Solar shed / aquariums

[Guppy]

Hi everyone, I live in the UK and keep aquariums in my shed. It’s quite a small shed, about 2.5m wide, 2m deep. I’ve insulated it myself. With the current energy prices it’s getting quite expensive to run so looking for cheaper options. I was wondering what solar set up I’d need to run the following

6-8 28w led lights (these are on roughly 8 hours a day.
I’ve found outside solar lighting I think I’ll use with the label on the outside and running the lights inside.


35w air pump (runs 24/7)

Heating is the biggest expense in the winter. I currently hear all tanks separately but looking into getting an infrared heater and heat the room rather than tanks separately. (I know infrared heat objects rather than the air). Would need to research what model I’d get but these vary from 350w - 700w. They have thermostats so switch off at the disused temperature but I imagine would be running quite a lot of hours during the winter.

Looking forward to your comments and advice.

Thanks

[bcroe]

An air to air heat pump could drastically cut electric energy cost
to heating the shed, using a high SEER unit. But even the smallest
might be too big and expensive for the small area.

I might try a freezer unit, putting the cooling coil outside and the
compressor/hot coil inside. good luck, Bruce Roe

[PNPmacnab]

I've been told some places in Europe allow small grid tie inverters to be plugged in without permit.

Definitely don't want to go all solar. Use the grid when needed.

I literally have nothing in common with solar people other than I have panels. I use energy when it is generated to do what I need. It is an energy management problem. I have a whole house that runs on a car battery. Not living like a refugee, all the normal stuff, refrigeration, dishwasher, clothes washer, hot water, pump, everything from PV. With a little thought it can be done. Example close to your situation: I have a shed (solar panels make a great roof) with a couple of grid tie panels producing 60V. I bought a new 60V to 220 AC inverter for $23 shipped. Used 200-260W grid tie panels are cheap because everyone wants bigger. For next to nothing I have a super cheap system to charge power tools etc. Added a simple relay control and it will turn on and off automatically. When it drops out, switch over to grid power automatically. Any excess can be diverted to a heater. As simple as it is, this isn't off the shelf stuff. I don't think going solar is your answer unless you are technically minded enough to eliminate the enormous waste there is in solar.