Associated British Ports (ABP) has joined Marks and Spencer (M&S) and Gridserve to invest in solar power, according to research from Project Solar UK.
ABP are the leading UK investors and have installed the UK’s largest rooftop system, with 21,000 panels, enough to power 1,570 homes for a year.
In second place, Marks and Spencer get credit for the huge solar system at their distribution centre in Castle Donington as well as their innovative share offer, which invited customers to invest in solar panels at eight of the firm’s retail stores across the UK.
Amazon is third, whose fulfilment centre in Tilbury last year unveiled the largest solar rooftop installation of any European Amazon site, featuring more than 11,000 panels.
The remainder of the top ten list is made up of tech and retail brands such as Facebook, Tesco and the John Lewis Partnership.
Two names from outside those worlds, however, are the Cambridge University Press and the insurance company Aviva, both of which made remarkable strides into solar power and renewable energy compared to their competitors.
The leaderboard was created by Project Solar UK who took factors including capacity, reported impact and proportion of total green energy commitment that solar makes up, into account when creating the ‘UK Top Ten Companies Committed to Solar Power Leaderboard’.
Simon Bird, Regional Director at ABP Humber, said,“ABP has strongly committed to lowering its emissions by investing in renewable energy and electrified equipment for port operations. It is welcome news that Project Solar UK’s research has ranked ABP at the top of its leaderboard.
“The Hull Solar Array is a remarkable scheme not just for its size, but also the necessary engineering innovation undertaken by ABP’s team, and the contractors for the project, Custom Solar.
“Across the UK ABP is accelerating green energy generation and storage for port operations and new manufacturing sites within its ports. With solar installations now at the Ports of Immingham, Hull and Goole, our next focus here on the Humber will be the Port of Grimsby.”
Simon Peat, commissioner of the research and Managing Director of Project Solar UK, the UKs largest commercial solar panel provider,said, “Despite a gloomy outlook on other fronts, this past year has offered bright news for solar power.
“In addition to production hitting record highs, renewable energy sending coal power stations offline, and customers being given actual free energy from green providers, corporate investment in commercial solar reached a new peak.
“Companies are embracing the benefits of solar power which delivers carbon-offsetting and energy-saving benefits. Increasingly, we are noting brands using their investments as a badge of honour, affirming their status as modern organisations committed to the future of the planet.
“Our leaderboard highlights the move to green energy and the organisations that are recognising the benefits of solar and investing for the future.”
