‘Best year yet’ for West Suffolk Solar for Business Scheme

15 Aug 2023

Demand for solar panel installations on West Suffolk businesses, with no capital outlay, has increased as organisations take action on cost certainty and climate change.

Solar for Business offered by West Suffolk Council has just seen its best year yet with 1.3MW installed, bringing the total of businesses benefiting to 78 and saving 1,670 tonnes of carbon emissions since the scheme started in 2016.

The scheme is inviting local organisations to find out if they can benefit.

Council Leader Cliff Waterman said, ‘The scheme generated 2.2 million kWh of renewable electricity in 2022, our best year yet. It’s designed to support sustainable business growth in our district and addresses the imperative of reducing carbon emissions. We install the free system on suitable roofs, and then supply the renewable energy generated back to the business at a competitive set tariff. We are a trusted partner, businesses know we will be around for some time, and that we have an excellent track record locally and nationally. Please check the offer out.’

Solar for Business was first piloted in 2015 when government feed in tariffs first made renewable energy generation an attractive investment. The initial enthusiasm slowed when those rates were removed but is now highly attractive with energy price surges and carbon reduction targets.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet member for Growth said, ‘We want to see West Suffolk businesses thrive. We have built our national reputation for energy management on great relationships with partners, by exploring problems and by innovating solutions. This scheme supports organisations by helping them to generate renewable energy, which gives cost certainty, potential competitive advantage, and brand value.

‘Using locally produced energy is also more efficient and improves energy security. We look forward to expanding this, year on year, to deliver greater benefits for all of our communities in West Suffolk.’

To date 78 businesses have benefitted, in both rural and urban areas. Precision Marketing, printers based in Bury St Edmunds joined the scheme in 2021. They have since saved 18,347kg of carbon and £12,945 on their electricity bills through the scheme.

Nick Pryke, Chief Operating Officer, said ‘At Precision we take sustainability seriously. We are on a net zero journey and driving down our carbon footprint is critical. We first measured our carbon footprint in 2018 and by the end of 2022 we had reduced it by 60 per cent. We calculate our solar generation to have contributed approximately 35 per cent of this reduction. We already had a 100kW PV system which we doubled with Solar for Business. The proposal was fully inclusive; covering the planning, the procurement of materials, the installation and the legal requirements of the scheme. Remarkably the install was fully completed within 2 months of sign-off.’

Odylique co-founded by economist and management consultant turned entrepreneur, Abi Weeds, is a multi award-winning organic skin care brand sold across Europe and North America. The product is all made at a facility in Mildenhall, where a 30kWp Solar for Business system has saved 7989kg of carbon and £6,296 since 2019. Abi said, “We are passionate about working with nature and renewable energy does just that. We’ve been delighted with the West Suffolk solar scheme. The whole process has been very smooth since the beginning and it’s a good feeling to know that the roof is being put to good use generating green energy for our own and other businesses.”

Unisurge whose headquarters are in Newmarket supplies medical disposables and testing solutions. They understand environmental management within and outside their premises. Chief Executive Amir Farboud, points to cost certainty as a strong reason for installing their 474kWp system.

Find out more on our Solar for Business page.

Enquiries or to sign up please contact environment@westsuffolk.gov.uk

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