Solar Power For The Food & Drink Industry

Powering the food and drink industry with renewable, sustainable energy to reduce energy costs and help with CSR and ESG strategies.

Fully Funded Solar Solution Calculator

Shawton Energy works with the food & drink sector to harness solar power by installing 100% fully funded, high-quality Solar PV systems, utilising extensive rooftop and ground space in a unique way.

By working in the food and drink sector, we understand the heavy energy usage intensity these businesses have. We also appreciate the complexities of the site and the pressure to reduce their carbon output by both internal and external pressures, including areas such as Scope 3 emissions. Shawton Energy works with these business throughout the journey to address all of these areas to ensure we become their trusted energy partner. We will deliver a solution that delivers on all of these ambitions and motivations, and continue to support for the long term.

Power purchase agreements for rooftop solar PV solutions

Why choose solar?

In the past 12 months, energy bills have risen by a staggering 96%. With Solar PV, food & drink businesses can reduce their energy bills by up to 25%.

Meet CSR objectives.

substantially reduce energy spend.

Support on your Net Zero ambitions.

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Show your environmental objectives to your customers and supply chain.

Solar PV can help to futureproof your site.

Harness renewable, sustainable energy sources.

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Food & drink organisations, when implementing solar projects, can save over £150k annually off their energy bills and often much much more if they have the roof or ground space.

What is a Power Purchase Agreement & how do we approach the project safely?

The food & drink sector can switch effortlessly to low-cost, green solar energy without any upfront costs with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

We are co-owned by Lazard Investment, a global investment firm and bank, and have allocated £250m of funding for education renewable projects. This investment in Shawton Energy demonstrates our standing in the market and with over 100 projects completed to date across various sectors we are in a great position to help more chemical businesses transition to greener, cheaper energy.

Our PPA helps businesses transition to generating green energy through technologies such as solar, but with zero upfront investment or ongoing operational costs.

We design, install, operate and maintain the solar project through a long-term contract ranging from 15 to 25 years in length, and you agree to buy the energy produced by the solar assets at a secured, fixed price throughout the contract which is much lower than what you would buy off the grid.

We continue to operate and maintain the project once it has gone live through both remote analysis of the project and physical inspections on an annual basis to ensure that the solar is creating as much energy as possible.

At the end of the contract term, we hand the solar across to you and will continue to produce free solar energy for years to come.

With our experience in the food & drink sector, we understand complex, varied estates with high traffic and environments that have strict safety and hygiene requirements, so we are used to working with on-site teams to deliver a renewable solution that has minimal impact to the site.

Our health and safety standards are fully reportable and are of a high standard and due to our wider group of businesses being in the engineering sector, we appreciate the standards required when being on a food & drink manufacturing site.

The technology we use is of tier 1 quality and therefore has high safety protocols to ensure that all of our systems that are installed have the highest safety standards including rapid shut down including touch safe DC levels, fire shut down, built in temperature monitoring to proactively manage systems and all our systems have remote monitoring services allowing us to react to issues prior to any happening. All of this can be discussed and explained dependent on the requirements on site.

Virtual power purchase agreements for solar PV solutions

Why would the food & drink industry want to adopt solar?

The food and drink industry is increasingly adopting solar energy for several key reasons. Firstly, solar power offers substantial cost savings over time by reducing reliance on traditional, more expensive, grid prices. Given the industry’s high energy consumption, particularly for refrigeration, cooking, and processing, solar can significantly lower operational expenses.

Secondly, solar energy aligns with sustainability goals. Consumers today prioritise environmentally responsible brands, and solar adoption helps reduce carbon emissions, minimising the environmental impact of food production. It also supports corporate social responsibility initiatives, enhancing brand reputation and consumer trust. With pressure for businesses to deliver on their Scope 3 emission commitments to their customers such as supermarkets, the food & drink industry see solar as a huge win to deliver on these commitments.

Moreover, solar power provides energy security. By generating their own electricity, companies are less vulnerable to energy price volatility and potential supply disruptions. This can lead to more stable long- term financial planning and operational continuity.

Finally, with access to a fully funded solution with Shawton Energy, renewable energy can make solar installation more affordable, offering immediate financial benefits. In a highly competitive industry, these savings can be reinvested into innovation, product development, or expanded sustainability efforts, giving businesses a competitive edge while contributing to a greener planet.

How does the Power Purchase Agreement Process Work?

If we understand your rooftop and ground real estate and also the energy demands at those sites, you could benefit from free solar PV installation financed by us through a PPA. Once we have confirmed your eligibility, we’ll partner with you to get to know you and your facility’s energy consumption.

This is part of our five-step approach, beginning with an initial meeting, a desktop feasibility study and then a technical site visit. Once we’ve assessed your rooftop for solar suitability, we create a proposal based on your consumption, showing a detailed projection of your cost & carbon savings over the course of the PPA.

Our Initial 5 Step Approach

5 step power purchase agreement purchase for solar energy

Why would you choose a Power Purchase Agreement with Shawton Energy?

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Your business reputation increases with zero upfront investment or ongoing opex

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Immediate savings meaning you can reinvest into other projects

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The assets sit on Shawton Energy’s balance sheet and not yours

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You don’t have to worry about the ongoing maintenance or operation of the solar assets

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You are less vulnerable to the volatility of grid prices

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You buy the energy produced by the Solar PV at an agreed price for the duration of the contract. If the sun doesn’t shine or the assets are not working then you will not pay for the energy

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You enter into a long term partnership with a trusted energy partner

Case Study – Princes Food Group

Shawton Energy worked closely with international food and drink group Princes Group and their third party logistics provider, Knowles Logistics, to install a comprehensive, fully funded, solar energy system at their distribution centre in Wisbech.

Princes Food Group’s sustainability strategy and Net Zero ambitions were the key reason to work with Shawton Energy on the first of their renewable projects in the UK. With their Logistics provider, Knowles Logistics, already on this journey to enhance their 2 million square feet of warehousing portfolio, it was a truly collaborative effort to deliver a project that will not only provide carbon and financial savings but also enhance the property’s value.

We took advantage of the large roofs at the distribution centre adjacent to the manufacturing facilities to lower their energy demand off of the grid. Princes Food Group took advantage of Shawton Energy’s Power Purchase agreement, which meant there was no upfront capital or ongoing operational costs whilst Princes enjoyed cheaper, greener energy through a long term contract giving them security on their energy pricing moving forwards.

Princes Group are now enjoying 542,903kWh of 100% renewable energy every year at their Wisbech site, which accounts for over 30% of their energy usage. By having over 1,200 panels installed on a 500kWp project, they are looking forward to enjoying renewable energy for more than 11 years through Shawton Energy’s PPA with an expected energy bill saving of more than £1.2m during that period.

150,000

GBP Reduced On Average Annually In Electricity Bill

198,256

kg Of Carbon Saved Annually

4.87M

Money Saved On Electricity Bills In 25 Years

850

kWp Solar PV System Size

FAQs

Do you do projects throughout the UK?

Yes, we do projects from Scotland to the south coast. The sun’s intensity does vary throughout the UK, however we have many projects in Scotland and the north of the UK that still have great commercial and carbon savings.

Will the installation of solar panels disrupt my business?

No. Our team will ensure your business’s day-to-day operations are not disrupted. We will work with your site team to understand your business, your shifts and any health & safety requirements.

Do I need planning permission?

Projects no longer need planning permission if it is on the roof. It will just need permitted development applications made and we do all of this on your behalf. Larger projects might need planning and if this is the case we will manage all of this on your behalf.

If I have land and/or a car park is there a way of leveraging this space also?

Simple answer is yes, however we would discuss what is possible at our initial call and include areas where we feel it makes sense commercially and technically.

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