Trina Solar Limited has provided 1.28MW of PV modules to Solar Advanced Systems for the completion of a series of projects at ten Greggs sites across the UK.
The solar arrays will cut Greggs' CO2 emissions by 600 tonnes per year, as well as helping the company reduce its carbon footprint by 25 per cent by 2015.
Greggs, the largest bakery chain in the UK, was looking for a sustainable way to both reduce its CO2 emissions and cut overall energy costs and called on Solar Advanced Systems to manage the installation of solar panels. The entire project, from planning and design to module installation, was completed within six months.
Explaining the decision, Stephen Weldon, Social Responsibility Manager at Greggs, said: "As a responsible business, we have a duty to manage our energy consumption by becoming more energy efficient in our bakery and retail operations. The installation of PV panels on our bakery roofs provided the perfect opportunity to make use of a previously unused resource (roof space), take advantage of the government's Feed-In Tariff scheme and generate carbon-neutral electricity for use in the bakeries, and, therefore, reduce the amount of fossil fuel we need to buy and consume."
The panels used were Trina Solar's 250W polycrystalline PC05A Honey modules, which deliver a peak efficiency of 16.2 per cent and a power output of up to 265W. They also retain high performance in low light conditions, and can withstand snow and wind loads of up to 5,400Pa and 2,400Pa respectively.
"With each commercial installation, we recognise the need for quality and consistency in order to maximise the yield potential of each system. That's why we only work with the best photovoltaic and inverter manufacturers available. When designing a system for a client, we identify that each project will have their own individual requirements, but time and time again Trina Solar provides a compelling case when looking for quality and performance," said Kevin Downes, Commercial Director at Solar Advanced Systems.
"In a market where there is now a level playing field on price, the way to differentiate yourself as a PV manufacturer is by the quality of the products and services you provide. At Trina Solar, we want to make the selection process as simple as possible by standing out from the crowd in this respect, which is why we are firmly committed to ensuring that our products not only meet but significantly exceed the minimum standards required by TUV and IEC," said Trina Solar's UK Sales Manager, Richard Rushin.
"We are also very mindful of the fact that solar PV needs to be implemented in a way that is safe, sustainable, and respectful of the local environment. This year, Trina Solar topped the Silicon Valley Toxics Commission's ranking for the social and environmental performance of PV manufacturers for the second consecutive year, and we take as much pride in this as we do in the efficiency of our modules," Rushin continued.
On whether he would recommend solar PV following Greggs' experience, Weldon was unequivocal: "Solar PV is one of the most reliable renewable energies on the market, with proven technologies operating across the globe. Installation makes a visible and public statement of an organisation's sustainable credentials, and provides a very reliable payback in terms of energy savings as well as the guaranteed and index-linked FIT scheme."
