A third rooftop solar panel installation has been completed at a Banbury tool manufacturer's site.
The 310 kW solar array, installed by Oxford-based social enterprise Low Carbon Hub, brings the total capacity at Norbar Torque Tools' site to just over 1MW.
This makes it the largest community-owned rooftop solar panel array managed by Low Carbon Hub.
The partnership between Low Carbon Hub and Norbar Torque Tools began in 2015 with the installation of the first solar panels.
A 2022 extension to the solar array doubled the capacity of the site, and the latest addition will continue to produce more green electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Kane Smith, marketing manager at Norbar Torque Tools, said: "Norbar are delighted to have our solar array extended and producing more renewable green energy.
"Since our founding, Norbar have been invested in supporting our local community and now in the current day our wider community with reducing carbon emissions.
"The partnership between Norbar and the Low Carbon Hub has been a great way for the business to support the great work Low Carbon Hub do for our local community whilst also benefiting the business from reduced renewable energy use.
"We would encourage other local businesses to benefit through the same scheme."
The latest installation will generate an additional 294 MWh of green energy annually, 50 per cent of which will be used on-site by tenants HPBO UK Limited and Norbar Torque Tools.
This will help the companies to reduce their electricity costs and cut their carbon footprints.
The new array is expected to prevent around 50 tonnes of carbon from being emitted each year.
The project will also generate an additional £150,000 in community benefit funding through Low Carbon Hub’s community energy model. This funding will be used to help communities tackle climate change.
Dr Barbara Hammond, CEO of Low Carbon Hub, said: "It’s been wonderful to collaborate once again with Norbar Torque Tools to expand our community-owned solar array in Banbury.
"Their ongoing commitment to reducing carbon emissions is a brilliant example of the action we need to take to tackle climate change.
"We hope this inspires other businesses with large rooftops to consider making the switch to clean, cost-effective energy.
"We’re always looking to support businesses and would encourage you to get in touch to see if your company’s rooftop could host a solar array."
The installation is part of a growing portfolio of 55 renewable energy sites managed by Low Carbon Hub across Oxfordshire.
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