Around 50 business leaders were treated to a lesson in how to save cash and help the planet during an eye-opening presentation on solar power.
New Energy & Building Services Solutions managing director David Kay delivered the short presentation at Aycliffe Business Park Community’s first news and networking event of 2023.
Peterlee-based New Energy is headed up by David and CEO Tony Lister, who between them boast more than 50 years of combined experience in renewable energy, M&E contracting and construction.
They have delivered solar PV projects for the NHS, schools and academies and the private sector up and down the UK, as well as completing projects for six of the top 10 UK construction companies.
Delegates at the event, held at Planet Leisure on Aycliffe Business Park, learned how a 50kWp solar panel system can generate savings of almost £15,000 a year and reduce CO2 emissions by 8,666kg – the equivalent of planting 360 trees.
The firm highlighted recent local projects as examples during the presentation, including Hillthorn Business Park in Washington, Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in South Shields and Thorburn Bros in Newcastle.
Aycliffe Business Park Community chair Kerina Clark said: “Energy and net zero ambitions are two big ticket items on the business agenda at the moment, and the presentation from New Energy gave our delegates a very interesting insight into how solar panel systems can reduce costs and make a positive contribution to sustainability.
“Judging by the number of questions from the floor, it was clear there was a lot of interest across all size and sector of businesses. As this is something many businesses are now considering, it was a useful and timely presentation.”
David Kay said: “We have recently completed a 1 MWp+ solar project at Hillthorn Business Park, the largest speculative industrial development in the North-East, made up of 600 000 sq ft of the highest quality industrial buildings strategically located alongside the A19.
“The Hillthorn development is targeting by the environmental benchmark BREEAM and in addition to installing LED lighting and high efficiency heat pump air conditioning.
“The development will also benefit from 1 MWp+ of solar PV panels currently being installed in phases on the buildings in the development.
“We also worked on Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, installing a 100 kWp Solar PV system to reduce its costs. All of the solar energy generated by the panels is being used on site resulting in a 50 reduction of the park’s electricity bills and a reduction of CO 2 emissions of 20 982 kg per year.
“Green energy is clearly the future – for homes as well as businesses – and many of our clients are pleasantly surprised at how quickly we can turn projects around.
“Our systems save companies cash – a capital payback could be as quick as two years – and they also contribute to the North-East’s ambitions of becoming a Net Zero region, so it’s a win-win.
“I very much enjoyed visiting the Aycliffe Business Park Community networking meeting and we look forward to hopefully working with them in the near future.”
For more information about New Energy & Building Services Solutions and how they can help you reduce your energy costs, email [email protected] or call 0191 5436163.
Click here to see more details about future networking events on Aycliffe Business Park.
• Pictured above: New Energy & Building Services Solutions managing director David Kay (centre) with (left to right) Aycliffe Business Park Community board members Ben Healey, Kerina Clark, Pamela Petty and Thomas Prentice.
