Bentley Motors has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with private wire specialist Sonaura to supply its UK manufacturing headquarters in Crewe.
Under the agreement, Sonaura will develop and operate a 7 MW solar project to directly power Bentley’s buildings via a private wire connection.
Sonaura finances, develops and manages renewable assets, from land acquisition to energetic energy supply.
Sonaura CEO Ed Pateman-Jones said: “By supplying locally sourced clean power directly to Bentley’s manufacturing headquarters in Crewe, we are helping to protect the business from continued market volatility by securing a reliable energy supply.”
The US-Israeli invasion of Iran earlier this year caused a huge rise in energy prices in Britain, with businesses hit hardest.
According to recent analysis by energy consultancy Cornwall InsightDepending on the sector and the size of the organization, electricity bills have increased by an average of 10-30% since the end of February.
Although the solar power plant is still subject to planning and regulatory approval, the installation of private cables means no grid connection is required and the energy generated will directly reduce Bentley’s operating costs.
The head office in Crewe is already home to one Solar parking lot of 2.7 MWas well as rooftop solar panels and 6.6 MW of battery energy storage. The car manufacturer runs all its activities on energy generated on site or on certified green energy.
