Discover how we helped Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge Parish Council take control of rising energy costs and move towards energy independence — with a solar and battery system expected to save them £8k – £10k a year.
Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge Parish Council serves a collection of rural communities in the heart of the Cranborne Chase AONB. With rising energy bills and a commitment to environmental sustainability, the council sought a long-term solution to reduce running costs for the Village Hall and Sports Pavilion. Discover how DES Renewable Energy delivered a bespoke solar and battery storage system that now powers both buildings with clean energy – and supports the Parish’s journey to becoming more self-sufficient and future-ready.
The project at a glance
- Client: Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge Parish Council, Cranborne Chase, Dorset
- Buildings: the Village Hall and the Sports Pavilion
- Solar: 20 kWp combined, 45 monocrystalline panels (24 x 400 W on the hall, 21 x 450 W on the pavilion)
- Battery storage: 15 kWh combined
- Generation: an average of 17,180 kWh of clean electricity a year
- Carbon: around 4.4 tonnes of CO2 saved each year
- Timeline: 4 months from design, DNO application and planning to commissioning
The challenge
The council's energy costs had risen sharply, and it wanted to take control of what it spent on two well-used community buildings and make them as self-sufficient as possible. The parish serves around 1,300 people across Sixpenny Handley and its surrounding hamlets, inside the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, so the design also had to suit a sensitive rural setting.
What we did
We assessed both buildings' energy use, roof space and sun exposure, then designed two separate systems using structural engineers' reports, shading analysis and the existing electrical layouts. Battery storage lets the hall and pavilion use their solar power in the evenings, when they are often busiest. As an MCS certified installer and NAPIT accredited electrical contractor, we handled the DNO approval and compliance, installed both systems and completed full testing, commissioning and monitoring set-up.
What the council said
"DES Renewable Energy offered Sixpenny Handley & Pentridge PC a first class service. From the preliminary discussions, aspects of design, tailoring the product to our individual needs whilst providing a value for money solar solution. The installation process was straightforward and timely and customer service was always excellent."
Ciona Nicholson, Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge Parish Council
Run a village hall, pavilion or community building? See commercial battery storage and commercial solar panels, or book a free survey on 01202 985 888.
