Study reveals the major companies investing in solar power

Research by Stockport-based Project Solar UK has revealed the firms that are investing in solar power in 2021.

Associated British Ports (ABP), Marks and Spencer and Amazon are among the top firms committing to renewable energy. ABP topped the leaderboard after having announced the installation of the largest rooftop system in the UK, installing 21,00 panels: enough to power over 1,500 homes for year.

Marks and Spencer won praise for investing in a solar system at their distribution centre in Castle Donington. The retailer also launched innovative share offer, which invited customers to invest in solar panels at eight of the firm’s retail stores across the UK.

The remainder of the top ten list is made up of tech and retail brands such as Facebook, Tesco and the John Lewis Partnership. Two names from outside those worlds, however, are the Cambridge University Press and the insurance company Aviva, both of who made remarkable strides into solar power and renewable energy compared to their competitors.

The leaderboard was created by Project Solar UK who took factors including capacity, reported impact and proportion of total green energy commitment that solar makes up, into account when creating the “UK Top Ten Companies Committed to Solar Power Leaderboard.”

Simon Peat, commissioner of the research and Managing Director of Project Solar UK, said:

Despite a gloomy outlook on other fronts, this past year has offered bright news for solar power. In addition to production hitting record highs, renewable energy sending coal power stations offline, and customers being given actual free energy from green providers, corporate investment in commercial solar reached a new peak.

Companies are embracing the benefits of solar power which delivers carbon-offsetting and energy-saving benefits. Increasingly, we are noting brands using their investments as a badge of honour, affirming their status as modern organisations committed to the future of the planet. 

Our leaderboard highlights the move to green energy and the organisations that are recognising the benefits of solar and investing for the future.” 

Simon Bird, Regional Director at ABP Humber, said:

ABP has strongly committed to lowering its emissions by investing in renewable energy and electrified equipment for port operations. It is welcome news that Project Solar UK’s research has ranked ABP at the top of its leaderboard. The Hull Solar Array is a remarkable scheme not just for its size, but also the necessary engineering innovation undertaken by ABP’s team, and the contractors for the project, Custom Solar. Across the UK ABP is accelerating green energy generation and storage for port operations and new manufacturing sites within its ports. With solar installations now at the Ports of Immingham, Hull and Goole, our next focus here on the Humber will be the Port of Grimsby.”   

Carmel McQuaid, Head of Sustainable Business at M&S, commented:

At M&S, we’ve been taking action to address climate change for more than 14 years. Our emissions have reduced by over 70% in that time as we’ve worked hard to make our stores and operations more energy efficient. After switching to 100% renewable electricity to power our UK stores in 2012, we installed the UK’s biggest solar panel array on the roof of our 900,000 sq ft Castle Donington distribution centre in 2015 – creating enough energy to power 1,190 homes each year. We’re delighted to be recognised for our existing achievements as we plan to go even faster and further to reach our latest goal of becoming net zero in our own operations by 2035.”