Numatic International, the company behind the iconic Henry vacuum cleaner, has switched on a new £1 million solar farm in Somerset. The micro-solar-park in Chard is designed to address the cost-of-energy crisis and will help the business produce hundreds of thousands of vacuum cleaners each year.
Solar power for plastic moulding
The five-acre solar park supplies clean power directly to Numatic’s plastic moulding operations, one of the most energy-intensive parts of the manufacturing process. Numatic says the park, installed by SunGift Solar, will allow the company to make 500,000 Henrys annually using solar energy while reducing its carbon emissions.
Operation Cleansweep sustainability goals
Stephen George, regulatory affairs and sustainability manager at Numatic International, said: “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. Part of our ‘Operation Cleansweep’ sustainability goals, the new micro-solar-park shows what can be achieved when you reimagine how you approach small spaces. It helps us on our journey as a responsible manufacturer and accelerates our progress towards achieving Net Zero by 2035.”
Steve Whitlock, the company’s finance director, described the investment as “a step forward” in Numatic’s ability to meet its own energy needs. He added: “[It will provide] a strong return on capital compared to other investments that we may have made.”
Energy and emissions impact
The 2,672 panels in the solar park are expected to meet around 20 per cent of Numatic’s yearly on-site electricity demand, with the potential to rise as high as 100 per cent on certain days. The company hopes its park will serve as a blueprint for other manufacturers and estimates it will cut CO2 emissions by nearly 267 tonnes annually.
Gabriel Wondrausch, director at SunGift Solar, said: “Originally earmarked as a site for new manufacturing units, we calculated that by using highly efficient commercial versions of solar panels normally only used on domestic properties, we could transform a relatively small parcel of land into a hugely valuable solar asset for Numatic, capable of delivering a fifth of its annual energy needs.”
