Boston Renewables has been commissioned by the Middleton on the Wolds-based family poultry business to provide a 1,648-module field-mounted solar system.
The installation has a predicted annual yield of 727,000kWh and is sufficient to power 269 domestic homes. The CO2 emissions saved from the solar array is equivalent to planting 5,890 trees, saving the manufacturer 156 tonnes of CO2 in its first year.
Factory’s needs
Commenting on the array, Soanes Poultry MD Ben Lee said: "Following advice from John Hudson, MD at Boston Renewables, we opted for east-west oriented solar panels. Uniquely positioned to face the rising and setting sun, they offer a distinct advantage in harnessing solar energy during the early morning and late afternoon, which is when the factory’s needs are greatest.
“The latest investment shows our commitment to sustainable chicken production, which includes biomass, wind turbines, and ultra-energy-efficient refrigeration systems.”
Soanes Poultry is a family-owned business that has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. It sells chicken to butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and wholesalers nationwide.
Sustainability programme
John Hudson, Boston Renewables MD, added: “We were delighted to receive the commission from Soanes and were proud to help them make a valuable contribution to their sustainability programme with this solar system."
Boston Renewables provides Solar PV installations to agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing (including food processing), retail, leisure and the public sector.
In other renewable energy investment news, Dawn Meats has completed a €1.5m (£1.27m) solar panel project at its Grannagh, County Waterford production site.
The 18-month project involved the installation of 3,500 solar roof panels covering 8,397 square metres. The panels will produce 1,560,000kWh of power annually, the equivalent of 40% of the yearly electricity usage at the Grannagh site.
Energy generated by the new solar facility will be enough to power 210 homes for an entire year and is expected to deliver a return on investment in 4.5 years – depending on future electivity unit price rates.
