Power Different wins Small Scale Project of the Year and receives commendation for large-scale solar project

Norfolk commercial solar specialist Power Different has received two major industry recognitions for renewable energy projects delivered at East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Sandringham Estate.

Power Different won Small Scale Project of the Year at the East of England Energy Efficiency Awards for its solar installation at East Anglian Air Ambulance’s Norwich Airport base. The company was also commended in the Large Scale Project category for its work on the Sandringham Estate’s solar farm and battery infrastructure project.

The two projects were very different in scale and setting, but both required careful planning, detailed engineering and solutions designed around the individual site.

An award-winning project for East Anglian Air Ambulance

Delivering solar power at East Anglian Air Ambulance’s operational base presented challenges that would not exist on a typical commercial installation.

The site is located within the airside boundary at Norwich Airport, bringing strict requirements around security, access, equipment height, materials and glint and glare assessments.

At the same time, the charity’s work could not be interrupted. Its helicopters and medical teams needed to remain ready to respond to emergency call-outs throughout the installation.

This meant every stage of the project had to be carefully coordinated around the organisation’s day-to-day operations.

Designing around two very different buildings

The system was delivered in two phases across separate buildings, each presenting its own technical considerations.

The first phase involved installing panels on a flat roof containing existing equipment and services. The second covered an aircraft hangar with structural limitations that made a standard solar-panel system unsuitable.

Rather than attempting to apply the same solution to both buildings, Power Different assessed specialist lightweight panels, reviewed potential suppliers and verified the products before completing the final design.

The completed 92.30 kWp system is expected to generate more than 83,450 kWh of electricity each year, offsetting approximately 40% of the base’s electricity demand. Performance data has also shown 100% system availability, with 58.2 MWh generated and 86% of that electricity used directly on site.

Helping protect resources for life-saving work

Reducing the charity’s reliance on grid electricity should help lower its energy costs over time.

For East Anglian Air Ambulance, those savings matter because they help protect more of the organisation’s resources for the work it exists to do: providing life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

The award recognised both the results achieved and the detailed work required behind the scenes, from technical planning and product selection to project management, installation and coordination with the airport and charity teams.

Commended for work at the Sandringham Estate

Power Different was also commended in the Large Scale Project category for its work on the Sandringham Estate’s solar farm and battery infrastructure project.

While much larger than the Norwich Airport installation, the project demonstrated the same engineering-led approach.

Both sites had distinct operational, structural and technical requirements. Neither would have been properly served by an off-the-shelf system or a design based on rough assumptions.

Instead, Power Different took the time to understand each site, identify the challenges and develop a solution around the client’s buildings, operations and long-term energy needs.

Recognition for an engineering-led approach

Receiving recognition in both the small-scale and large-scale categories reflects Power Different’s belief that commercial solar should be treated as a significant infrastructure investment rather than a straightforward product purchase.

A well-designed system needs to account for how a business uses energy, the condition and limitations of its buildings, its operational requirements and the financial results it needs to achieve.

By completing this work before installation begins, businesses and organisations can make decisions based on reliable data and reduce the risk of performance problems or unexpected costs later.

East Anglian Air Ambulance has since become Power Different’s charity partner for 2026. The company is also consulting with the charity on plans for a solar installation at its new site in 2027.

About Power Different

Based in Norfolk, Power Different designs and delivers commercial solar and battery storage systems for businesses and organisations across the UK.

Its services cover the complete process, from financial and technical feasibility through to system design, installation and ongoing support.

Learn more about Power Different and its commercial solar projects at powerdifferent.co.uk.