Passivhaus Premium, Renewable Energy and Nature Recovery in Action
At Doddington Hall & Gardens, sustainability is more than an aspiration. It is a guiding principle that underpins conservation, education, community engagement and landscape-scale nature recovery.
Those ambitions have come together in The Wild House, the operational base for Wilder Doddington and a pioneering centre for learning, research and environmental innovation. Located within one of England's most ambitious nature recovery projects, The Wild House provides a gateway to nature while showcasing what sustainable design can achieve.
The project has achieved a significant milestone as England's first non-domestic building to secure Passivhaus Premium certification, setting a new benchmark for low-carbon construction. Designed using low-carbon natural materials and insulated with cellulose fibre made from recycled paper, the building is intended to generate almost eight times more energy than it uses.
To help deliver those ambitions, Doddington Hall & Gardens partnered with UK Alternative Energy to design and install a 129.78 kWp solar PV system using SOLARWATT glass-glass solar modules. Designed to complement the building's exceptional energy performance, the system is expected to export approximately 83.5 MWh of clean electricity to the grid each year, extending the project's environmental impact beyond the building itself.
Delivering Renewable Energy for a Landmark Building.
For a project of this significance, renewable energy was an integral part of the building's design rather than an afterthought.
Working closely with the project team, UK Alternative Energy delivered a solar installation comprising:
- 309 × SOLARWATT Panel vision glass-glass modules
- Sunfixings MRD Mini mounting system
- Real-time monitoring display
Established in 2009, SOLARWATT partner, UK Alternative Energy has completed more than 2,600 renewable energy installations across domestic, educational, commercial and public-sector projects throughout Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Their expertise helped ensure the solar installation was completed on time, and in budget and complemented the building's ambitious sustainability, performance and educational objectives.
Product Selection & System Quality
For UK Alternative Energy, product selection was about more than energy generation.
The Wild House was designed around principles of sustainability, longevity and responsible resource use, making SOLARWATT's glass-glass technology a natural fit. By protecting solar cells between two layers of glass, the modules are designed for exceptional durability and long-term performance, helping maximise environmental value over the lifetime of the building.
Sustainability credentials were equally important. SOLARWATT modules incorporate recycled aluminium, recycled silicon and recycled glass, while their low carbon footprint supports a whole-life approach to sustainable construction. Published environmental data shows a CO₂ footprint of less than 240 kg CO₂eq per module, with the modules generating enough clean electricity to offset the emissions associated with their manufacture in less than one year and three months of operation. The modules are also supported by independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), providing greater transparency around embodied carbon and lifecycle impacts. Backed by a 30-year product and performance warranty, with 90% residual yield guaranteed after 30 years, the modules were well aligned with a building designed to deliver environmental and educational value for future generations.
“The Wild House is one of the most ambitious sustainability projects we've been involved with. Every element of the building has been designed with long-term environmental performance in mind, so it was important that the solar technology reflected those same values. SOLARWATT's glass-glass modules offered the combination of durability, sustainability credentials and long-term performance we were looking for. This is a building designed to educate and inspire future generations, and we wanted an energy system that would continue delivering value for decades to come.”
Learning Through Renewable Energy
The SolarFox monitoring display allows visitors to view live energy generation data, transforming the solar system into an educational resource that demonstrates renewable energy in action. Whether attending workshops, participating in research programmes or engaging with wider nature recovery activities, visitors can see first-hand how clean energy contributes to the building's operation.
Alongside supporting the building's energy needs, the solar installation is expected to export around 83.5 MWh of renewable electricity each year, demonstrating how high-performance buildings can make a positive contribution to the wider energy system.
This visibility helps connect broader conversations around sustainability, energy efficiency and climate action with measurable real-world outcomes.
A Partnership Built Around Shared Goals
The success of The Wild House reflects the collaboration between organisations working towards a common purpose: creating a building that delivers environmental, educational and community value for generations to come.
The combination of Passivhaus Premium design, renewable energy generation and nature recovery has created something far greater than a highly efficient building. It is a place where people can learn, research, collaborate and engage with practical solutions to environmental challenges.
“The Wild House was created to be much more than a building. It is a place where people can learn, connect with nature and explore practical solutions to some of today's environmental challenges. Bringing that vision to life required partners who understood both the technical ambitions of the project and the wider social and environmental outcomes we wanted to achieve. By combining Passivhaus Premium design, renewable energy generation and a shared commitment to sustainability, we've created a unique space that will support learning, research and nature recovery for many years to come.”
David Wright, Wilder Connections Project Manager
A Blueprint for the Future
The Wild House demonstrates what can be achieved when sustainability is considered from the outset.
By combining Passivhaus Premium design, renewable energy generation, environmental education and nature recovery, Doddington Hall & Gardens has created a nationally significant project that delivers lasting benefits for visitors, researchers, community groups and the wider environment.
More than a solar installation and more than a high-performance building, The Wild House stands as a blueprint for how energy, education, community and nature can work together to create meaningful and lasting impact.
“We'd like to thank Doddington Hall & Gardens, Wilder Doddington, UK Alternative Energy and everyone involved in bringing The Wild House to life. This pioneering project shows what can be achieved when sustainability, learning, renewable energy and nature recovery come together behind a shared vision.”
Peter Bachmann, CPO & Managing Director, SOLARWATT UK & Ireland
