3D Aluminium secures fixed electricity cost of 5.1p/kWh via Centreco solar installation

Centreco has completed the development of a 35kW solar panel system for 3D Aluminium on their premises in Oxford.

The development, which consists of 93 roof mounted tier one panels, will help the business decarbonise their operations by directly supplying green energy generated on site. This is expected to save over 162 tonnes of CO2 emission over the next 25 years, the company said.

Another crucial aspect of the development is that 3D Aluminium will also benefit from equivalent fixed electricity costs of around 5.1p/kWh. This is of increasing importance amid the energy crisis which is set to bite hard this winter with businesses set to see substantial pressure.

The government introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which will run from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023, with a three-month review scheduled for the halfway point. It is designed to ensure businesses do not fold due to the high energy bills however solar could be a means to secure energy security at lower costs.

Businesses will not need to sign up to the scheme as the financial support, in the form of a p/kWh discount, will be added automatically to bills.

The scheme will almost half the predicted MWh price for electricity and gas for businesses this winter, to £211/MWh and £75/MWh respectively.

“3D Aluminium are typical of many of Centreco’s clients in that they are selecting self-generated solar energy to bolster their environmental and sustainability programmes. This stems from increasing pressure on supply chains and contractors to be operating in as environmentally friendly manner as possible whilst maintaining competitiveness,” said Phil Mooney, Centreco’s operations manager.

“Due to increasing market demand for 3D Aluminium, they have stepped up their operation capacity and as such are now planning an extension to their currently installed system.

“The modular nature of the systems we install ensure that this extension will be fitted with no disruption to 3D Aluminium’s operation and the client can seamlessly bolster their green energy output to meet their future requirements.”