A motoring group in the south is on the road to a greener future and reduced electricity costs after installing its first 200 solar panels.
The cutting-edge solar power system was fitted free of charge on the roof of the Hendy Group’s Van and Truck Centre in Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, by Renewable Energy Investments (REI).
Under the initiative, Hendy Group will purchase clean, green electricity from REI at a heavily discounted rate before taking ownership of the system entirely in 20 years.
Some 20% of the building’s electricity has been generated by the 50 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system so far although this is set to increase over the summer months.
Now REI, based at Ferndown in Dorset, is set to fit similar installations on Hendy’s other dealerships across the south.
John Hendy, systems and resources director at the Hendy Group, said: “As a company we have been keen to adopt innovative technology over the years.
“We are also focused on being environmentally friendly so the time seemed right to take advantage of REI’s solar power purchase scheme.
“It is still early days but we are very pleased and are looking to introduce it at our other sites.”
PV converts sunlight into electric current.
The solar PV system at Hendy’s van and truck workshop on the Chandler’s Ford Industrial Estate is one of a large number of systems being rolled-out nationwide by REI under its new Solar Power Purchase Scheme.
Toby Smith, projects director at REI, said: “Our Solar Power Purchase Scheme allows businesses to contribute to the fight against climate change by reducing their carbon footprint but also make meaningful savings on their electricity costs.
“One of the main advantages of this innovative scheme is that REI invests in the solar technology on a business’s behalf.
“The business will benefit from the PV system but is able to preserve its own capital to spend on its core business activities.”
After 20 years, the Hendy Group will take ownership of the system with free solar energy for the remaining life of the equipment – typically another 15 years.
The Hendy Group is based in Chandler’s Ford but has dealerships at locations across the south, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh, Chichester, Winchester and Exeter.
Renewable Energy Investments (REI) was established in 2011. Its key staff include executive director Michael Phillips, commercial director Simon Booth and projects director Toby Smith.
The Hendy system comes hot on the heels of a recent installation at Hampshire Golf Club in Andover.
