Barrington Solar partnered with Whitlingham Charitable Trust to design and deliver a two phase solar PV system to significantly cut energy costs and carbon emissions at their Café and across the maintenance hub. The systems consisted of:
- 96 x AIKO 510W solar panels
- 2 x Fox ESS H3 Pro hybrid inverters
Objectives
- Reduce grid energy consumption and long-term energy costs
- Add flexibility with the potential to simply integrate battery storage
- Lower carbon emissions and environmental footprint
The Solution
Phase 1
Our team worked closely with Whitlingham Charitable Trust to locate a suitable position for the ground mounted solar array. We then engaged with the local planning office to design and deliver an appropriate foundation for the array along with an equipment enclosure, in line with the requirements for listed parkland under The Broads Authority.
Whitlingham Country Park is designated as registered park and garden, meaning it has listed status as a historic landscape, with the ruins of Trowse Newton Hall also Grade II listed within the park, signifying its significant heritage value alongside its Local Nature Reserve status.
Following planning approval the designed array was installed. Totalling 48.96 kWp, the solar array utilised Aiko panels for optimal efficiency, expected to produce 43,500 kWh annually. These panels were mounted on a ballast system of Renusol Consoles due to consideration of ground condition of the filled in quarry.
Phase 2
The project consists of hybrid inverters allowing the flexibility to add a modular battery storage system up to 150.98 kWp at a later date. This will enable the Trust to store surplus energy during the day and use it overnight, achieving further reduction in grid dependence. With a tariff switch, the addition of battery storage will also unlock load shifting capabilities, allowing the Trust to buy energy overnight when it is cheaper, to offset running costs during the day.
Results
- Annual Generation: 43,500 kWh
- CO₂ Savings: 9,000 kg per year (equivalent to planting over 400 trees)
- Payback Period: 4 years
- First-Year Savings: £15,000
- Projected ROI (IRR): 26.8%
Project impact
Whitlingham Charitable Trusts system not only delivers substantial financial returns but also offsets over 9,000kg of CO2 annually, aligning with their ongoing efforts for environmental stewardship. By combining solar generation with smart energy management, the site now produces and controls much of its own clean electricity – a major step toward long-term sustainability.
Services provided
- Site visit and assessment
- Detailed technical design of solar system
- Planning application support
- Civils designs & Installation
- Electrical supply, installation & commissioning
- Training on use
- Full handover
- Ongoing monitoring
Feedback from customer:
“Investing in a significant solar array at Whitlingham Country Park posed many challenges and the Barrington team were superb at every turn to guide the project. Our ground array was installed in a timely and professional manner, with full guidance throughout, and has been generating well even during winter. We are delighted with the overall result and it represents a major asset towards improving the park’s sustainability in line with the Trust’s environmental aims.“
Whitlingham Charitable Trust
