Numatic International, manufacturer of the iconic Henry vacuum cleaner, has switched on what it says is the UK’s first commercial solar array using high-efficiency space-saving technology more commonly found on domestic properties.
The £1m “micro-solar-park”, installed at the company’s Chard manufacturing site in Somerset, is designed to help shield energy-intensive production operations from rising electricity costs while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Developed by SunGift Solar, the five-acre installation uses AIKO All-Back-Contact (ABC) solar cells paired with Sigenergy hybrid inverters to maximise electricity generation from a relatively compact footprint.
According to the company, the technology allows the site to generate up to 1.73 MWp of power in a space that would traditionally only support around 1.6 MWp, delivering more than 7% additional energy output per panel compared with conventional ground-mounted solar systems.
The array of 2,672 panels is expected to meet around 20% of Numatic’s annual on-site electricity demand, with output capable of supplying 100% of site requirements on some days. The system feeds directly into the company’s plastic moulding operations, one of the most energy-intensive parts of the manufacturing process.
Numatic International’s new £1m solar park at its Chard manufacturing site will supply up to 20% of the company’s annual energy demand while helping power production of the iconic Henry vacuum cleaner.
Stephen George, Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Numatic International, said the investment formed part of the company’s wider “Operation Cleansweep” sustainability strategy.
“By investing in cutting-edge solar technology, we’re reducing our environmental footprint at the same time as protecting our manufacturing operations from rapidly rising energy costs.”
– Stephen George, Numatic International.
He added that the installation would allow the company to manufacture “the equivalent of 500,000 Henrys a year from sunshine” while reducing annual CO₂ emissions by almost 267 tonnes.
Numatic said the project could achieve payback in under five years, with that timeframe potentially shortening further if energy prices remain elevated.
The solar park has also been future-proofed to support battery storage integration during a second phase of development, helping the manufacturer reduce peak demand charges and increase the proportion of self-generated electricity used on site.
Gabriel Wondrausch, Director at SunGift Solar, said the project demonstrated how manufacturers with limited available land could still deploy high-output renewable energy systems.
“Providing a blueprint for other high-energy-use manufacturers to follow, the technology shows how small parcels of land adjoining factories or businesses can be converted into direct-feed solar power generation centres,” he said.
The installation builds on Numatic’s existing renewable energy infrastructure, including previous rooftop solar systems installed in 2013 and 2019, as the company works towards achieving Net Zero by 2035.