Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary, Thirsk, N Yorks
Customer Background
Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary, based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, is a registered charity dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and long-term care of a wide range of parrot species. The sanctuary provides a safe and nurturing environment for birds that have been abandoned, neglected or require specialist care.
Operating from a large purpose-built aviary, the charity relies heavily on donations, fundraising efforts and the support of volunteers to continue its vital work. Maintaining the welfare of the birds requires significant resources, including specialist diets, veterinary care, heating, lighting and the day-to-day operation of the sanctuary.
With rising energy costs placing increasing pressure on operating budgets, the sanctuary's founder began exploring renewable energy solutions that would help reduce electricity expenditure and allow more funding to be directed towards animal welfare.
Key Details
The Challenge
The sanctuary's large aviary requires consistent heating and lighting throughout the year to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for the birds. These systems are essential to the welfare of the parrots but contribute significantly to the site's electricity consumption.
As a charitable organisation, it was important that any renewable energy solution delivered meaningful long-term savings while providing a reliable source of power to support the sanctuary's operations. The system also needed to integrate with the existing farm infrastructure and maximise the available roof space to generate as much renewable energy as possible.
The Solution
The owner and founder of Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary approached P4 Solar after carrying out extensive online research into solar energy and battery storage.
Following a detailed site survey and energy assessment, P4 Solar designed and installed a bespoke solar PV and battery storage system on the sanctuary's farm buildings.
The installation included:
48 x Longi 435w Solar Panels
Fibre Cement Solar Mounting Equipment
Telehandler For Safe Panel Loading
80m Underground Cable Run
2 x Solax 7.5kW 1ph Hybrid Inverters
4 x 3.6 kWh Solax Battery Storage Units
This system was designed to maximise on-site generation while providing battery storage capacity to capture excess solar energy generated during the day for use during evenings and periods of lower solar production.
By combining solar PV with battery storage, the sanctuary can reduce its reliance on grid electricity and better manage the energy demands associated with heating, lighting and operating the aviary.
The Installation
The solar array was installed across the available farm roof space, enabling the sanctuary to generate a substantial proportion of its electricity requirements from renewable energy.
The battery storage system was integrated with the solar installation to improve self-consumption and ensure that surplus energy generated during daylight hours could be stored and utilised when needed most.
The project was completed with minimal disruption to the sanctuary's daily activities, allowing staff and volunteers to continue caring for the birds throughout the installation process.
The Benefits
The installation provides several long-term benefits for Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary, including:
Reduced electricity costs
Lower reliance on grid energy
Improved energy resilience through battery storage
Reduced carbon emissions and environmental impact
More funds available to support animal welfare and sanctuary operations
Long-term protection against rising energy prices
The Outcome
By investing in solar PV and battery storage, Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary has taken a significant step towards improving its long-term sustainability. The system helps reduce operational costs while supporting the charity's commitment to providing the highest standards of care for its birds.
The projected savings will allow more of the sanctuary's resources to be directed towards conservation, rehabilitation and animal welfare activities rather than utility costs. At the same time, the reduction in carbon emissions supports the charity's wider environmental objectives.
This project demonstrates how renewable energy can help charities and not-for-profit organisations reduce overheads, improve financial resilience and focus more of their resources on delivering their core mission.
Customer feedback
“A fantastic company to work with - efficient, personable and reliable. All work carried out to a high standard. I would absolutely recommend.”
Tricia Philips, Owner – Morndyke Parrot Sanctuary
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