Weald Electronics is the first business to complete a 63kW solar PV installation which we were able to support through our Community Solar Accelerator grant programme with a grant contribution of £25,000.
Weald Electronics were looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint when they contacted us. Their main business activity is the manufacturing of electronic connectors. The production of those requires energy intensive processes and uses a lot of peak time electricity during daytime hours.
For day-time business operations, the use of solar panels is a particularly attractive option as the electricity can be used as it’s being generated during daylight hours, meaning that money can be saved on electricity that would otherwise have to be imported from the grid.
The current, exceptionally high electricity prices and predictions of further increases, makes NOW the best time to intervene and install solar panels.
Weald Electronics seized the opportunity and are now benefitting from reduced electricity bills and carbon savings. Their South, East- and West-facing pitched roof aspects were suitable for solar panel installations and they maximised the number of panels for their roofs by trimming some of the near by vegetation that was shading parts of the roof.
Solar Impact in Numbers
Size or Solar PV array: 63kW
Predicted production of electricity: 60,000 kWh per year
Percentage covered by solar: 50% of total electricity cost
Predicted cost savings: £10,344 in the first year – this is expected to increase in the following years with increased cost of kWh of electricity
Return on Investment: 3-4 years
Grant Amount Received: £25,000
Expected lifetime of the solar PV system: 25-30 years
Carbon Reduction: 19.6 tonnes CO2e* per year
Date of install: June 2022
*CO2e calculated with conversion factor of 0.35156kg CO2e/kWh as confirmed with the managing authority.
