Case Study:

Reaping the energy and financial benefits of a solar PV installation

Reaping the energy and financial benefits of a solar PV installation

In 2015 Solarcrown Commercial designed and installed a 250KwP solar PV system as part of a full electrical installation package for Starbank Panel Products. The company, which is now looking to reduce its energy consumption further, has again engaged Solarcrown Commercial to install another solar PV system for a different part of the building.

Starbank Panel Products Ltd is a premier decorative panel product fabricator for interior fitouts. The company is proud of its carbon neutral certification in accordance with PAS 2060:2014.

Energy efficiency and achieving net carbon zero are very much at the top of the company's agenda. It is the financial and energy savings of their 2015 solar PV installation that has made Starbank want to work with Solarcrown Commercial once again.

The electrical installation package

Starbank had been reviewing their energy consumption prior to 2015 and had implemented four projects across their original site on Sankey Valley Industrial Estate. Those projects brought energy savings of 55%. They found, however, that as turnover increased, so did their energy consumption. This was the point at which Starbank approached Solarcrown Commercial to help them achieve their net carbon zero goals.

In 2015 Solarcrown Commercial completed a full factory electrical installation at a new site acquired by Starbank Panel Products that was in need of redevelopment. This was the perfect opportunity to install a solar PV system.

The 250 kWp solar PV system comprised of 960 risen 260W solar PV panels mounted on 5 roofs. Other elements of the full electrical installation were:

• Bespoke LV panel
• Eaton 630W Busbar system for power distribution
• Containment network
• Internal, emergency and additional LED lighting system
• Fire and intruder alarms
• External CCTV system
• Data network
• Heating controls and lightening protection to biomass chimney

Return on investment of the solar PV installation

The return on investment of this project has increased for Starbank year on year since going live.

From an initial investment of around £235k, the solar PV installation generated a return of approximately £38k in year one. In the most recent 12 month period, this has increased to just over £50k. Based on the increasing cost of energy, Starbank are forecasting that next year the return will be more than £80k.

Energy savings: consumption v turnover

To gauge efficiencies delivered through working with Solarcrown Commercial, Starbank have evaluated their energy savings by looking at consumption against turnover. They have found that:

• In 2015, prior to relocating to the new redeveloped site, the company consumed 1.5m kWh to achieve £10m in revenue.
• In 2021, operating from the new site, they consumed 1m kWh to achieve £10.4m in revenue.

The above figures equate to a further 36% electricity consumption for every £1m of revenue.

These findings are positive indicators for Starbank's pursuit of their net carbon zero goals, and have influenced the decision to work with Solarcrown Commercial again to make even further energy savings.