A hospitality supplies business that has recovered from a 90% fall in its turnover during the pandemic has taken a major step towards a sustainable future with an energy saving solar installation.
Yate Supplies will now produce half the energy used at its warehouses via renewables, thanks to the installation by North Somerset experts Source Electrical.
Featuring 170 panels each producing 425 watts, the system is expected to produce just under 60,000 kWh a year, with the investment paying for itself in less than four years through energy savings.
Yate Supplies was set up 40 years ago and today has more than 7,000 stock lines in its 50,000 sq ft warehouse, ranging from hygiene and cleaning products to tableware, crockery and utensils.
The business suffered a major hit during the pandemic when the hospitality industry was devastated by lockdowns.
It has since recovered, with turnover back up to £25m-plus and is looking forward to the immediate and longer-term benefits of its solar installation.
Yate Supplies commercial director Colin Massie said: “We’ve emerged stronger from the pandemic and are embarking on an ESG [environmental, social and governance] plan to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.
“We think reducing our carbon footprint is the right, ethical thing to do.
“In addition, many of our customers – among them major high street brands in the hospitality industry – are looking for suppliers who can help them with their own sustainability responsibilities.
“So this installation is a clear statement of intent from us as we look to reduce our own emissions, as well as offering us a commercial and competitive benefit.”
Source Electrical, based in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, has installed PV systems ranging in size from 2 to 100KW across the South West since it was set up in 2019.
It offers complete installation services in all sectors, from commercial, retail and industrial to domestic and educational.
Co-founder and managing director Ian Rogers, pictured, above right, with of Yate Supplies managing director Scott Shackleford, said energy-saving solar installations often made more sense in a commercial context than a domestic one.
“Most business premises will use the majority of their electricity during daylight hours,” he said. “So solar installations are usually more practical for commercial properties than for domestic ones, where homeowners will end up selling generated energy back to the grid for relatively insignificant return.
“The latest panels are high performance and the technology isn’t improving fast enough to make waiting worthwhile.”
He said given that finance could supply the capital needed for the installation and payment terms could equal savings in energy bills, there could be literally no impact on the bottom line.
“Of course, once the installation is paid for, the energy is completely free. So from a business point of view, it’s a no brainer,” he added.
“We recommend that businesses consider the size of their roof, the direction it faces, any potential shading and so on before engaging engineers.
“In the case of Yate Supplies, they have a south facing roof with no shading around, so it was perfect for the installation. And they work 24 hours a day so were keen to minimise their energy use as much as possible.
Ian Rogers set up Source Electrical with co-director Paul Lanning. Between them they have more than 40 years’ experience in the electrical contracting industry.
