Cadent Gas | Coven Heath – Critical Infrastructure Solar, Battery Storage and Generator Backup
26.4kWp Solar PV | 24kVA Victron Quattro System | 30kWh Battery Storage | Integrated Diesel Generator Backup
What happens to the UK's gas network when the electricity supply fails?
It's something many people don't realise: although natural gas is a separate energy source, parts of the gas distribution network depend on electricity to operate essential control, monitoring and supporting equipment.
During a prolonged power cut, losing electricity at critical gas infrastructure sites can threaten the continued operation of the gas network.
For Cadent Gas at Coven Heath, the objective was clear: design a resilient power system that could maintain critical site operations during an electricity outage, helping protect the local gas supply and the homes and businesses that depend on it.
This project wasn't about financial payback. It was about operational resilience, energy security and keeping essential infrastructure running when it's needed most.
The Challenge – A Critical Site with Limited Roof Space
The original building offered limited opportunities for rooftop solar. Not only was the available space restricted, but the existing fragile concrete roof construction made a conventional rooftop installation unsuitable.
Rather than compromise the design, Callidus developed a ground-mounted solar solution, allowing sufficient generation capacity without placing additional loads on the existing roof.
The result was a 26.4kWp solar array comprising 60 JA Solar 440W panels, integrated with a Victron inverter and battery storage system.
The Solution – Solar, Battery and Diesel Working Together
At the heart of the installation are three Victron 8kVA Quattro inverter/chargers, providing a combined 24kVA three-phase power system, supported by 30kWh of battery storage.
The system integrates three independent sources of energy:
- Grid electricity – supplying the site during normal operations and maintaining battery readiness.
- Solar PV – generating renewable electricity during daylight hours to support the site and recharge the batteries.
- Diesel generator – providing additional power and battery charging when prolonged outages or poor solar conditions make it necessary.
By combining these technologies, the site is no longer entirely dependent on either the electricity grid or continuous diesel generator operation.
Turning One Day of Diesel into Potentially 20–30 Days of Backup
One of the most important design objectives was dramatically extending the available diesel fuel supply during a prolonged blackout.
Traditionally, a continuously running generator could consume the available fuel in approximately 24 hours.
With the Victron hybrid system, the generator no longer needs to operate continuously.
Instead, the batteries support the site's electrical loads, with solar generation replenishing energy whenever conditions allow.
If battery levels fall below a predetermined threshold, the diesel generator can automatically start, recharge the batteries and then shut down.
This means the generator operates for shorter, controlled periods rather than running constantly, helping conserve fuel, reduce engine hours and improve the resilience of the installation.
The design objective was to extend a fuel supply that previously supported approximately one day of continuous generator operation to potentially 20–30 days under favourable operating conditions.
Actual endurance depends on the site's electrical demand, solar availability, generator efficiency and available fuel. The 20–30-day figure is a design ambition rather than a verified guaranteed runtime.
Why Victron Was Selected
For critical infrastructure, the priority isn't simply generating renewable electricity. It's ensuring that power remains available when the electricity grid is no longer operational.
Victron Quattro inverter/chargers are particularly suited to this type of application because they offer:
- Automatic transfer between available AC power sources
- Integrated battery charging and inverter functionality
- Generator integration and configurable charging limits
- Three-phase power capability
- Advanced system monitoring and remote connectivity when communications are available
- Configurable generator start and stop strategies through compatible system controls
The resulting installation is designed to manage grid power, battery storage, solar generation and diesel backup as one coordinated system.
System Specifications
- Client: Cadent Gas
- Location: Coven Heath
- Application: Critical gas infrastructure power resilience
- Solar PV capacity: 26.4kWp
- Solar panels: 60 × JA Solar 440W
- Solar mounting: Ground-mounted array
- Inverter/chargers: 3 × Victron Quattro 8kVA
- Combined inverter capacity: 24kVA
- Battery storage: 30kWh
- Electrical configuration: Three-phase
- Backup power: Integrated diesel generator
- Operating arrangement: Grid-connected hybrid system with backup capability
- Generator management: Battery charging during extended outages
- Primary objective: Maintaining critical site power and extending available backup endurance
Protecting Essential Infrastructure When the Grid Goes Down
Most commercial solar installations focus on reducing electricity costs and delivering a financial return on investment.
This installation had a different purpose.
For Cadent Gas, the real value was the ability to continue operating critical electrical equipment during prolonged power outages, helping maintain the infrastructure needed to supply gas to local communities.
By combining solar generation, battery storage, Victron Quattro inverter technology and an intelligent diesel backup strategy, Callidus developed a solution designed to substantially reduce reliance on continuous generator operation.
It's an example of how renewable energy and advanced power management can deliver much more than lower electricity bills.
Because when the electricity goes off, essential services still need to work.
Callidus Trade – Engineered Power Solutions for Critical Infrastructure.
