Centreco (UK) Limited, the leading installer of commercial solar energy systems have completed installation of a 79kW Solar Panel System for Richmond Containers at their HQ in Glasgow. The solar panel system consisting of 216 roof mounted tier one panels will allow Richmond Containers to generate their own green electricity, with the system predicted to save 411 Tonnes of CO2 emissions saved over the next 25 years allowing Richmond Containers to bolster their green credentials. These CO2 savings are equivalent to 1,037,996 miles driven by an average passenger car1.
With electricity costs on the rise, Richmond Containers are now able to benefit from equivalent fixed electricity costs of just 3.53p per kWh for the next 25 years across their premises. This compares to prices we are currently seeing in the commercial energy market of 25p per kwh, with these prices likely to increase substantially over the coming months.
Through site surveys and using the latest design techniques Centreco were able to maximise the available roof space across their premises whilst ensuring the best commercial returns for Richmond Containers.
Centreco are aware of the importance of long-term sustainability for Richmond Containers so were able to offer a Tier 1 manufacturer backed 25-year performance warranty for the solar panels, allowing confidence in the system’s long-term performance.
Centreco’s managing director, Jon Williams, said: “Richmond Containers are typical of what we are seeing with many clients now, in that due to growing environmental pressure within the supply chain, as well as rising electricity costs, solar is becoming a more viable option than ever before. And what was great with Richmond Containers was that you could see from day one they were fully engaged with the project and keen to pursue not only the commercial benefits, but also the environmental benefits that it brings. The Solar Panel system we installed can sit alongside their current green initiatives.”
Richmond’s operations manager, James Paynter, said: “The solar offering was an attractive idea primarily for environmental reasons – we all want to do our bit for the environment and to know that our four electric car charging points, our electric forklift chargers and other equipment is using sustainable energy is a great move forward. It compliments other projects that have already taken place such as LED lighting, heat exchangers, etc with all of it helping the focus on reducing carbon footprint. Obviously, the commercial aspect with current energy prices is a big plus but one key aspect that Centreco helped us with was that we needed to replace the roof on our building and projected solar savings was a great way to offset against roof cost over the coming years. All of these elements helping us to fulfil our mission to design, create and supply beautiful and sustainable packaging for skincare and personal care.”
1 – Passenger vehicles are defined as 2-axle 4-tyre vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks, and sport/utility vehicles.
In 2019, the weighted average combined fuel economy of cars and light trucks was 22.2 miles per gallon (FHWA 2020). In 2019, the ratio of carbon dioxide emissions to total greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) for passenger vehicles was 0.994 (EPA 2021).
The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per gallon of motor gasoline burned is 8.89 × 10-3 metric tons, as calculated in the “Gallons of gasoline consumed” section above.
To determine annual greenhouse gas emissions per mile, the following methodology was used: carbon dioxide emissions per gallon of gasoline were divided by the average fuel economy of vehicles to determine carbon dioxide emitted per mile travelled by a typical passenger vehicle. Carbon dioxide emissions were then divided by the ratio of carbon dioxide emissions to total vehicle greenhouse gas emissions to account for vehicle methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
