The supplier of ingredients and ready-to-eat products for the food and drink industry took three years to complete the project.
The solar PV panels were installed by Caplor Energy and will produce up to 500,000 kilowatts of electricity. The majority of the energy generated will be used to power Beacon Foods facilities at is headquarters in Brecon, Wales, while some could be exported to the National Grid at the weekend.
The project also saw the firm double the size of its manufacturing and storage facilities to 53,000 square feet, as well as it overall production capacity. All of its facilities have been refurbished or entirely renewed, while incoming electricity supplies have been upgraded to meet future demands.
Upgrades to Beacon Foods’ waste water treatment processing plant were also completed in response to the increased capacity. Two new storage tanks, with more than 430 cubic litres capacity, a new aeration system to increase the biological process and new filters that will increase potential discharge capacity to 150 cubic litres per day have been installed.
Project ‘good for Beacon Foods and its customers’
Founded in 1993, the firm employs 130 people and supplies food manufacturers, food service, coffee shops, fast food chains and travel and hospitality industries. It specialises in the production of garlic, ginger and chili puree, roasted and chargrilled vegetables and fruit ranges, relishes, chutneys, sauces and fruit compotes.
Reflecting on the work completed after three years, Beacon Foods chairman Edward Gough said that the ability to generate its own sustainable energy with solar panels is “good for Beacon Foods, our customers and the environment”.
“Against the background of ever-rising energy costs, we believe the investment in the solar panels is a wise move for the company as we prepare for continued business growth,” added Gough.
