Alan Bartlett & Sons (Chatteris) Ltd has installed what is thought to be the UK’s largest privately owned, roof-mounted solar-panel system for self-use.

The family-owned carrot and parsnip growing, processing and packing business produces some 3,600 acres of the root crops annually. Now the company has invested £1 million in more than 4,000 photovoltaic panels. Between them these generate up to 1.2 Megawatts of on-site energy and became operational at the weekend.

Andrew Foster, finance director at Alan Bartlett & Sons said: “The solar panel installation at the Chatteris factory is a significant investment for the company. The installation will achieve material cost savings for the business and at the same time greatly contribute to our carbon footprint reduction ambitions.”

The company worked with Ardenham Energy on the project. Adrian Weatherby, sales & marketing director at Ardenham said: “Our in house expertise in commercial renewable energy solutions enabled us to provide the business with a bespoke package, from the design and supply, right through to the installation, which resulted in us installing the largest privately owned roof-mounted, solar PV array installation for self-consumption in the UK.”

-