Innovation Nursery is an exciting new hub for sustainable start-ups and green-tech entrepreneurs, located on the historic site where the plants for the Eden Project were once grown. The team behind the nursery are creating a space where funding support, research facilities and collaborative opportunities come together under one roof; all with the mission of nurturing businesses that will help shape a more sustainable future.

Natural Generation became involved in March 2024, when a long-standing client approached us to lead the solar element of a major new venture near St Austell. From the outset, it was clear this would be a significant and ambitious scheme. As the project evolved, it developed into one of the largest PV installations we have undertaken. Working closely with the team at Innovation Nursery, we helped develop a robust proposal that aligned with their sustainability vision and wider site plans.

The aim of the system is simple but impactful: to power the Innovation Nursery site as it develops, while generating additional revenue by exporting excess energy back to the grid. With sustainability at the very core of the Nursery’s mission, a high-performing solar and battery system felt like a natural fit.

About the Project

• Planned installation period: November 2025 to January 2026
• System size: 855.6 kWp PV array (1380 x 620W Tongwei panels)
• Inverters: 2 x SunGrow 125kW units, 8 x AlphaESS 50kW units (650kW total capacity)
• Battery storage: 8 x AlphaESS 120.4kWh units (963.2kWh total capacity)
• Framework: SolarPort
• Key suppliers: Alternergy, Immersa, SolarPort, Track Screws, CEF
• Contractors: Tillot Renewable Contracting, AlphaESS, Track Screws, Solar Peak

This is a site-specific, medium-large ground-mounted East–West array (though by Natural Generation standards, it’s a very large one!). The project required careful planning, multiple design iterations, and close collaboration with the client all the way through the early stages.

Planning and Approval

Before any panels could be ordered or installed, Natural Generation provided consultancy to support Innovation Nursery through its grid application and planning process. Both stages were completed with no objections, thanks to a clear design rationale and early consideration of visual impact and land use.

A key part of the project’s smooth passage through planning was the strong community engagement led by Innovation Nursery, including a well-attended public open day in April 2024, where we joined the team to present the solar design and answer questions from local residents. This collaborative, transparent approach helped secure planning approval without objections and paved the way for one of the largest installations Natural Generation has undertaken as both designer and principal contractor.

The design itself evolved significantly over the 18 months leading up to construction. From the outset, the client made it clear that innovation should be central to the project, which guided equipment selection and the layout of the array. After reviewing several inverter and battery manufacturers, we chose AlphaESS for their performance, reliability and flexibility; a decision we’ve since carried through to other projects.

A major consideration was the ground conditions and existing infrastructure. The site includes buried HV earthing cables around the perimeter, so we had to ensure all arrays and equipment were installed at least 9 metres from these lines. The East–West layout was selected to better match the Nursery’s expected daily energy use: instead of a single midday peak, the system provides a smoother, broader curve of power generation throughout the day, improving onsite utilisation.

Shading between rows also required careful modelling. The stringing design optimises output while minimising the effect of inter-row shadows - a subtle but essential detail in a project of this scale.

Installation: First Steps

Groundworks and framework installation began in November 2025, carried out by Tillot Renewable Contracting and supported by Track Screws for the heavy-duty foundations required for the 1.7-tonne AlphaESS battery units. As the racking took shape, the scale of the project became clear: 1380 panels, nearly a megawatt of generation, and almost a megawatt-hour of storage capacity.

By January 2026, the installation should be approaching completion, with AlphaESS engineers commissioning the battery and inverter units and final checks underway. For Natural Generation’s design team, especially lead designer Laura Greenish, the project so far has been a major milestone; both technically and professionally.

“Working on a project of this scale has been completely different to anything I’ve designed before. There’s so much more detail, more to consider, and more people involved. I’m grateful for the experience and support from the team... it’s been an amazing learning opportunity.”

 

 

Client Feedback

Alex Smit, Co-Founder and COO of Innovation Nursery, has shared some enthusiastic feedback about their experience so far:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Natural Generation on our solar array project from the start. We're delighted with their professionalism, procurement services, expert advice and price, and would have no hesitation recommending them to others.”

What's next?

In our next update, we'll delve deeper into the intricacies of the design process, as well as how we work with the wider team to accurately install all of the technology needed at such a large site. Then, we'll be able to share some early results to show how much energy Innovation Nursery is able to generate!

If you're interested in how solar power could revolutionise your business, find out more about our services, or get in touch to get a quote today.