ZLC Energy’s hospital solar project wins European prize in Lugano

Solar panels on hospital roofs, more of them shading the car parks, and a bank of batteries quietly storing it all. That combination has just earned a Cornish company one of Europe’s renewable energy honours.

ZLC Energy has won the European Solar Prize 2026 in the category ‘Owners or Operators of Renewable Energy Installations’, for its solar-plus-storage project with Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

The award was presented at the European & Swiss Solar Prize ceremony in Lugano, Switzerland, last Friday (30 October). More than 250 renewable energy leaders, researchers, architects and project owners from across Europe were there.

📷ZLC Energy receives prize in Lugano, Switzerland

A prize running since 1994

EUROSOLAR, the European Association for Renewable Energy, has presented the prize since 1994. It recognises outstanding achievements that advance the adoption and expansion of renewable energy across Europe.

📷Aerial view of the whole RJAH site, 2026. Credit: © ZLC Energy

What the hospital project does

ZLC Energy received the award for its multi-phase work with Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust (RJAH).

The project combines rooftop solar, solar carports and battery energy storage. It has been described as the UK’s most comprehensive hospital solar-plus-storage system.

The installation is set to cut the hospital’s electricity costs by approximately £750,000 a year. It will also reduce the hospital’s dependence on the local rural electricity grid by 75%.

What caught the jury’s eye

The international jury was made up of experts from the renewable energy, academic and architectural sectors. They recognised the project for combining climate action with economic benefits while meeting the operational requirements of a critical public service.

Among the jury were representatives from Sapienza Università di Roma, HHS Planer + Architekten AG, and the Department of Environment Constructions and Design at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI).

Who else was involved

The project was delivered with a number of industry specialists, including Solis Europe, SolisStorage Europe, SolarEdge Technologies, Trinasolar, Bluetop Solar Parking ApS, Juggle/PAD, Tillott Renewable Contracting and CCL Components Ltd.

📷Mark Smith, Director CEng CEnv mCIWEM

‘A practical blueprint’

Mark Smith, Director of ZLC Energy, was speaking from Lugano.

He said: “To see this project recognised with a European Solar Prize is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.

“It demonstrates how solar generation, battery storage and smart energy management can help large estates reduce costs, strengthen energy resilience and accelerate decarbonisation. We hope it provides a practical blueprint for others to follow.”

About ZLC Energy

Founded in 2012, ZLC Energy is based in Cornwall and works with commercial and public sector clients across the South West and the UK.

The company designs and delivers solar PV, solar carports, battery storage, heat pumps and combined heat and power (CHP). Its focus is on integrated systems that cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience.

The full Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital case study is on the ZLC Energy website.

📷ZLC Energy receives prize in Lugano, Switzerland

📷ZLC Energy receives prize in Lugano, Switzerland