Our use of cookies

We use cookies for website performance, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Cookie Policy

Essential cookies

These cookies are intended to carry out activities that are strictly necessary for the basic operation of our website to function.

Non-essential cookies

They are used primarily for functional, analytics, performance, and advertisement purposes.

Insights and Stories

Sembcorp Energy UK Funds Solar Panels for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice

February 03, 2023

Teesside-headquartered Sembcorp Energy UK (SEUK) has donated more than £37,000 to Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Normanby to fund the installation of solar panels on the building, helping to bolster energy efficiency.

SEUK remains committed to helping the local community, and, in 2022, the company also facilitated the £15,000 replacement works of inefficient filament and fluorescent lighting at Zoe’s Place with modern LED fittings throughout the 250-year-old former convent building.

Chris Grant, Facilities & Compliance Manager at Zoe’s Place, said the charity is already seeing a huge benefit from the updated lighting, especially amid the rising cost of energy.

He commented, “The new lights look great; they’ve improved the aesthetics of our Hospice and, more importantly, have helped to reduce our energy consumption, inevitably saving us money.”

It has been estimated that the new lighting could save the charity up to 75% of their annual lighting bill, equating to several thousands of pounds recovered each year. This will afford them more money to spend on supporting their Special Babies, young children and their families.

“Sembcorp is willing and able to reduce our carbon footprint further, by making us more energy efficient through the installation of solar panels, and the potential financial savings to Zoe’s Place will be hugely significant. Many thousands of pounds could be saved, over the next 25 years or so, really aiding our Charity and the work we do,” added Chris.

The planned solar panel system will be 18.23kWp (kilowatt peak) and will consist of 45 roof panels. It will make an annual energy production of 15.64MWh and is estimated to save 3t of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to 45 trees grown for 10 years.

Tommy Harrington, Corporate & Major Donor Fundraiser at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice (left), Chris Grant, Facilities and Compliance Manager at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice (middle), and Dave Thompson, Operations Director at Sembcorp Energy UK (right) observe the roof at the building.
Dave Thompson (left), Chris Grant (middle) and Tommy Harrington (right) discuss the solar panel project at Zoe’s Place.

As well as funding the installation, SEUK is helping to facilitate the works, by finding an appropriate supplier to carry out the task: Stockton-based Marshall & McCourt. Once installed and operational, it’s estimated the planned solar panels at Zoe’s Place will save the charity circa £2,700 per annum on its energy bills (in line with its current energy supply contract), and this figure could rise if electricity rates follow current projections.

Dave Thompson, Operations Director at Sembcorp Energy UK, said:

“Zoe’s Place is an important charity that helps families at very difficult times in their lives. Sembcorp Energy UK is dedicated to helping the charity become more energy efficient, in turn reducing their costs, through our solar panel and LED lighting projects. The money saved on energy bills would be best redirected toward further serving children and their families through Zoe’s Place. In time, we hope the solar panels could also generate income for the Hospice.”

Zoe’s Place has roots both on Teesside and in the West Midlands and is the only baby-specific facility of its kind in the North East. Zoe’s Place Teesside facility offers palliative, respite and end-of-life care to babies and infants aged from birth to five years who are suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.