A North Wales road haulage company has taken a major step on its journey towards net zero with the installation of a 1,400-panel solar array at its headquarters.
Farrall’s Group’s new system on the roof of its offices and warehouse on the Deeside Industrial Estate will supply almost half its electricity and takes it completely off-grid when the sun is shining.
The work has been carried out by Wrexham-based solar energy specialists Rawson Solar and is expected to pay for itself in four-and-a-half years.
The new system will generate half a million kilowatt hours of power a year, 48% of Farrall’s annual energy usage. Thanks to longer daylight hours the system is already providing all the business’s energy needs.
Managing Director Matt Farrall, the third generation of the family to head the firm, which was founded in 1956, said:
“Going green is quite a challenge for us as the main thing we do is drive trucks and pump out carbon, but we’re pushing as hard as we can to become net zero.
“If we can have an impact locally with improving air quality and getting to net zero, that’s enough for me.
“Right now we’re running purely on solar and this is just the first little step for us in our sustainability plan. Rawson will be doing phase two here at Deeside and I’d recommend them to anyone.”
Rawson Solar, part of the Rawson Group, is headed by Gregg White who oversaw the installation, which was completed ahead of schedule despite a winter of heavy rain and high winds.
He said:
“It was a lengthy job to deliver but it was carefully planned with the different teams involved and we actually finished a couple of days early despite the weather.
“The way energy prices have rocketed for businesses which don’t get the protection of the domestic energy cap it’s going to be extremely beneficial for Farrall’s and makes sense for them with the massive roof area at their base.
“On a sunny day they’re fully off-grid with the system kicking out 150 kilowatts.”
Farrall’s have since had Rawson install a small 100-panel system at their premises at Ashton Hayes near Chester. where they are also planting trees for carbon offsetting.
They also have major sites at Newport in South Wales, Telford in Shropshire and a second Flintshire site in Sandycroft.
