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Breedon is committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We will achieve this target by focusing on several key levers, covering the near and long term. These include the deployment of renewables, adoption of new technologies, optimisation of production methods and product design, and by the switching of traditional fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives.
The greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of more than 350GWh electricity which Breedon consumes each year amount to over 70,000tCO2e (location-based method). These indirect emissions are referred to as our Scope 2, and for which we have set ambitious science-based targets to reduce. One route to reducing Scope 2 emissions is through the deployment of renewable electricity generation at our own sites. We have been exploring the opportunities for on-site renewable generation for the last couple of years, mainly via rooftop and ground based solar projects. Many variables have to be considered when selecting a project, such as; the longevity of the site, the geography and infrastructure requirements, the consumption profile of the site and the return on investment or capital model selected.
Having already introduced rooftop solar arrays at our head office at Breedon (78kWp) and Dowlow Quarry (20kWp), in 2024 we embarked on our largest project to date; a108kWp roof-mounted array installed at our Wickwar block plant in Gloucestershire, which went live in May 2024. For this project we engaged with solar PV specialists Your Eco to design and install the 254 solar PV modules on the roof of the concrete block manufacturing plant.
The project started with a desktop-based design report carried out by Your Eco to assess the roof space available and potential energy and carbon savings. Having worked with them on our previous projects, we were confident that they could deliver a high-quality solution. Once work was underway, the project took around four weeks to complete and by working collaboratively with our on-site colleagues, including block plant manager Darren Palmer, there was little disruption to the site’s normal operation. Good communication between Darren and the Your Eco team ensured safety remained a top priority throughout the installation.
The solar array was commissioned in mid-May 2024 and generated over 65,000kWh in 2024 since going live, and is projected to produce over 110,000kWh per year, 20 per cent of the plants' current electricity demands. This clean energy generation will result in a reduction of our Scope 2 emissions by 20,000 kgCO2e per year. Monitoring the performance of the solar array is managed through the SolarEdge platform, showing real-time data for the overall array and for each panel, allowing the site to identify any panel failures or reduction in efficiency. The expected payback of the project in financial terms is predicted to be five years, dependant on electricity market prices.
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