At our Cambridgeshire care community, as part of our sustainability goals, we’ve built a solar field. This will help relieve pressure from the National Grid, and allow us to be more self-sufficient when it comes to energy expenditure.

Based in a field next to our care and rehab centres, the 150kW Solar Photovoltaic System will help us offset a large proportion of our daytime electrical consumption.

Built by Optimeyes Energy alongside the Engenera Renewable Group, and having worked closely with the Maximeyes Group to deliver the project as part of our decarbonisation strategy, the new solar field is projected to save us 800,000 kg/CO2 over the next 20 years.

Taking four weeks to construct and commission, the carbon-saving system is made up of rows of ground-mounted solar modules, each with the capacity to provide up to 330w of electrical generation.

This project has been in the pipeline for a long time now, so we’re delighted to see it come to fruition. While our new solar field will only occupy approximately 150m/2, it’s the size of the environmental impact which cannot be ignored. Self-generating our electricity will significantly decrease our overall carbon footprint, and is the next step in our decarbonisation strategy.

We’ve since spoken to Miguel Matias (COO and co-founder of Optimeyes) about the project, who said: “Askham’s new system will also incorporate battery storage to provide an integrated and optimised solution, as we always propose. This provides further protection and resilience against power cuts on-site. With various medical equipment within Askham, it is vital that the power is at all times available and that the supply is uninterrupted. Again, this is a great example of how progressive technology can support the traditional demands of facilities such as Askham.”

Leaders within the SME renewable market, Optimeyes and Engenera work with businesses, communities and organisations who want to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and increase their environmental profile.

At Askham, it’s important we play our part in helping the country become greener by taking some pressure off the National Grid.

To find out more about our Cambridgeshire care community, do take a few minutes to browse our website.

Alternatively, if you’d like to see more of what we’ve been getting up to, take a look at our blog, or scroll through our social media channels.