Telford-based Lyreco to invest in further green energy plans

Telford-based stationery supplier Lyreco already has one of the country's biggest rooftop solar installations on its distribution centre at Donnington Wood.

Now it is to become home to a ground-breaking Tesla-powered battery energy storage system, which will be used to provide services to the grid and power the 24-hour centre at Deer Court Park.

Energy developer EvoEnergy has agreed the development, construction and financing for the scheme, which will be installed beside Lyreco’s 3.8 MWp rooftop solar farm, which the company completed in January 2016.

The rooftop solar park has already generated more than 5 GWh of electricity – equivalent to the annual electricity demand of 1,388 homes.

The primary function of the new battery system will be to absorb and supply energy to and from the National Grid’s infrastructure, helping balance the demand and supply of power.

It will also continue Lyreco’s environmental commitments, with the battery charged in-part with electricity from the solar farm that would otherwise be exported back to the grid.

The power will be released back into the site when it is needed, helping to increase self-generated consumption and reduce charges.

Peter Gojka, building services manager for Lyreco, said: “This is another innovative approach from Lyreco that follows on from our combination of roof mounted PV and ground mounted inverter technologies new to the UK.

"We are now taking that natural progression step of battery storage, which also ties in well with the Government’s recently announced Smart Energy Strategy.

“It makes full sense to store part of our energy production and assist the UK’s energy infrastructure through peak demand times, whilst also preparing for future requirements of our employees and visitors alike.”

Using Tesla battery and inverter technology, the 500 kW system will deliver energy efficiency benefits over a 15-year arrangement with Lyreco.

Construction has already begun, and the project is expected to complete in October this year. EvoEnergy will also be installing electric vehicle charging points onsite to help Lyreco’s move towards low-carbon travel among its workforce and visitors.

Mark Wakeford, managing director at EvoEnergy, said: “Lyreco is leading the way for how companies can use multiple technologies to achieve long-term energy independence, whilst also providing a service to the public to support and provide flexibility to meet future Government energy strategies.

“By understanding the benefits, the recent installations at Lyreco will create a blueprint for others to follow suit, helping many vastly reduce their Triad charges and only needing to pay for energy when it’s cheap.”