UPOWA to deliver solar PV and battery storage systems for Greencore Homes’ Zero Bills development in Launton
UPOWA to deliver solar PV systems across 65 Better Than Net Zero homes, including solar and battery storage for 8 Zero Bills properties at Greencore Homes’ The Woodlands development in Launton, Oxfordshire.
Partnership with Greencore Homes and Octopus Energy brings together high-performance homes and integrated clean energy systems, enabling residents to benefit from zero home energy bills for at least 10 years.
Project demonstrates how collaborative delivery and end-to-end solar expertise can help scale future-proof, low-carbon housing across the UK.
UPOWA has been appointed as the solar PV and battery installation partner for Greencore Homes’ latest “Better Than Net Zero” development at The Woodlands in Launton, Oxfordshire.
The development will deliver 65 highly sustainable homes, including eight properties designed to meet the criteria of the Octopus Energy “Zero Bills” tariff, enabling residents to benefit from no home energy bills for at least 10 years.
Delivering integrated clean energy systems
UPOWA will design and install solar PV systems across all 65 homes, with eight Zero Bills plots incorporating battery storage technology to optimise on-site energy usage and performance.
The Zero Bills homes will include integrated solar PV systems and battery storage solutions, utilising high-efficiency 450W solar panels alongside Tesla Powerwall 3 systems (13.5kWh), supporting the energy performance required to meet Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills standard.
All systems are being designed to align with the development’s wider energy strategy, ensuring optimal generation, storage and usage of renewable energy at a property level.
“Greencore Homes is committed to driving forward the delivery of sustainable housing across the UK, particularly as regulatory standards such as the Future Homes Standard continue to accelerate the adoption of solar PV on all new homes.
We’ve been integrating solar into our developments for some time, and our recent collaboration with UPOWA at The Canopies has demonstrated how we can deliver lower energy bills for our residents using renewable energy. We’re pleased to be working with UPOWA again at The Woodlands in Launton to provide long-term energy security for homeowners.”
“We’re proud to be supporting Greencore Homes at The Woodlands, a development that continues to push the boundaries of Better Than Net Zero housing. This latest project reflects the trust Greencore places in UPOWA’s fully managed, end-to-end delivery of solar PV and battery systems.
It’s a strong example of what can be achieved through close collaboration between housebuilders, energy providers and delivery partners, demonstrating how high-performance homes and integrated clean energy technology can deliver sustainable, future-proofed outcomes for residents at scale.”
Supporting “Better Than Net Zero” homes delivery
The Woodlands forms part of Greencore Homes’ continued commitment to delivering homes that go beyond net zero in operation, combining:
• Ultra-low energy demand through fabric-first design
• Natural, low embodied carbon materials
• Integrated renewable energy technologies
By working alongside Greencore Homes and Octopus Energy, UPOWA is supporting the delivery of homes that offer:
• Reduced carbon emissions
• Lower energy costs
• Long-term energy certainty for residents
A collaborative delivery model
The project highlights the importance of collaboration between housebuilders, energy providers and specialist contractors to deliver high-performance housing at scale.
UPOWA’s role spans full end-to-end delivery of the solar and battery systems, including:
• System design and optimisation
• Installation and commissioning
• Integration with wider energy systems
• Handover support
This ensures that the performance ambitions of the development are realised in practice, not just in design.
Looking ahead
Construction at The Woodlands is underway, with first completions expected in Autumn 2026. The project builds on UPOWA’s growing partnership with Greencore Homes, following previous collaboration at The Canopies development in Milton Heights.
Ready to power your next sustainable housing development?
The UK Government has confirmed that all new build homes in England will be required to have solar panels from 2027 under the Future Homes Standard. For housebuilders, this presents both a regulatory and cost challenge, and a real opportunity to future-proof your homes and stay ahead of planning and buyer expectations.
At UPOWA, we’re already partnering with leading developers like Greencore Homes to deliver future-ready systems that reduce carbon, lower energy bills, and meet compliance with evolving Building Regulations. Discover how UPOWA can help you deliver high-quality, solar-ready homes on time, on budget, and at scale. Contact our team today.
Resources
The Woodlands - Greencore Homes
About Greencore Homes
Greencore Homes builds homes that are Better Than Net Zero and climate positive places.
Most housebuilders define net zero only in terms of operational carbon and energy efficiency. Greencore Homes’ method of construction and the materials used guarantees the structure of each home achieves better than zero embodied carbon. Developments are designed to achieve ultra-low embodied carbon overall and a net zero energy balance in occupation.
With significant investment from majority shareholder M&G, strong relationships with partners and an experienced senior leadership team; Greencore Homes has ambitious targets to build 10,000 homes that are Better Than Net Zero by 2035.
Greencore’s homes are built using an innovative closed timber frame panel that is insulated with natural materials including hemp, lime and natural wood fibre. The panels are assembled on site, taking approximately 2-weeks to be air and watertight. This enables fast and efficient on-site construction, minimising noise, disruption and carbon emissions.
Unlike traditional brick houses, the structure of Greencore’s homes lock up more carbon than they emit. Designed and built to Passivhaus standards, they are highly insulated to ensure a low energy demand. This is coupled with excellent ventilation for improved air quality, comfort and wellbeing. This low energy demand and the use of renewable energy sources means all new Greencore homes are designed to be net zero carbon in operation.
Greencore takes a landscape-led approach to its development and is sensitive to each location’s ecology, providing genuinely healthy living environments, applying Bioregional’s One Planet Living sustainability framework when planning climate positive places.
In 2022, M&G Investments acquired a majority stake in Greencore through its Catalyst strategy, supporting its initial growth in capacity and with a target to expand across the UK. In 2024, M&G Investments invested further equity to drive significant expansion, initially by targeting land acquisitions across the South East of England to complement existing sites underway. M&G’s real estate business plans to invest up to £500 million in partnership with Greencore for the delivery of sustainable rental and affordable housing.
Learn more: Greencore Homes