Williams installs massive solar energy system
New system will cut CO2 emissions by 297 tonnes per year
Williams Refrigeration’s UK manufacturing plant has had a massive photovoltaic solar panel system installed across two of its factory’s roofs. The system, comprising 2,298 panels, is one of the largest rooftop installations in Europe. The solar panels are expected to generate 496,000kWh of electricity per year, reducing the company’s annual CO2 emissions by 297 tonnes while cutting energy costs dramatically.
“Williams has a strong environmental focus,” says Tim Smith, the company’s managing director. “The PV installation is part of The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and the latest project under our Greenlogic initiative – which commits us to developing eco-friendly refrigeration, whilst minimising the impact of our manufacturing on the environment. We are proud to have held ISO14001 Environmental Management certification for all our global operations since 2009.
“Increasingly our customers are focussed on their own environmental commitments. Many of the larger groups look to us, as their supplier, to support these objectives. At Williams we are all very proud of our ‘green’ record, which this installation enhances enormously.”
Williams worked closely with the installer, Styles & Wood, to ensure the safety of the workforce whilst avoiding any interruptions to Williams’ day-to-day activities. In fact, throughout the 12 week installation, it was business as usual.
“New incentives and funding options are allowing more progressive companies to take up the option of solar PV, which in the past would have been too difficult and costly,” says Tim. “They can make an important contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction objectives.”
