- System size
- 500 kW - 2.5 MW (portfolio)
- Capex
- £450k-£2.25m
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
- G99 timeline
- 16 wk avg
Why group / multi-site corps solar works on SSEN
Group / multi-site corps in the SSEN territory share three structural advantages for solar PV programmes:
- Sub-vertical fit. Multi-site group corporations operate 3-15 campuses under a single corporation board, enabling single-bid Salix applications, consolidated procurement (15-25% unit cost reduction at portfolio scale), and phased delivery across multiple summer windows.
- DNO characteristics. Two non-contiguous territories with different processing teams (central south England + northern Scotland). Highland/Island connections need additional logistics consideration.
- Funding alignment. Since the November 2022 ONS reclassification every group / multi-site corp in Central Southern England + Central/Southern Scotland has full access to Salix Decarbonisation Loans (interest-free, up to £600k per project) and PSDS Phase 4 capital grants. Cross-territory funding mix — Thames Valley colleges access Oxford-Cambridge Arc decarbonisation; Highland and Island colleges access HIE rural infrastructure funding.
Named group / multi-site corps on the SSEN network
We've delivered or scoped solar PV for the following group / multi-site corps in the SSEN territory:
- Activate Learning
- Berkshire College of Agriculture
- Sparsholt College
- Inverness College UHI
- Perth College UHI
G99 connection planning
For group / multi-site corps on SSEN, the G99 grid connection timeline typically runs 16 weeks (14-18 weeks observed range) for installs in the 500 kW - 2.5 MW (portfolio) band. Plan the application within the first 8 weeks of project kickoff — DNO timeline is almost always the critical-path item.
Detailed regional DNO guide: SSEN G99 connections for college solar.
Funding stack for group / multi-site corps on SSEN
- Salix Decarbonisation Loan — interest-free, repaid from savings, 8-year term
- PSDS Phase 4 capital grant — typically bundled with heat decarbonisation for highest scoring
- FE Capital Transformation Fund — embedded sustainability inside major refurb
- T-Level Capital — for new workshop builds with embedded solar
- MCA decarbonisation grants where applicable to specific campuses