N&B Foods invests in solar generation with CleanEarth

Foodservice company N&B Foods have invested in a 216 kW rooftop solar system, to provide electricity to their 5000 sq m distribution centre in Swindon.

Their main depot operates 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, and the new system will provide around one third of the site’s energy demands.

Installed by renewable energy specialists (and Cold Chain Federation associate members) CleanEarth, the solar panels will prevent over 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions during the system’s lifetime.

They will also save N&B Foods more than £750,000 over the same period, and the capital costs will be paid back in 3½ years.

CleanEarth’s commercial manager, Ed Lennon, explains that cold storage facilities are ideal candidates for solar generation. “The big base-load consumption of sites like this are tailor-made for solar,” he says. “With energy costs so high and the world moving away from fossil fuels, it’s a win win.”

N&B Foods is just one of a number of foodservice and cold storage projects that CleanEarth have completed recently. They range from Interfish in Plymouth to Fresh Island Foods in Sheffield, and clients also include Bikold and Natco Foods.

“We work with businesses right across the UK,” says Ed Lennon. “And for larger consumers we provide wind power solutions as well as solar.” In the beverage sector, AB InBev and Accolade Wines are both taking low cost, low carbon electricity from wind turbines that CleanEarth developed.

N&B Foods, meanwhile, are now looking at options for installing rooftop solar at their Reading depot.

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