A recent £600,000 investment project at our Preston site has seen 1730, 460w solar panels installed to the roof of the buildings.

Demonstrating the businesses ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, as it produces sustainable corrugated board, the installation will deliver payback in just four years.

“We are always looking for ways to improve and reduce our carbon output and the roof layout at Preston truly lent itself to a successful installation and generation of power from solar,” said Dominic Drew, Group Managing Director, Board 24. “We shall look forward to reducing our fossil fuel energy consumption, and to analysing energy and performance data now that the panels are fully commissioned.”

The panels will generate 10.7% of the sites overall consumption reducing energy spend and carbon emissions in a high energy usage setting. The panels took just 6 weeks to install and no reinforcements to the building infrastructure were required.

The system works by the sun hitting the panel, impacting a semi-conductor surface, like silicone, which then generates the release of an electron therefore creating an electrical charge.

The installation was completed by Low Carbon Energy and complements other recent investments undertaken at the Preston site.

This has included a new 50,000m2 warehouse to assist with stock flow and efficiency, and an office and board toom refurbishment to create a space for team briefings and trainings to take place.

Board24 Preston has two corrugators and operates from a 35,000 sqm site.