ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

UK-based cleaning solutions manufacturer Numatic International has commissioned a commercial solar installation at its manufacturing site in Chard, Somerset, using high-efficiency solar technology.

The £1 million project, installed across a five-acre site by SunGift Solar, supplies electricity directly to Numatic's plastic moulding operations and is intended to reduce energy costs and improve energy security at the site.

According to the company, the solar array generates up to 1.73MWp from 2,672 panels, compared with around 1.6MWp typically achievable from a conventional ground-mounted system of a similar size. Numatic said the installation is expected to meet around 20 per cent of its annual on-site electricity demand, with output rising to full site demand on some days.

The installation uses AIKO All-Back-Contact (ABC) solar cells combined with hybrid inverters supplied by Sigenergy. The system has also been designed to support future battery integration.

Stephen George, regulatory affairs and sustainability manager at Numatic International, said: "By investing in cutting-edge solar technology, we're reducing our environmental footprint at the same time as protecting our manufacturing operations from rapidly rising energy costs.

"Part of our ‘Operation Cleansweep' sustainability goals, the new micro-solar-park shows what can be achieved when you reimagine how you approach small spaces. It helps us on our journey as a responsible manufacturer and accelerates our progress towards achieving Net Zero by 2035."

Numatic estimates the installation will reduce CO? emissions by approximately 267 tonnes per year.

Steve Whitlock, finance director at Numatic International, said the project formed part of the company's longer-term approach to energy management.

"In the current environment, every business of every size needs to consider how it's going to secure its energy requirements in the future," he said. "This investment represents a step forward in our ability to meet our own energy needs."

Gabriel Wondrausch, director at SunGift Solar, said the project demonstrated how smaller parcels of land adjacent to industrial facilities could be used for solar generation.

"By using highly efficient commercial versions of solar panels normally only used on domestic properties, we could transform a relatively small parcel of land into a valuable solar asset for Numatic," he said.

The AIKO panels used in the project place electrical contacts on the rear of the solar cells rather than the front surface, increasing the area available to absorb sunlight. Numatic said the technology also improves performance in partial shading conditions and reduces energy losses during operation.