Introduction
Aubrey Allen is a leading supplier of ethically sourced meat and farmhouse cheeses, serving both wholesale and retail customers across the UK. Renowned for its commitment to quality, service, and excellence, Aubrey Allen holds the prestigious Royal Warrant and has proudly supplied the Royal Household with meat and cheese since 2007.
Industry
Food Processing & Manufacturing
Technology
Rooftop Solar PV
Location
Coventry
Solar Panels Installed
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System Size (kWp)
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Annual Generation (kWh)
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Payback (years)
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Equivalent Electricity Rate
0.00p / kWh
Annual CO2 Savings (tonnes)
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The Motivation
Operating as a cold store, Aubrey Allen’s fridges run 24/7, leading to substantial energy costs. As part of their Planet Mark certification, they undergo annual carbon emissions audits and continuously seek innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint. With doing the right thing at the core of their values, they have already implemented initiatives such as recyclable and compostable paper pulp food trays, a 60% reduction in cardboard usage, the introduction of EV vans and company cars, and recycling butchery Wellington boots into playground flooring. Keen to explore solar energy as part of their ongoing sustainability journey, they reached out to Ineco.
“Aubrey Allen is committed to reducing our carbon emissions year on year. We feel it is our responsibility not only as a business but for our industry as a whole to show environmental commitment now and in the future. Improving our sustainability is not just a sole business goal – we aim to be industry leaders to ensure we are setting high standards for all companies to follow.” – Russell Allen, Managing Director, Aubrey Allen.
The Ineco Solution
Roof Remedial Works
To ensure optimal performance, the solar system was designed to maximise energy generation given the sites high electricity consumption. A thorough roof condition survey was conducted, and necessary repairs were made, including cut-edge corrosion treatment. Skylights were insulated and sheeted over to create additional space for solar panels and reduce solar heat gain in the roof void above the chillers, ultimately lowering costs.
Enhanced Safety and Efficiency
The system is equipped with SolarEdge module-level optimisation, ensuring safety and maximising efficiency. A firefighter gateway was also installed to automatically shut down the system in case of emergency and provide emergency services a manual emergency stop button positioned at the building’s entrance.
Electrical Upgrades and Integration
The site’s main electrical panel was upgraded to enable additional points of connection for the solar system. Additionally, the solar system was seamlessly integrated with the site’s backup generator, ensuring a reliable and efficient power supply.
Aubrey Allen’s new solar system provides electricity at an equivalent cost of just 3p/kWh—an 89% discount compared to their 2023 electricity rates leading to a £75k annual electricity saving. The sheeting over the skylights has also reduced the loft void temperature by 10°C, leading to further energy savings as air conditioning units operate more efficiently. Furthermore, the SolarEdge monitoring platform will be displayed for customers and staff, reinforcing Aubrey Allen’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. This solar investment marks another milestone in their mission to do the right thing for the planet.
