Cambridgeshire-based Nissan dealership JS Holmes has completed a new solar energy installation thanks to local firm 4 Way Group.
The dealership, located in Wisbech St Mary, has now been fitted with 171 445-watt solar panels on the rooves of its workshop and showroom. The installation, which was completed by local company 4 Way Group, has a total capacity of 76kW and is expected to provide around 40% of the dealership’s annual electricity needs.
Around 75% of the solar energy generated from the installation will be used on site, with excess power being fed back into the local grid. JS Holmes notes that the annual electricity cost saving means that the installation will pay for itself in under four years, and will prevent 16 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
Alex Holmes, company director at JS Holmes, said: ‘‘We are committed to driving positive environmental change while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operations.
‘‘Our investment in solar energy, alongside our dedication to electric vehicles, highlights our ambition to be at the forefront of the green transition. We would like to thank local company 4 Way Group for installing our new solar power system – we had a great experience with them.
‘‘With our strong focus on sustainability, we continue to demonstrate that environmental responsibility and commercial success can go hand in hand.’’
Commercial rooftop solar on the rise
Nissan is far from the only company using rooftop solar for its commercial premises or even the only automotive firm.
Last month, Ford Motor Company announced that it had commissioned a 5.2MWp solar PV array for its Dunton Campus, where it carries out research and development. The solar installation is made up of 9,130 panels and 58,000 meters of cabling, and is expected to meet around 10% of Dunton Campus’ 55,000MWh annual electricity demand. Dunton is the second of Ford’s UK sites to integrate solar panels, having previously completed a solar installation at its Daventry facility.
Meanwhile, last year saw luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announce its plans to install a mass solar PV system at its Halewood manufacturing plant as part of a £500 million investment to decarbonise its flagship plant. The announcement laid out plans to install 18,000 solar PV panels at the Halewood plant, an installation which, with a total generating capacity of 8,600GWh annually, will cover around 10% of the site’s energy needs.
