UPOWA has been awarded a contract by Greencore Homes to design and deliver solar panels for 42 net zero carbon homes.
UPOWA will provide a 262 kWp Inline Solar PV package for the sustainable housebuilder, which will be implemented at its Milton Heights development in Oxfordshire.
Called The Canopies, the project continues Greencore’s track record of delivering climate-positive schemes and homes that are designed to achieve ultra-low embodied carbon overall and a net zero energy balance in occupation.
Jon Di-Stefano, CEO of Greencore Homes, said: “Greencore is committed to driving forward the delivery of sustainable housing in the UK, with an ambitious target to build 10,000 of our homes that are Better Than Net Zero by 2035. We carefully select partners who share our vision for creating climate-positive places where people can lead low-carbon, healthy and active lives. UPOWA’s solar PV solution at Milton Heights will help deliver lower energy bills for residents while reducing environmental impact—benefiting both their budget and the planet.”
The homes will feature MCS-compliant roof-integrated solar panels, designed to blend seamlessly with the roofline while generating clean, renewable electricity from day one. UPOWA’s in-house design team modelled and optimised the solar PV arrays for each home — maximising available roof space on the most efficient elevations to achieve SAP target scores, all within budget.
As a result, the PV systems are expected to meet a significant portion of household electricity demand, supporting lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions for residents.
Paul Terry, managing director at UPOWA, said: “We’re excited to be supporting Greencore with their vision for The Canopies — a development that’s pushing the boundaries of net zero performance.”
“This partnership demonstrates the strength of our fully managed delivery model, backed by rigorous quality assurance. It’s a great example of how sustainable homes can be delivered at scale through true collaboration.”
Constructed using Greencore’s innovative closed timber frame panels and insulated with natural materials, each home is built to Passivhaus standards to ensure a low energy demand. UPOWA’s roof-integrated solar solution will complement these design principles, enabling each home to meet net zero performance targets.
James Bull, founder and sales director at UPOWA, said: “Greencore’s approach to sustainable housebuilding is setting a benchmark for the industry. The homes at The Canopies reflect the growing demand for clean energy technologies that are integrated, scalable, and add long-term value — helping Greencore to meet their sustainability targets while delivering real benefits to homeowners: lower energy bills, reduced emissions, and greater energy independence.”
With construction underway, UPOWA’s roofing and electrical teams will begin the solar PV installations shortly across all 42 new homes — including 27 private sale properties and 15 affordable homes – with full development completion expected in Q4 2026.
