ET Solar has supplied 6.1MW of modules for the largest commercial rooftop project in the UK.
The install, at the distribution centre of retailer Marks & Spencer, covers 8.4 hectares of roof. The 5,000MWh of electricity generated will provide a quarter of the building’s energy use.
“ET modules are recognised for their world leading performance especially at lower levels of irradiation, which is important when deploying them on gently inclined rooftops such as this,” said Dr Clive Weatherby, technical director of SBC Renewables, which engineered the project.
Marks and Spencer has since pledged to increase the use of solar on its buildings throughout 2015 with a number of additional installations.
The UK government has limited support for ground-mounted solar farms instead focusing attention on putting “rocket boosters” on the commercial rooftop market. Despite an absence of meaningful policy changes so far, the industry has begun re-aligning for the sector, with UK firms Lark Energy and Lightsource joining Conergy and SunEdison in launching new rooftop offerings.