Tuesday, August 26, 2014: Tata Power Solar (TPS) and British Gas, Britain’s largest energy supplier announced the commissioning of a 3,475,000 kWh commercial solar PV installation for Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
The installation, which was officially switched on 21st August ’14 at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s engine production centre at Deeside in North Wales, will feed directly into Toyota UK’s electrical distribution network used to power manufacturing operations at the site, home to European production of Toyota petrol and hybrid petrol engines.
The solar plant is set to significantly reduce the site’s carbon emissions and has the potential to generate enough electricity to produce up to 22,500 engines a year.
Ajay Goel, CEO, Tata Power Solar said, “Our partnership with British Gas is the beginning of a great working relationship and we see huge potential in the UK & Europe market for solar. Our 25 year history making quality modules and exporting them globally makes us the most compelling choice in the market today. This project is a testimony to our products’ high quality and global competitiveness.”
Almost 13,000 multi-crystalline panels, supplied by Tata Power Solar, were manufactured in their Bangalore, India plant. It has the potential to produce 3,475,000 kWh of electricity, reducing the Toyota plant’s CO2 emissions by over 1,800 tonnes a year. That is equivalent to the combined weight of more than 1,260 Toyota Auris hatchbacks.
Jim Crosbie, TMUK Deeside Plant Director, Toyota Manufacturing UK, said: “The new solar array demonstrates that as much as Toyota is famous for building lower carbon vehicles, we are just as focused on developing greener production methods and nurturing awareness of environmental issues among our members, and our local communities. Not only will the solar array reduce our carbon footprint, it will also demonstrate to the wider Welsh and UK manufacturing sector the tangible benefits renewable energy can deliver.”
Speaking about the project Gab Barbaro, Managing Director, British Gas Business Services, said: “We are delighted to partner with Tata Power Solar to jointly deliver this project for Toyota.”
“This project shows that solar is a viable energy solution for companies operating in the heavy industry sector.”
“At British Gas, we’re committed to offering businesses innovative renewable technology that will deliver a reliable supply of energy, long-term financial returns and significant carbon reduction.”
Tata Power Solar, erstwhile known as Tata BP Solar, is one of the very few companies globally to have a long operating history of 25 years, which also corresponds to the operational life of its solar modules. TPS has till date exported over 600 MW of modules globally. TPS’ modules are rated as Tier 1 in Bankability by GTM Research, a globally recognized PV market research firm.
