expansion is possible on the main house roof to increase production.

Looking Ahead

This project is an excellent example of what’s possible when energy planning is incorporated into new construction. The client now enjoys reliable, renewable power and peace of mind knowing their home is protected during outages.

Why It Matters

Battery storage is quickly becoming a must-have for homeowners who want to take control of their energy. This Victoria Avenue project shows how solar and batteries can be integrated into small-scale construction to deliver maximum reliability, sustainability, and independence — all from day one.