Shoreham-based steel manufacturer ParkerSteel has partnered with installer PerPetum Energy to fit a 1.8MWp rooftop solar array to the roof of its manufacturing facility.
PerPetum has supplied the installation free of charge but it will be owned by Larimin, a company supported by Guinness Asset Management’s Enterprise Investment Scheme, and ParkerSteel will purchase the electricity under a PPA.
It’s the second large rooftop installation Guinness Asset Management have been involved with in as many months having funded a 3.8MW project on the roof of Lyreco’s Telford distribution centre in August.
PerPetum UK chief executive Anthony Middleton said that the South coast location of the manufacturing plant was “fantastic” for solar generation. “When you take a look at the high-tech cranes and cutting equipment, all of which use electricity, it’s easy to see why ParkerSteel has opted for a solar solution,” he said.
ParkerSteel managing director, Guy Parker, said that the company was “taking the next step into renewable energy”, which he added highlighted the company’s commitment to decreasing its carbon footprint.
The array’s operation is expected to negate the emission of around 70 tonnes of CO2 each year.