When guests arrive at Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa, they expect to see a beautiful historic estate, manicured grounds and one of Suffolk's most sought-after wedding venues.
What they don't expect to see is a large commercial solar installation.
That was exactly the challenge facing Seckford Hall when they approached EC Eco Energy.
With combined electricity bills reaching approximately £20,000 per month, the hotel and spa needed a long-term solution to rising energy costs. However, as a listed building and luxury hospitality venue, preserving the character and appearance of the estate was non-negotiable.
Traditional rooftop solar wasn't an option.
The challenge was clear:
How do you install a large-scale renewable energy system capable of serving a busy hotel and spa without impacting the appearance of a historic estate?
Looking Beyond the Roofs
Like many commercial solar projects, the first discussions focused on available roof space.
However, installing solar panels on highly visible historic buildings would have significantly altered the appearance of the estate and potentially affected the experience of hotel guests and wedding visitors.
Rather than compromise the character of the venue, EC Eco Energy developed an entirely different approach.
Following extensive site surveys, a suitable location was identified approximately 300 metres away from the hotel and spa buildings, hidden from the key viewpoints around the estate.
This allowed the venue to benefit from large-scale renewable energy generation while preserving the views, architecture and atmosphere that make Seckford Hall so unique.
Today, many visitors have no idea a major renewable energy installation exists on the estate. And that's exactly how it was designed.
Building Renewable Infrastructure Across a Historic Estate
Designing the solar array was only the beginning.
Because the installation was located several hundred metres away from the hotel and spa, extensive infrastructure works were required to connect the system back to the buildings.
New underground cable routes had to be installed across the estate.
The route crossed challenging terrain consisting of mixed soils and sandy ground conditions, making trenching works considerably more demanding than a typical commercial installation.
Every section of turf removed during excavation was carefully retained and reinstated after installation. Estate-wide trenching and reinstatement like this is part of our in-house civils and groundworks capability.
Once complete, there was virtually no visible evidence of the infrastructure beneath the surface.
For the client, protecting the appearance of the grounds was just as important as reducing electricity costs.
Supporting Two Separate Energy Supplies
The estate operates using separate electrical supplies for the hotel and spa facilities.
Rather than designing a standard solar installation, EC Eco Energy developed a solution capable of supporting both MPAN connections while maximising self-consumption across the site.
The completed system includes:
- 300kWp Solar PV Installation
- 500 High-Efficiency 600W Solar Panels
- Two 30kW Battery Storage Systems
- Four 22kW EV Chargers
- Advanced monitoring and control systems
The batteries help store surplus solar generation and support site demand during periods when solar production is lower, improving overall system efficiency.
Solving an Unexpected Heat Problem
One challenge only became apparent once equipment locations had been finalised.
The inverters were installed within existing basement plant areas where temperatures were already extremely high due to the building's existing services.
To protect system performance and maximise long-term reliability, additional extraction and ventilation systems were installed to improve airflow and manage heat levels within the plant rooms.
This is the type of challenge that rarely appears on a design drawing but often determines the long-term success of a commercial solar installation.
The Results
The completed project has delivered substantial savings across the estate.
Before installation
~£20,000 per month
Combined electricity costs
After installation
~£10,000 per month
Combined electricity costs
Annual saving
~£120,000 every year
Across the estate
Reduction in electricity costs
50% reduction
Across the hotel and spa
For a hospitality business operating around the clock, this level of reduction represents a significant improvement in operating efficiency while reducing exposure to future energy price increases.
Environmental Impact
The 300kWp solar installation is expected to generate approximately:
270,000 to 300,000 kWh of renewable electricity every year
This is expected to reduce carbon emissions by:
60 to 70 tonnes of CO2 annually
Equivalent to removing more than 30 petrol vehicles from UK roads every year
Over the lifetime of the system, the carbon savings will exceed 1,500 tonnes of CO2.
More Than Just Lower Energy Bills
For Seckford Hall, this project wasn't simply about installing solar panels.
It was about finding a way to modernise the estate's energy infrastructure without compromising the historic character that attracts guests, wedding parties and visitors from across the country.
Today the hotel benefits from:
- Reduced operating costs
- Greater energy independence
- Battery-backed renewable energy generation
- EV charging facilities for guests and staff
- Improved sustainability credentials
- Long-term protection from rising energy prices
Most importantly, all of this has been achieved while preserving the appearance and atmosphere that make Seckford Hall one of Suffolk's most recognisable hospitality venues.
Can Listed Buildings Benefit From Commercial Solar?
One of the most common questions we hear is whether listed buildings, hotels and heritage properties can successfully adopt renewable energy.
This project proves they can.
With the right design, careful planning and an understanding of both engineering and aesthetics, renewable energy can be integrated into even the most sensitive environments.
At EC Eco Energy, we specialise in solving exactly these kinds of challenges.
Whether you're operating a hotel, wedding venue, commercial estate or multi-site business, our team designs and delivers commercial solar, battery storage and EV charging solutions that work with your site, not against it. We deliver projects across Suffolk and the East of England — including the Ipswich area a few miles from this Woodbridge estate. See more of our work in our case studies.