Harpenden springs care home, Harpenden

Harnessing solar power for sustainable care

This project brought together technical precision, sector-specific expertise and a shared vision for sustainability. Working in collaboration with a specialist electrical contractor, we designed and delivered a solar panel system tailored to the requirements of a brand-new care home. Here, we share the story of this installation…

Overview

We were approached by an electrical contractor with extensive experience in care home projects. They asked us to provide a complete solar solution for Harpenden Springs Care Home, a new-build flagship facility with ambitious sustainability goals.

The installation needed to align with the energy performance requirements set out in the home’s design documents, while fitting seamlessly into the roof areas allocated for solar. Our team managed the design, contract negotiation and installation, ensuring the project met both regulatory and practical needs.

The background

Our starting point was an energy assessment (as part of a BRUKL report) which specified how much solar generation was required per square metre of roof space. From this, we calculated that the system would need to deliver around 50,000 kWh of electricity each year.

Using the roof drawings supplied, we developed a design that balanced output with the available space. This included careful planning to ensure the panels could be distributed across different areas of the roof without compromising performance.

Once the design was agreed, we supported the contractor in finalising the contract, securing the project and setting out the delivery plan.

The installation

The installation was carried out by a team of five over the course of four days. We used the K2 S Dome mounting system, which allowed us to maximise roof space while maintaining efficiency.

To ensure reliability and future flexibility, the system was designed to connect back to two separate inverters located in different parts of the building, with the outputs linked in parallel to feed renewable energy directly into the care home.

As the building itself is still under construction, our work is ongoing, so we will be returning to complete the installation of the internal equipment once the site is ready.

System details

Panels: 109 x 500-watt solar panels
Mounting: K2 S Dome mounting system
Inverters: Two solar inverters operating in parallel
Estimated annual generation: 50,000 kWh

Looking ahead

Care homes typically have high energy demands, with heating, lighting and medical equipment running continuously. Harpenden Springs is expected to consume around 120,000 kWh annually, so the solar system will make a significant contribution to reducing reliance on grid electricity.

Over its lifetime, the system is projected to save the care home around £250,000 in energy costs, helping to offset rising operational expenses and ensuring that more resources can be directed towards resident care.

We’re proud to have contributed to this project, which demonstrates how sustainability can be built into essential community facilities from the ground up.