Introduction
As part of their continued commitment to sustainability, B&M Care Homes has embarked on a significant renewable energy upgrade at Dalton Lodge, with the installation of a large-scale solar PV system designed and delivered by Spirit Energy. The project marks another step in B&M’s strategy to reduce operational costs while supporting the organisation’s environmental and social responsibility goals.
Why Dalton Lodge Chose Solar
Operating as a 24-hour care facility, Dalton Lodge has consistently high electricity demand. Power is required around the clock for heating, lighting, catering, laundry, and specialist care equipment. With rising energy costs and a strong focus on carbon reduction, solar PV presented an opportunity to take control of long-term energy expenditure while cutting emissions across the site.
For B&M Care Homes, the move aligns with the group’s wider sustainability framework, complementing recent investments in energy efficiency and demonstrating responsible care through environmental leadership.
The Solar System Design
Spirit Energy’s design team proposed a 91.91 kWp solar PV system, carefully tailored to the building’s roof layout and load profile.
The system consists of:
- 202 × 455W Trina TSM-450NEG9R.28 monocrystalline panels
- 2 × Solis-50k-S5 inverters installed in a top-floor riser cupboard
- K2 pitched roof mounting system fixed securely to the rafters beneath concrete roof tiles
Together, the panels provide an active cell area of around 404 m², generating an estimated 81,387 kWh of clean electricity each year. The installation is expected to offset roughly 18,312 kg of CO₂ annually, equivalent to planting more than 800 trees every year.
Approximately 40% of the solar generation will be used on-site, directly powering care home operations during daylight hours, with the remaining 60% exported to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee, assumed at 7.5p per kWh.
Installation Highlights
Before installation, Spirit Energy completed a full feasibility study covering technical surveys, structural assessments, and the DNO application for grid connection approval. Spirit Energy also ensured safe working conditions with minimal disruption to staff and residents. The panels were securely fixed using over-roof brackets to maintain the integrity of the roof structure.
As a roof-mounted system below 1 MW, no formal planning application was required, qualifying the project as permitted development.
Financial and Environmental Benefits
The Dalton Lodge solar array delivers substantial financial and environmental returns:
With total lifetime savings exceeding £180,000, the system will provide lasting value well beyond its warranty period. The installation also helps shield the care home from energy market volatility, providing predictable and sustainable power generation for decades to come.
Conclusion
The Dalton Lodge Solar PV Project demonstrates how care providers can combine financial efficiency with environmental responsibility. By generating over 81 MWh of renewable electricity each year, the care home will significantly reduce its reliance on grid power while achieving a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions.
Spirit Energy’s turnkey approach - from feasibility and design through to installation and commissioning - ensured a seamless process and robust, high-performing outcome.
This project underscores how solar energy can empower care facilities to deliver high-quality, sustainable care, benefiting residents, staff, and the wider community alike.