A North Wales road haulage company has taken a major step on its journey towards net zero with the installation of a 1400-panel solar array at its headquarters.<\/p>\n
Farrall\u2019s Group\u2019s new system on the roof of its offices and warehouse on the giant Deeside Industrial Estate will supply almost half its electricity and takes it completely off-grid when the sun is shining.<\/p>\n
The work has been carried out by Wrexham-based solar energy specialists Rawson Solar on time and on budget and is expected to pay for itself in four and a half years.<\/p>\n
The new system will generate half a million kilowatt hours of power a year, 48 per cent of Farrall\u2019s annual energy usage and with the days lengthening the system is already providing all the business\u2019s energy needs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way energy prices have rocketed for businesses which don\u2019t get the protection of the domestic energy cap, it\u2019s going to be extremely beneficial for Farrall\u2019s and makes sense for them with the massive roof area at their base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a sunny day today and they\u2019re fully off-grid with the system kicking out 150 kilowatts at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farrall\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
They also have major sites at Newport in South Wales, Telford in Shropshire and a second Flintshire site in Sandycroft.<\/p>\n
Managing Director Matt Farrall, the third generation of the family to head the firm which was founded in 1956, said: \u201cGoing green is quite a challenge for us as the main thing we do is drive trucks and pump out carbon but we\u2019re pushing as hard as we can to become net zero.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have looked at electric lorries but the issue is the range although we do have a smaller delivery vehicle on order for local use.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use a lot of electric forklift trucks in the warehouse which obviously require power to charge and we are looking at a second phase here at our headquarters of the same size as Rawson have installed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur industry is getting there. The biggest barriers are the cost and the lack of infrastructure but we\u2019re working with other hauliers to share charging networks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a sustainability project and we offset our carbon usage. As well as the solar array we have rainwater harvesting which is used to wash the trucks and for the toilets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have electric vehicle chargers installed for cars and are getting more and we\u2019re encouraging staff to at least go to hybrid vehicles while from this year company cars will be all electric.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really trying our hardest and the biggest challenge is being financially sustainable to allow us to be energy positive but doing it is a no brainer and we should and will be doing more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to change the picture nationally but if we can have an impact locally with improving air quality and getting to net zero that\u2019s enough for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a young family growing up in Chester and I want to improve the quality of life for future generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cRawson have done a fantastic job for us. From the point of signing the order they just took over and showed us what they would be doing and the system worked from day one.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now we\u2019re 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\u2019d recommend them to anyone. They do a fantastic job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rawson Solar are specialists in renewable energy installation including solar panels and electric vehicle charging points and are part of the Wrexham-based Rawson Group.<\/p>\n
The Rawson Group, based at The Bridge Business Centre, in the heart of the giant Wrexham Industrial Estate, has since grown to employ over 30 staff and are sponsors of Wrexham Football Club.<\/p>\n
For more information go to https:\/\/rawsondigital.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n