UPOWA delivers solar PV and battery storage retrofit programme for 35 Winchester City Council homes
At a glance
Client: Winchester City Council
Programme: Wave 3
Date: 2025-26
Properties: 35 occupied homes
Technology: Solar PV and battery storage
Role: Principal contractor
Delivery: End-to-end design, installation, commissioning and resident liaison
Introduction
UPOWA has successfully completed Phase 1 of Winchester City Council's Wave 3 solar PV and battery storage retrofit programme, delivering renewable energy upgrades across 35 occupied social housing properties throughout the Winchester district. Designed to support Winchester City Council's wider housing decarbonisation and net-zero ambitions, the retrofit programme combined rooftop solar PV with battery storage technology to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and help residents lower their household energy costs.
As a specialist solar PV and battery storage provider with more than 15 years of industry experience and over 40,000 installations delivered nationwide, UPOWA provided a fully managed end-to-end solution, covering survey, design, installation, commissioning, certification and resident support.
Delivered within occupied residential environments, the programme demonstrates how local authorities can successfully deploy renewable energy technologies at scale while maintaining a resident-focused approach and minimising disruption.
Project overview
Winchester City Council appointed UPOWA to deliver Phase 1 of its Wave 3 solar PV and battery storage programme as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing carbon emissions across its housing stock. Funded through Winchester City Council's own capital investment in decarbonisation, the programme forms part of the council's wider strategy to improve housing energy performance, reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
The programme involved 35 occupied properties, requiring careful planning and resident engagement to ensure installations were delivered safely and efficiently within live housing environments. Drawing on extensive experience delivering renewable energy solutions across residential housing portfolios, UPOWA carried out detailed technical assessments of every property. Factors including roof suitability, orientation, available roof space, energy demand profiles and battery storage requirements were evaluated to develop property-specific system designs that maximised performance.
As a locally based provider, UPOWA utilised its regional workforce and supply chain to support efficient delivery, enabling rapid survey, installation and support response times while reducing travel-related carbon emissions.
The UPOWA solution
UPOWA provided a fully managed design, supply, installation and commissioning service for the programme, delivering bespoke solar PV and battery storage systems tailored to the requirements of each property. As Principal Contractor, UPOWA managed all aspects of programme delivery, including construction phase planning, health and safety management, installation scheduling, resident liaison, compliance documentation and commissioning.
Working in occupied homes required a resident-first approach. Our installation teams coordinated closely with residents and council representatives throughout the programme, maintaining clear communication and completing works with minimal disruption to households. The programme was delivered with zero reportable safety incidents and full CDM compliance.
The project included:
Property assessments and technical surveys
Solar PV and battery storage system design
DNO applications and approvals
Installation, testing and commissioning
Certification and compliance documentation
Resident handover packs and system guidance
Training and support for Winchester City Council personnel
Upon completion, each resident received property-specific documentation and guidance to help them understand and maximise the benefits of their new solar and battery system.
“Phase 1 of Winchester City Council’s solar PV and battery storage programme has supported our housing decarbonisation objectives and ongoing work to improve the energy performance of council homes. By combining solar generation with battery storage, the programme helps residents make better use of clean energy generated at home, reduce reliance on grid electricity and support improved EPC performance. Our partnership with UPOWA has provided the specialist technical expertise and delivery confidence needed to complete installations safely and efficiently in occupied homes, creating a strong model for future rollout.”
Project summary
Phase 1 of the programme delivered:
35 occupied council homes upgraded
100 kWp total solar PV capacity installed
196 kWh total battery storage capacity installed
Individual system sizes ranging from 2.5 kWp to 3.6 kWp
5.67 kWh battery storage installed per property
Approximate annual renewable electricity generation: 105,000 kWh
Projected annual carbon reduction: 14 tonnes CO₂
The installed systems are now helping residents generate and store their own renewable electricity, reducing reliance on grid energy and providing long-term protection against rising energy costs. Depending on household energy use, the systems have the potential to reduce electricity bills by up to 64%, increasing self-consumption of renewable energy while helping reduce exposure to rising electricity costs.
Following the successful delivery of Phase 1, Winchester City Council has appointed UPOWA to continue supporting its housing decarbonisation programme. The next phase will see solar PV and battery storage systems deployed across up to 500 properties per year over the next three years, demonstrating both the scalability of UPOWA's delivery model and Winchester City Council's confidence in its successful delivery.
Supporting housing decarbonisation
Through the successful delivery of Phase 1, UPOWA has demonstrated its ability to deliver large-scale solar PV and battery retrofit programmes safely and efficiently while keeping residents at the centre of delivery. The programme provides a scalable model for local authorities and housing providers seeking to decarbonise existing housing stock while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
Delivering solar PV and battery storage across your housing stock?
Whether you’re a local authority or social housing provider, UPOWA can provide a complete solar PV and battery storage solution, from survey and design through to installation, commissioning and resident handover.
Talk to our expert team about your next project.