CASE STUDY: Powering the Future – A Smarter Home with Deege Solar and Fogstar

When it comes to energy independence, today’s homeowners are thinking bigger - and smarter. In a recent residential project in Dartford, one forward-thinking homeowner took a decisive step toward a fully electric, future-ready lifestyle.

With expert installation from Deege Solar and battery storage supplied by Fogstar, this project demonstrates how informed choices, combined with quality components and a collaborative installer, can result in a highly personalised and efficient home energy system.

🔆 The Vision: Energy Autonomy by Design

With a 24.4p unit rate and an annual energy consumption of around 7,000 kWh, the homeowner approached the project with clear intent: reduce reliance on the grid, increase self-sufficiency, and prepare the home for an Air Source Heat Pump under the government incentive scheme.

With a south-facing roof offering ideal generation conditions, the design brief was simple yet ambitious: install maximum PV capacity and match it with robust storage to support the entire home, a future heat pump system, and EV charging. The result? A powerful 9.66kWp solar PV system and over 30kWh of scalable, DIY battery storage – built for long-term performance and sustainability.

✅ Choosing Fogstar: A Deliberate Choice for Performance, Value and Flexibility

This wasn’t your typical domestic battery installation – and that was entirely by design. After more than a year of in-depth research and planning, the homeowner selected Fogstar as their battery supplier. The decision was based on performance, flexibility, and long-term value.

“I valued function over form. Fogstar’s batteries offered rugged durability, DIY flexibility, and excellent value – reassured by the brand’s strong Google reviews, its UK-based support team, and the simplicity of servicing the unit if needed.”

At the core of the installation are two Fogstar 16kWh battery units, built using the Seplos V4 DIY bundle with MB31 Grade A EVE cells. Known for their high cycle life and consistency, these cells offer a dependable foundation for large-scale residential storage.

The Seplos architecture is designed for users who want to maintain and scale their energy storage with confidence. Each unit is equipped with a Smart BMS that integrates seamlessly with Sunsynk inverters – enabling simple communication. The system also includes a 250A DC-rated breaker and an intuitive LCD interface for clear, real-time insights into battery status and performance.

One of the key benefits of this setup is scalability. The system has been designed with future expansion in mind, with the capacity to grow to 16 battery units – offering over 257kWh of total storage potential if required.

By opting for Fogstar’s DIY kits, the homeowner was able to reduce installation costs while retaining complete control over configuration and servicing. It’s a solution that rewards knowledge, encourages independence, and delivers exceptional cost-to-capacity value in a market often defined by fixed-format, premium-priced alternatives.

🔃 Installation Simplicity

When asked about the installation process, the homeowner summed it up perfectly:

“As simple as putting together LEGO”

With Deege Solar’s technical expertise and a high level of pre-planning, the project was executed efficiently, without compromises on design or performance.

🛠️ Technology Breakdown: The Components Behind the System

This is a system designed for serious energy performance. Components include:

• Solar Generation: 21 x 460W Neostar 2S Aiko Solar Panels (All Black)

• Storage: 2 x Fogstar 16kWh SEPLOS V4 DIY Bundles with MB31 Grade A EVE Cells

• Inverter: 8.8kW ECCO Sunsynk Hybrid

• EV Charging: Myenergi Zappi

• Monitoring: Solar Assistant via Raspberry Pi for real-time performance stats
  

Additional features such as bird protection, upgraded active balancers, and a manual changeover switch further elevate the system’s resilience and flexibility.

📈 Early Results and Long-Term Confidence

From the outset, the battery system has delivered reliable performance – and in some areas, it’s already surpassed expectations.

“The batteries from Fogstar have worked flawlessly. I chose to upgrade the active balancers myself, and was genuinely impressed to see Fogstar working directly with Seplos to enhance the product. It’s rare to see a company so engaged with its user community.”

Looking ahead, the homeowner plans to transition to an all-electric setup by replacing the gas system with a heat pump – a move that will fully test the capabilities of the storage system.

“The real test will come once I’ve upgraded the radiators and plumbing and installed the heat pump. At that point, the gas supply will be disconnected and the home will run entirely on electricity. I have full confidence that the batteries will continue to perform as needed.”

💷 Value Without Compromise

While this may have been the customer’s first battery system, the value was clear:

“A 30kWh+ battery system from any other brand would have cost considerably more. I trust the quality of what I built, and Fogstar delivered exceptional value.”

✒️ Lessons, Challenges & Advice

No major issues arose during the install. The one minor frustration – a slow data refresh rate in the Sunsynk app – was resolved by integrating Solar Assistant on a Raspberry Pi. A quick fix that enabled real-time solar performance tracking.

When asked for advice to others planning similar systems, the customer was candid:

“Find an installer who’s willing to collaborate on your vision. Too many offer cookie-cutter systems. The real experts will tailor the solution to fit your needs.”

He also highlighted the importance of community:

“Get into the right forums and Facebook groups. There’s a huge community willing to help.”

💡Conclusion: A Blueprint for Energy Independence

This Dartford installation is a standout example of what’s achievable when homeowners take control of their energy future. With the craftsmanship of Deege Solar and Fogstar’s scalable battery technology, the result is more than just a solar install – it’s a roadmap to full electrification, efficiency, and long-term energy resilience.

➡️ Founded in 2017, Deege Solar provides expert Solar PV installation services across England and Wales. Take a look at their work over at https://www.deegesolar.co.uk - or on their YouTube Channel, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.