Knowsley-based The Forshaw Group has received the green light on its PV solar panel project. Having secured £300,000 funding for the continued expansion and development of its Knowsley Head office site through Bathgate funding circle, and with the help of a £75,000 grant from St Helen’s Chamber of Commerce, it is ready to move to the next stage.
On completion, The Forshaw Group’s roof will be covered in solar panels, and it aims to be a Carbon Zero company by March 2023.
This furthers its move towards sustainable practices, as part of the ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility. The Forshaw Group is also looking into services where any excess power can be directed to a community hub, to give back to local people who are maybe struggling with energy financial challenges.
Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that can then be used in homes or business. Solar panels consist of many individual cells that are made from layers of semiconducting materials, most commonly silicon. When light shines on panels, a flow of electricity is created that can help to generate power.
The key benefit of solar panels is that you can use the energy you generate to power your home or business. However, any surplus energy can be sold back to the grid – or as The Forshaw Group hope – sent to a community hub. Generating power through solar will significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and with customers increasingly making greener choices when they shop, The Forshaw Group’s solar panels will serve as a demonstration of its commitment to environmental causes.
The Forshaw Group managing director, Liam Hanlon said about the move to solar power, “We are proud of our on-going environmental commitment. We were delighted to add electric cars to our fleet, and now to be able to produce our own power for the business and hopefully give back in time to the community, is a great next step. We thank St Helen’s Chamber of Commerce for the grant it has awarded us, to help make our solar power dream a reality.
“With the support of a £33,000 loan from Lloyd’s bank, we have also recently invested in five new electric vehicles. This makes up 20% of our fleet. We hope to build on this as we continue our journey to carbon zero.”
Image: A mock-up of the solar panels positions on The Forshaw Group’s roof
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