Cornish firm ZLC Energy wins National Solar PV Project of the Year

Three megawatts of solar panels on a hospital’s rooftops and carports have earned a Cornish firm one of the top prizes in its industry.

ZLC Energy won National Solar PV Project of the Year at the 2026 National Energy Efficiency Awards, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday 9 October. One of its apprentices took a national title on the same night.

Two wins and a second place

The renewable energy specialist came away with two awards, National Solar PV Project of the Year and National Apprentice of the Year. It also finished second in PV Installer and Contractor of the Year.

The company, which started in 2012, delivers integrated renewable energy projects for commercial and public sector clients, with solar PV at the centre of its work.

The hospital project behind the award

The project award recognises ZLC Energy’s whole-site energy scheme at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) in Shropshire.

The scheme combines 3MW of solar PV across every viable rooftop and carport with 650kWh of battery storage and a bespoke energy management system.

According to ZLC Energy, it offsets around 75% of the hospital’s grid electricity, saves £750,000 a year and cuts around 600 tonnes of carbon annually.

National Apprentice of the Year

Apprentice Raman Mustafa won National Apprentice of the Year. The award recognises his professional development and his growing contribution to complex energy resilience projects.

ZLC Energy said Raman’s win reflects its commitment to building skills in a sector facing a well-documented installer shortage.

“Standing among the best in the UK”

Mark Smith CEng CEnv mCIWEM, Director of ZLC Energy, said: “Winning at national level confirms what we have been working towards since we started in 2012, which is delivering complex, integrated energy projects to the highest standard.”

Mark added: “This recognition belongs to the whole ZLC team, from our engineers and installers to our apprentices, and to clients like RJAH whose trust made it possible. We are proud to be standing among the best in the UK.”