Horder Healthcare is a leading independent healthcare provider and charity based in Sussex that has been making world-class healthcare accessible for over 60 years.
Horder Healthcare’s commitment to promoting wellness in the local community goes beyond delivering traditional healthcare services, with environmental responsibility at the heart of everything they do.
In the last few years, the Horder Healthcare team has made strides towards this, taking concrete steps to reduce their environmental impact. From 2020 to 2024, they were able to reduce their total carbon emissions by 35% by making energy-efficiency enhancements across their sites.
More recently, the Horder Healthcare team, led by then-CEO Richard Tyler, decided to take a major step towards decarbonisation by installing solar at the Horder Centre, the charity’s specialist orthopaedic surgery hospital based in Crowborough.
Project snapshot
Industry: Healthcare
Channel Partners: Zestec & JPS Renewable Energy
Solar system size: 323.8kW
Equipment:
753 solar panels
PPA term: 25 years
The solution
Richard invited commercial solar experts JPS Renewables to visit the hospital to assess their facilities and its suitability for solar.
JPS Renewable’s Ross Stevens recalls the complexity of the site.
It was clear that it would require “a complex design and installation owing to the sheer number of varying roof elevations, orientations, pitches, full planning consent requirement, back-up generator integration, and differing types of mounting equipment required to bring this project together.”
In the end, Ross’s technical proposal involved 753 solar panels spread across 30+ configurations on the site’s roof. This would result in a total system size of 323.8kW.
Knowing that this system was large, technically complex and would come with a considerable price tag, Ross suggested that the Horder Healthcare team consider investing in the system through a Smart Ease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), funded by OEGEN and managed by Zestec.
Under a Smart Ease PPA, Horder Healthcare would have the solar system installed without any capital outlay. Their system would be operated and maintained at optimal levels by Smart Ease’s PPA co-developer, Zestec. Zestec would manage the system for the whole PPA term, selling the solar electricity generated back to Horder Healthcare for a pre-agreed price.
For Horder Healthcare, the benefits of the PPA were clear:
- £0 upfront spend on their installation
- Hands-off, hassle-free equipment operations and maintenance
Installation of the solar system under their PPA agreement began in February 2025.
The win
The system is expected to provide 22% of Horder Healthcare electricity needs, resulting in significant energy-bill savings and over 140 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions.
“This is a major milestone in our journey toward energy efficiency, and we are excited to see work progress. The project reflects our commitment to responsible energy use while ensuring that patient care remains our top priority.”
– Jackie Murrin, Sustainability Officer at Horder Healthcare
Start a conversation with Smart Ease and find out how our Payment Plans can help you generate solar savings