180 kWp + 80 kWh Battery, Extra-Care, SHDF-Funded

Scenario

A 95-unit extra-care housing scheme in the North West, operated by a registered provider housing association under a local authority commissioning contract for on-site care services. SHDF Wave 2.2 round 1 funding awarded covering 50% of the install capex. Battery storage specified for resident-safety resilience covering call systems, lift access, medication fridges, and emergency lighting across the multi-block scheme.

This case study is an illustrative composite based on representative RP-owned extra-care projects we’ve engaged on. Specific identifying details are anonymised.

Project structure

• Total capex: £270,000 (£200k solar + £70k battery + plant room and integration)
• SHDF Wave 2.2 grant: £135,000 (50% match)
• RP capital contribution: £135,000
• System size: 180 kWp solar across three communal block roofs
• Battery: 80 kWh LFP, sited in dedicated fire-rated external plant room
• Commissioning date: January 2026

Results

Metric	Year 1
Generation	170,000 kWh
Communal demand (landlord supply)	245,000 kWh
Self-consumption (with battery)	71% (120,700 kWh)
Energy saving (import offset at 27p)	£32,600
SEG export income (49,300 kWh at 8p)	£3,940
Total year-1 saving	£36,540
CO₂ avoided	39,100 kg
Payback on RP capital contribution	3.7 years
Simple payback on gross capex	7.4 years

SHDF Wave 2.2 application

The application was submitted by the RP with our energy savings modelling (PVSyst + SAP) and application narrative. Key application strengths:

• Combined fabric + on-site renewables + low-carbon heat readiness in a single coordinated programme
• Existing scheme EPC C+ with measurable improvement trajectory
• Strong evidence of communal-area energy load (matched to install scope)
• Local authority commissioning context (sustainability scoring on the care contract)
• Resident engagement plan with 14-day notification protocol

Application timeline: 6 weeks from start of preparation to submission; 11 weeks to award decision. Funding draw-down phased across the install programme.

Local authority commissioning premium

The scheme operates a 28-bed on-site care service commissioned by the local authority under a 5-year contract. The contract was up for renewal in Q4 2025. The visible install (commissioning in January 2026 coincided with the contract renewal period) supported a successful bid that included a sustainability premium of £4/bed/week — additional annual revenue of £5,824 to the scheme on top of energy savings.

Battery storage and PEEP integration

The 80 kWh LFP battery powers a dedicated critical-load circuit covering:

• Communal call systems across all three blocks
• Two passenger lifts (one per main block)
• Emergency lighting in communal areas
• Three medication refrigerators in the on-site care office
• Fire alarm and emergency communications
• Dementia-friendly door access (front entrance + secure garden access)

The backup circuits are sized for 8 hours of critical-load operation under typical outage conditions. The fire-rated external plant room (Class A 60-minute fire rating, gas-suppression system, aspirating smoke detection) houses the battery away from resident accommodation. The Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for individual residents were reviewed jointly with the on-site care team and updated to reference the new backup capability.

RP outcomes

The RP’s annual sustainability report (covering 1,200 affordable and supported housing units across the region) flagged the install as exemplar — it has subsequently formed the template for two further SHDF Wave 2.2 applications planned for Round 2 (expected Q4 2026). The visible install was also used in resident newsletters and the RP’s biannual stakeholder report.

Resident engagement

Pre-install resident notification began 14 days before mobilisation via leaflet drop, scheme manager office Q&A sessions, and individual conversations with residents identified as anxious about contractor presence. Total install duration on site: 18 working days across the three blocks. Zero formal complaints raised during the install period.

RP Energy Director quote

“SHDF Wave 2.2 made the math work. With 50% match funding, the payback on our residual capital came inside 4 years — well within Board appetite. The technical specification was strong enough that the LA commissioning contract renewal cited it, adding revenue we hadn’t modelled. We’re now planning the next two applications using this scheme as the template.”

— RP Director of Energy and Sustainability