Case study: residential PV with Archai optimisers, Stockport

A residential rooftop system in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with partial shading on some of its strings, a common situation on UK homes. Archai optimisers were fitted to every panel, with SolarSync for panel-level monitoring. The installation formed part of Archai's Solis certification process.

The challenge

Part of the array was shaded for some of the day. On a plain string, that shading would have held back the unshaded panels on the same string, or caused bypass diodes to switch in and lose the shaded panels' output altogether.

What was installed

• Archai optimisers on every panel, for panel-level MPPT, rapid shutdown and per-panel data
• SolarSync monitoring for the homeowner and installer
• A Solis inverter, as part of our Solis certification testing

Results

Performance: post-installation testing showed a consistent 10–15% uplift on the shaded strings compared with baseline performance.

Shading: with each panel running at its own maximum power point, the shaded panels no longer held back the rest of the array.

Grid connection: commissioning confirmed the system operated in parallel with the grid supply without disturbance.

Compliance: all commissioning checks were passed, including isolation, synchronisation and protection settings. Documentation included:

• G99 commissioning certificate, signed off by ENWL and the installer
• NICEIC compliance certificate
• PV handover certificate, with inverter serials, panel test results and measured parameters
• As-built schematic, showing system layout, isolation points and the consumer unit connection

Certification: the install formed part of Archai's official Solis certification process.

What it shows

Partial shading is one of the most common causes of lost yield on UK homes. This install shows that panel-level optimisation recovers a meaningful share of that energy, while meeting all the usual commissioning and compliance requirements.

Planning a similar job? Talk to us about the design.