SunGift Solar, a South West renewable energy specialist, has completed a 250 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Numatic International.
Numatic, who manufacturer the instantly recognisable Henry vacuum, say that the panels will reduce their carbon emissions by more than 120 tonnes per year.
Generating an estimated 235,000 kW hours each year, the system stretches over three roofs at Numatic’s manufacturing facility in Chard, Somerset, which produces around 5000 products a day. The £250,000 system will help power the factory’s 34 computer-controlled injection-moulding machines.
“Numatic’s solar PV system is a clear demonstration of how beneficial solar PV systems are for commercial businesses,” said Gareth Walton, business development manager at SunGift Solar. “Numatic’s system will reduce their high energy costs and bring in substantial income from the feed-in tariff while at the same time helping to reduce its carbon emissions and boost its green credentials.”
The PV system is expected to generate energy bill savings and feed-in tariff payments totalling more than £50,000 per year, which means that the system will have paid for itself in less than five years.
“This is an exciting development for us,” said Numatic property manager Andrew Smith, “and an important step towards helping meet our carbon reduction targets.”
Numatic has been involved in the UK plastics industry carbon reduction scheme since 2009 and has so far achieved its target savings every year. The project will help keep the company on track to meet the government’s new target of a 17% improvement on 2008 CO2 levels by 2020.
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