For some, business environmental stewardship and sustainability are not an afterthought but a business imperative. Already a net exporter of electricity, UK producer Barfoots is one such business and has further strengthened its sustainable commitments; installing a huge state-of-the-art solar energy system across its two operations sites in West Sussex. A leading UK producer of sweetcorn and specialty vegetables - a business reliant on the land - it has placed sustainability at the forefront since its inception in 1976.
Spurred on by its simple philosophy, “look after the land like you are going to farm forever”, Barfoots appointed Plug Me In to deliver ongoing energy independence through one of the UK’s largest SolarEdge solar installations to date.
Plug Me In was the ideal partner for Barfoots’ ambitious energy project. As Barfoots’ energy demands have grown alongside its expansion and automation, the business strategy to remain energy independent was paramount, in line with its ongoing commitment to sustainability and protecting the business against variable energy prices.
The ambitious installation process was a two-year project, split over 2 sites: Sefter Farm and Leythorne. Plug Me In handled the meticulous design, planning, complex network approval, and handrail installation across the site, to ensure that the PV did not impact existing infrastructure. Given the scale and complexity of the project, Plug Me In brought its extensive expertise, in-house specialists and commitment to high-quality service, working alongside Barfoots project and engineering teams to make sure every detail was attended to.
The result is a premium, modern solar energy system that is as functional as it is innovative, and the resulting trailblazing project is one of the largest solar installs in the UK.
Nick Lake, Group CFO of Barfoots comments: “Barfoots Group is already renowned for its approach to sustainability in every aspect of how it conducts its business, not just from energy production but from its farming methods, water treatment and reuse and land stewardship. We have been energy independent since 2010 due to the installation of our AD plant but due to the success and expansion of the business since then it was apparent we would soon need to begin to import some of our power requirements. As a result the Board approved this large scale solar scheme to ensure we remain net exporters of power long into the future. We are very proud of the finished product and our partnership with Plug Me In and hope to work with them on other solar installations elsewhere in the near future.”
Kim Ratcliffe, CEO of Plug Me In adds: “With energy security and independence increasingly at the fore for businesses, we were delighted to be able to support Barfoots every step of the way on this journey to a more secure and affordable energy future. As a business reliant on the land, they see first hand the impact of changing climates. We hope their ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and the future of our planet will show the business benefits clean energy offers, and pave the way for other businesses.