Power Different has two projects shortlisted for National Solar PV Project of the Year

Power Different has secured two places on the shortlist for National Solar PV Project of the Year at the 2026 National Energy Efficiency Awards.

The Sandringham Estate – Centralised Solar Farm & Battery Infrastructure and East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) Optimised Solar PV System have both been recognised. 

One required a new way to generate, store and distribute energy across a complex heritage estate. The other had to be delivered at a live aviation base around an emergency medical service that could not pause.

What connects them is the same Power Different approach – understand the constraints first, then engineer the right solution around the site.

Sandringham Estate: solving a problem a standard solar design could not

At Sandringham Estate, the challenge went far beyond deciding where to place panels.

The estate wanted to reduce its reliance on grid electricity, but severe grid constraints, geographically dispersed demand, heritage considerations, security requirements and operational complexity meant a conventional installation would not work.

Power Different designed an infrastructure-led solution that brought together a 1MW ground-mounted solar farm with a commercial battery energy storage system. More than 2 km of private high-voltage infrastructure, a bespoke 11 kV distribution network and intelligent energy management were added to move and manage power across the estate.

The completed system can produce enough energy to exceed demand for much of the year, while creating a scalable foundation for future sustainability projects.

It shows why complex solar cannot begin with an off-the-shelf package. The technology matters, but so do the network, the site and the practical realities of operating in a sensitive environment.

East Anglian Air Ambulance: installing solar around a live emergency service

The shortlisted East Anglian Air Ambulance project presented a completely different challenge.

The 92.3 kWp commercial rooftop solar system was installed at EAAA’s operational base at Norwich Airport. The work had to meet aviation regulations, manage glint and glare requirements, account for structural constraints and follow strict airside procedures.

Most importantly, the base had to remain operational. Helicopter call-outs continued throughout the installation, so every stage was planned around the people delivering critical care across the region.

Through detailed engineering, careful product selection and close co–ordination with EAAA, Power Different delivered a system capable of generating more than 83,000 kWh of electricity each year. It will help the charity reduce energy costs and support its long-term sustainability goals without compromising the work taking place on site.

The project has added significance in 2026, with EAAA also chosen as Power Different’s charity partner during our tenth year in business.

Recognition for the thinking behind the panels

Both projects relied on careful analysis, collaborative planning, disciplined project management and a team prepared to keep working at the problem when the obvious route was not the right one.

Kris Daynes, Managing Director of Power Different, said: “Getting one project onto a national shortlist would have meant a lot, so to have two recognised in the same category is a brilliant result for the team. 

“They were completely different jobs, but neither could have been delivered by reaching for an off-the-shelf design. We had to understand the site, keep asking why and work through the detail until the right answer became clear. That is exactly how we want Power Different to work.”

The recognition belongs to everyone involved, from feasibility and system design through to electrical engineering, logistics, installation and commissioning. 

We are also grateful to Sandringham Estate and East Anglian Air Ambulance for trusting us with projects where getting the detail right genuinely mattered.

Complex commercial solar starts with the right questions

Many solar projects appear straightforward until grid capacity, structural limitations, planning requirements and operating patterns are properly examined.

That is why our work starts with evidence. Power Different’s solar feasibility analysis uses real energy data to explore what will work, what will not and where solar, battery storage or wider infrastructure can deliver a commercially sound result.

Whether the answer is rooftop solar, a ground-mounted array, battery storage or a private energy network, the aim is the same: build the right solution for the site and make sure it performs in the real world.

The winners will be announced in Birmingham on Friday 9 October 2026. Whatever happens on the night, securing two places on the national shortlist is already a proud result for the team. 

To discuss a complex commercial solar or battery project, request a solar feasibility analysis.