Summary
Centrica, EFT appointed EvoEnergy to deliver ongoing operations and maintenance support for a large, UK-wide solar PV portfolio across schools. The portfolio totals 5.7MW and consists primarily of systems installed around 2012, originally delivered by British Gas.
EvoEnergy’s role has been to keep multiple sites safe, serviceable, and operational through scheduled maintenance, targeted remedial works, and coordinated repairs, helping Centrica, EFT stabilise performance across a diverse and ageing estate.
The challenge
This was not a single-site optimisation exercise, it was a multi-site O&M programme where the condition and requirements varied significantly from school to school.
Some systems presented clear signs of degradation or physical issues, and several sites required remedial interventions ranging from removal and refit works through to partial decommissioning activity. The portfolio also carried compliance sensitivities at certain locations, meaning works had to be planned and executed carefully to avoid introducing further risk.
Delivery was additionally complicated by the realities of working on school sites across the UK, where access windows, safety controls, and weather disruption can materially affect productivity, sequencing, and cost certainty. Cost scrutiny was the main stakeholder concern, so the programme needed to be clearly scoped, justified, and controlled.
Our Solution
EvoEnergy implemented a structured, scheduled maintenance approach across the portfolio, deploying technicians to complete preventative checks, cleaning where required, and detailed component inspections, then escalating issues into corrective actions and repairs as needed.
Where faults or degradation were identified, EvoEnergy delivered reactive fault resolution alongside planned works, including component replacements and repairs such as inverter upgrades at selected sites.
For sites requiring more intrusive intervention, EvoEnergy managed remove-and-refit activities and decommissioning tasks on a job-dependent basis, ensuring systems were left in a safe, known state and reinstated appropriately where applicable.
EvoEnergy also coordinated delivery using subcontractors where required to maintain coverage and programme momentum across multiple regions. As the portfolio ages and communications hardware approaches obsolescence, EvoEnergy is preparing a targeted meter and modem replacement rollout to address the transition away from 2G connectivity, reducing future risk of lost visibility or data disruption for the client’s own monitoring platforms.
The Result
Following remedial works, site performance improved where issues had previously constrained generation, and downtime was reduced by restoring systems to stable operation.
The delivery model has proven robust enough to support continuity across a dispersed schools estate, and the client has progressed into the second year of the O&M contract, reflecting ongoing confidence in EvoEnergy’s delivery and responsiveness.
With scheduled maintenance embedded, repairs executed efficiently, and asset risks such as ageing communications hardware being proactively addressed, the portfolio is better positioned for reliable operation through the next phase of its lifecycle.