Oxford-based
Essentra Components, a leading provider of essential industrial components, has installed solar panels at its global headquarters in Kidlington to help the business to make its direct operations ‘net zero‘ by 2040, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, from its 2019 baseline. The company has also installed eight electric vehicle (EV) chargers on site. The completed solar installation provides Essentra with immediate savings on energy costs.
Jennifer Spence, environmental, social and governance director at Essentra, said that the solar panels reflect the company’s continued sustainability drive. She added: “We have created a long-term framework for reducing our carbon emissions. These solar panels directly support our commitment to reach ‘net zero’ in direct operations by 2040, and we will continue to make investments across our sites that meet our business strategy objectives and support our sustainability pledges.”
Essentra partnered with
Zestec to install the solar PV system, which was funded through Zestec Renewable Energy’s power purchase agreement (PPA) model, and delivered by LCS Energy. The solar panels offer 815.40kW power with a predicted annual yield of 935.95kWp.
Chris Butler, Kidlington’s operations director, said: “This partnership with Zestec to install solar panels at Kidlington will not only provide us with significant, day one cost savings, but also offer us on-site renewable power, and supports our drive to ‘net zero’.”
Kidlington is the latest Essentra site to install solar panels, following the successful installation at its manufacturing sites in Ningbo, China, Rayong, Thailand and Yichun, China. The company recently scored an impressive A for its 2024 CDP score for supplier engagement, reflecting the company’s performance on governance, targets, Scope 3 emissions and supplier engagement practices. As a result, Essentra is now on the CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) A-list.