The classic car manufacturer Bentley Motors has announced that it is installing what promises to be the UK’s largest roof mounted solar PV system consisting of over 20,000 panels and with a capacity of 5MW. The system will be installed on the roof of the company’s factory in Crewe and will be owned and operated by UK solar company Lightsource Solar with electricity supplied to the company through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The completion date for the system was late March and there will be an opening ceremony to officially launch the system.
In its entirety the system will cover 3.45 hectares of roof space and will generate enough power to supply over 1,200 households. It is three times more powerful than the current largest roof-mounted system in the UK and is expected to supply up to 40 percent of the factory’s energy requirements at peak times. The system will also displace over 2,500 tonnes of carbon per year. Excess energy generated during weekends and shut downs will be exported to the national grid through a two-way connection.
“Unlikely as it may seem, our 1940s plant in Crewe is ideally situated to generate solar power as the “saw tooth” factory roofs are south facing at an angle of 20 degrees” said Michael Straughan, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing. “We take the sustainability of our products and factory extremely seriously and we are always looking for ways to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. The panels will reduce our energy costs and help ensure that our manufacturing operations in Crewe are efficient, sustainable and globally competitive.”
Nick Boyle, CEO of Lightsource, added that the system is a fantastic example of how businesses can gain greater pricing certainty for the future while reducing their carbon footprint.
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