UK Potato Packer Branston installs solar panels

Branston, one of the UK’s largest packers and suppliers of potatoes, has put 941 solar photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof of its Ilminster factory.

It has invested £267,000 in the installation, which is expected to generate up to 235 kilowatts at peak times. It will save about 92 tonnes of carbon emissions a year and cut energy usage by 8%.

The site, near Seavington, handles about 90,000 tonnes of potatoes a year and the latest initiative is part of Branston’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and the continuing investment it makes in its sites to reduce energy consumption.

Last year Branston invested £1.4million in its Ilminster factory to help make it more environmentally and economically efficient. This followed on from £1 million investment in water recycling plant in 2011.

Source: This is the West Country