Noble Foods expands solar generated power at flagship packing centre
The installation will significantly offset the site’s reliance on the national grid
4 July 2024
3 minute read
By: Noble Foods, the UK’s leading egg producer, has vastly expanded its solar power generation at the company’s flagship egg packing centre in Lincolnshire, according to a company-issued press release.
The new 370KWp system takes total site capacity to 520kWp, which will significantly offset the site’s reliance on the National Grid. On sunnier days, there will be moments when the entire load will be covered by the self-generated clean energy, including powering a bank of electric car chargers for staff.
This significant expansion is part of Noble Foods’ continued investment in its sustainable operations, following the company’s purpose: to better nourish people, animals and planet. The installation was completed by Noble Green Energy, part of the Noble Foods Group. Noble Green Energy offers a full turnkey service to anyone wishing to enter the world of renewable energy.
The company realised it could extend the already successful business to include solar PV (Photovoltaic) panels when it investigated ways to reduce energy costs across its own farms and offices. The solar installation at North Scarle is expected to generate in excess of 416,000 KW/h per year, the equivalent of saving 200 tonnes of carbon emissions (or 74,000 HGV road miles).
“This is a huge achievement for our team and we’re incredibly proud to have collaborated with Noble Foods using our own-generated energy," said Richard Wood, managing director of Noble Green Energy.
“We’re pleased to be working with many different industries, from agricultural to manufacturing, helping our partners to find new solutions and adopt green energy into their existing infrastructure. To be able to expand the solar generation on our own doorstep is a great achievement for our team and a big milestone for the wider Noble Foods group”.
The new installation includes a monitoring platform, which captures all generation and site electricity usage, to further help highlight areas for efficiencies to be achieved through operational shifts. All energy generated is distributed to point of demand through the site’s 11KV network. Export controls were installed to industry standard ENA G100 ensuring compliance with National Grid’s connection agreement.
This array was commissioned in the winter of 2023, providing return on investment in under four years.
“We’re incredibly happy with this new Solar System which has been expertly installed on a site prone to flooding," added Liam Burke, managing director Noble Consumer Foods. "All the energy generated will be consumed at time of generation ensuring we’re receiving the maximum benefit as our business takes further steps towards achieving our Net-Zero aims.”
“The success of this install has solidified our plans to roll out solar throughout our other suitable locations," he said.
Noble Green Energy has expanded its offerings catering to high energy usage clients across various sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, chemical, food/drink, printing, and agriculture.
Their portfolio includes Solar PV, Battery Storage, System Monitoring & Optimisation and Operations and Maintenance services. With a deep understanding of the challenges posed by volatile energy markets and rising energy costs, Noble Green Energy aims to help businesses meet carbon reduction targets by embracing onsite renewables, positioning themselves as leaders in the low carbon revolution in the UK.
