Supporting the mission to protect and restore our forests
Our client has long stood as custodians of the UK’s natural landscapes. Their work in maintaining over 1,500 forests across the country is not only about protecting trees, but also about tackling the broader challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable land management.
As part of their wider goal to reach net zero by 2030, our client is taking proactive steps to decarbonise its own operations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut emissions across its estate. The decision to roll out renewable energy systems across multiple sites will provide cost savings, but mainly it means our client is living their mission and leading by example.
A nationwide strategy for long-term impact
In early 2024, Carbon3 partnered with the our client to design and install renewable energy systems across many sites throughout the UK, tailored to the specific needs and constraints of each location.
Across the first seven locations, we delivered a total of 143.115kWp of solar PV capacity, helping our client reduce its reliance on grid electricity and lower its operational carbon footprint. This is expected to save an estimated 25,207.04kg of CO₂ annually.
One of the sites also included the installation of an 8kW air source heat pump (ASHP). This allowed the building to move away from oil heating and switch to a clean, low-carbon solution for heating and hot water. With no gas connections on some sites and limited grid infrastructure in rural areas, technologies like ASHPs offer both practical and sustainable benefits.
Making every site work for the future
As with many public sector and rural estate projects, no two buildings were the same. Our team conducted detailed feasibility assessments at each site, ensuring every system was appropriately sized, positioned, and future-proofed.
The projects included:
- Roof-mounted solar PV on visitor centres and operational buildings
- Careful design to maintain visual harmony with natural surroundings
- Safe working procedures for remote or live woodland environments
- Integration with the client’s broader energy monitoring systems
This project aligned each site with the organisation’s broader goals around climate action, operational resilience, and demonstrating leadership in land-based carbon reduction.
Leading by example on net zero
Our client has been open about the role of the land sector in both mitigating and adapting to climate change. Their forests help absorb carbon, reduce flood risk, and cool local microclimates. But they also know they must reduce emissions from their own activities.
This project reflects a commitment to walking the talk. As their own climate action statement notes, “the world can’t rely on offsetting by trees to decarbonise. We need to tackle the cause of the problem first to eliminate as much carbon as we can.”
These new solar and heating systems are a tangible, visible step towards that commitment. They power ranger stations, visitor buildings and more with clean, reliable energy.
A model for responsible estate decarbonisation
Carbon3’s work with the this client shows how national organisations can take a practical, phased approach to decarbonisation, even across diverse and often remote building types. By focusing on the dual goals of carbon reduction and operational sustainability, our client is now in a stronger position to meet its 2030 net zero targets.
We’re proud to support a partner whose values align so closely with our own, and whose work protects not just today’s environment, but the natural future of the UK for generations to come.
