Henry vacuum maker Numatic switches on UK-first solar array to tackle energy costs
Numatic International, the Somerset manufacturer behind the iconic Henry vacuum cleaner, has switched on a £1m solar installation designed to help protect its operations from rising energy costs.
The Chard-based business has launched what is being described as the UK’s first commercial solar array using space-saving technology more commonly found in domestic installations.
The five-acre micro-solar-park has been installed by SunGift Solar and will supply clean power directly into Numatic’s energy-intensive plastic moulding operations.
The system uses AIKO All-Back-Contact solar cells alongside Sigenergy hybrid inverters. According to the company, the combination produces more than 7% more energy per panel than conventional ground-mounted solar PV arrays.
The technology allows Numatic to generate up to 1.73MWp from a site that would previously have been capable of producing around 1.6MWp.
The company said the investment could pay for itself in under five years, with that period potentially reduced if high energy prices continue.
The new array includes 2,672 panels and is expected to meet around 20% of Numatic International’s annual on-site energy demand. On some days, it could supply up to 100% of the manufacturer’s power needs.
Stephen George, regulatory affairs and sustainability manager at Numatic International, said the project formed part of the company’s wider sustainability work. He 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. As a result, we will be able to make the equivalent of 500,000 Henrys a year from sunshine while cutting our CO₂ emissions by 266.91 tonnes a year.
The project has been designed as a potential blueprint for other manufacturers and commercial operators with limited land available for renewable energy generation.
The site had originally been earmarked for new manufacturing units, but SunGift Solar said the use of higher-efficiency panels made it possible to turn the land into a valuable direct-feed solar asset.
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.
Providing a blueprint for other high-energy-use manufacturers to follow, the technology shows how small parcels of land adjoining factories or businesses can be converted into direct-feed solar power generation centres.
The system uses AIKO’s All-Back-Contact cells, which have electrical contacts on the back of each panel rather than the front. This creates an uninterrupted all-black surface while allowing more sunlight to be absorbed and converted into electricity.
The panels are supported by Sigenergy’s AI-driven energy management system, which is designed to optimise power flow, reduce losses and improve performance even on cloudy days. The installation also allows Numatic to export surplus energy to the grid and import energy when required.
The system has been future-proofed for a second phase, with the potential to add battery storage through Sigenergy’s hybrid inverters. This would allow Numatic to reduce peak demand charges and use more of the energy generated on-site.
The latest project builds on roof-mounted solar PV systems previously installed by SunGift Solar at Numatic’s site in 2013 and 2019.
