Solar PV System for a Manufacturer
project snapshot
Cambridgeshire manufacturer
| System size | 42.84kWp peak / 33.30kW max active AC power |
| Payback period | 4 years |
| Internal rate of return | 25.87% |
| Return on investment | 347.6% |
| First year savings | £9,552 |
| Annual carbon reduction | 17 tonnes CO2 |
| Lifetime carbon reduction | 210 tonnes CO2 |
| Equivalent trees planted | 385 per year / 9,625 over system lifetime |
the client
Manufacturer in St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Le Mark Group is a manufacturer of printed materials, tapes, and specialist flooring products, based in an industrial estate southwest of St. Ives in Cambridgeshire. The business occupies three industrial units - a mix of storage and manufacturing space - plus a separate office building, with a combined annual electricity consumption of approximately 66MWh.
the challenge
Rising energy costs
With energy costs running to around £16,500 per year, the business wanted to reduce grid electricity costs, lower its carbon emissions, and generate a level of surplus energy for export. The available roof space across the south-facing industrial units made solar PV a strong candidate.
route to a solution
Prioritising high on-site consumption
Practical Energy Solutions (PES) modelled the solar PV system to maximise generation across the available roof space, prioritising high on-site consumption of the energy generated.
The final system comprised:
- 72 x AIKO bi-facial 600W panels, configured as two arrays of 36 panels across two south-facing roof areas
- 1 x Solis high-efficiency inverter with generation meter and export monitoring
- Bird netting installed around the perimeter of each array, appropriate for the rural location, to prevent nesting
Timing was carefully coordinated with the client to minimise disruption to production. The bulk of the installation was completed over a bank holiday weekend - a deliberate decision to keep the business fully operational and to meet time-sensitive funding requirements.
Significant savings
| Pre-solar | Post-solar | Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual electricity cost | £16,500 | £6,900 | £9,600 saved annually |
| Grid reliance | 100% | 49% | 51% reduction |
| Cost per kWh (all consumption) | 25p | 12.25p | 12.75p saving per kWh |
| Levelised cost of energy | - | 6.1p | Fixed rate locked in for 25+ years |
| Carbon emissions | 16.8 tonnes | 8.39 tonnes | 51% reduction in Scope 2 emissions |
site emissions
ECG and wider benefits
The reduction in carbon emissions supports Le Mark Group's ESG credentials and provides a sustainability story the business can communicate to its own clients - an increasingly important consideration in B2B manufacturing supply chains.
book a consultation
Thinking about solar for your manufacturing business?
This project shows that solar PV can deliver strong returns even on smaller commercial systems - and that installation doesn't have to mean operational disruption. If you're a manufacturer looking to cut energy costs, we're happy to talk through what's possible.