Major North East solar install supports expansion of two businesses

Shildon engineering firm, The Bignall Group, has installed what is thought to be one of the North East’s biggest single roof solar panel projects.

The family-run precision engineering firm has installed the 150-kilowatt, 620 solar panel system and believes the work will support planned expansion into international markets through cost savings.

John Bignall, founder of the group, said: “The very nature of our business as a precision engineering company means we are very heavy users of electricity. As such this means that, unless we did something to reduce these costs, then inevitably we would have to factor these into our pricing for new contracts.

“What this installation demonstrates is that, as a business, we are committed to keeping our operating costs low and as such can be very competitive in the markets we’re entering.”

The system has been installed by Middlesbrough’s UCS Renewables, a firm is also experiencing exponential growth.

Specialists in large scale commercial renewable installations, the company has more than doubled its staff in the last year and expects turnover to double in the next 12 months to more than £3million.

UCS sees no sign of the renewable industry slowing down with clients including some of the region’s largest football clubs, NHS sites such as Ryhope and Morpeth and educational establishments like New College Durham recently completing large scale renewable installations.

This rapid expansion, combined with a host of large scale contract wins across the UK, has also led to the company opening a new office in the Midlands that will manage and co-ordinate all projects in the south of the country.

These contracts include work for Taunton Deane Borough Council who only recently awarded a major solar panel installation to the Middlesbrough based company.

Speaking about the technology installed at Bignalls, Matt Hawkins, director of business development at UCS Renewables said: “As far as we’re aware, the Bignalls installation is the largest single roof mounted solar system in the North East.

“In terms of scale the system has the ability to power the equivalent of 50 homes which gives an indication of just how big this install is. And the whole thing was completed and installed in only three weeks to make sure Bignalls benefitted from the very best tariff.”

The solar installation was also encouraged by energy consultancy and North East based, Tadea, which was instrumental in helping the Bignall Group recognise the positive impact of solar PV on its business.

Tadea’s employee director, Malcolm Potter, said: “We were more than happy to advise the Bignall Group on the viability of large scale solar and the real impact this could have on the business in terms of savings to its bottom line and security of energy supply.”

As well as putting the Bignall Group in such a competitive position for its international markets, the installation of the solar technology is also helping power the Dabble Duck industrial estate where the business is based.

John added: “After only two months we are already producing more electricity than we need and which we’re exporting straight back to the grid.

“So even though the install was a significant expenditure for the business, what we’re seeing so far already indicates that we’re likely to get this investment back in well under six years, which is even better than the estimates we originally worked to.”

For the Bignall Group the move towards green technology, it believes, will only help the company win new business around the globe and particularly in Europe where, according to the Group, blue chip manufacturers are increasingly encouraged to source from green suppliers.

An opinion echoed by UCS.

Matt added: “The potential for tax breaks on renewable installations means we’re seeing more and more companies installing green technology as part of their business strategy and then requesting similar green credentials from their suppliers.

“The opportunity therefore for businesses to expand and win new contracts across the world by demonstrating their commitment to reducing energy costs, as opposed to doing nothing and then being forced to pass on these rising costs through their supply chain, is very real.”

UCS Renewables is based on Riverside Park in Middlesbrough and employs 50 staff. The company has recently completed the install of leading edge technology on the Bellamy Pavillion at Kirkleatham Museum which has, for the first time, seen photovoltaic cells incorporated into the design structure of a building to preserve its architectural heritage.

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