24/7 high base load
Heating + laundry + medical kit + lighting = constant daytime demand.
Sector: Care Homes
Solar Power Purchase Agreements for care homes
Care home groups operate 24/7 with high cooling, laundry and lighting load. Care UK, Barchester, Bupa Care Homes and the major REIT-backed operators have signed PPAs across portfolios; the 2,000+ independent operators are the next adoption wave.
| 2026 typical PPA profile — care homes | |
|---|---|
| System size | 30–150kWp |
| Year-1 PPA tariff | 14–18 p/kWh |
| Demand-PV match | 24/7 base load including laundry + heating |
| Annual saving range | £3k–£25k |
Five drivers of PPA economics in care homes
Resident comfort + branding
Marketing to families values on-site renewables.
Energy cost pressure
Care home fees regulated; PPA savings flow direct to operating margin.
CQC sustainability
CQC quality of life standards increasingly factor environmental quality.
Sub-verticals within care homes
Every sub-vertical inside this sector has slightly different PPA economics — load profile, roof type, covenant strength all vary.
Large group operators (50+ homes)
Corporate-PPA route; multi-site sleeved.
Specialist nursing homes
Medical equipment loads = strong daytime.
Dementia care
Lighting + sensory rooms benefit from low-cost renewables.
Retirement villages
Larger common-area load + resident benefit.
Specialist children's homes
Smaller systems; community-grant stacking.
Hospice & end-of-life care
Often charity-funded — diocesan/charity grant pairing.
Case study
320kWp PPA Across a Cornwall Hotel Chain
| System size | 320 kWp |
| PPA tariff | 14.0 p/kWh (year 1) |
| Contract term | 20 years |
| Year-1 saving | £28,000 |
Watch-outs specific to care homes
- Quiet operations: care homes are noise-sensitive — install timing matters.
- Resident wellbeing: roof works must minimise disruption.
- CQC compliance: works planning must integrate with CQC inspection cycles.
FAQs
PPA FAQs — Care Homes
What's the typical PPA tariff for care homes in 2026?
Indicative 2026 tariffs for care homes range 14–18 p/kWh. The lower end applies to investment-grade off-takers on 25-year contracts with strong daytime self-consumption; the upper end applies to smaller systems or shorter terms. Our PPA calculator models your specific site.
How long does the PPA setup take?
From first call to commissioning typically 6-12 months. Indicative tariff in 2-4 weeks, site survey + heads-of-terms in 4-8 weeks, full contract in 8-12 weeks, build in 6-16 weeks. Larger systems with DNO upgrades take longer.
What system size suits care homes?
Typical 2026 systems for care homes range 30–150kWp. Smaller sites stack with battery storage; larger sites may split across rooftop + ground-mount or multi-site sleeved structures.
Are there grant alternatives that beat PPA?
For public-sector sites, PSDS often gives a lower lifetime cost — but with lengthy procurement and 100% utilisation requirements. For energy-intensive industry, IETF stacks. For most commercial buyers, PPA wins on cashflow and admin simplicity. See PPA vs grant-funded.
What's the off-taker covenant requirement?
Most providers want investment-grade or strong-unrated covenant. For weaker covenants, parent guarantees, letters of credit, or shorter contracts can bridge. See off-taker covenant deep-dive.
Get an indicative PPA tariff for your care home site
A 60-second form gives us enough to return a vetted provider shortlist and indicative 14–18 p/kWh tariff within one working day.
Get an indicative PPA tariff
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