Silverline Office Equipment - Solar PV & Voltage Optimisation
By implementing Solar PV and voltage optimization, Silverline decreased their energy consumption by 58% and lowered emissions by 172 tonnes of CO2e in the first year. Along with adopting a flexible purchasing strategy, they’ve made a combined saving of £671,753 on their projected 2022 costs.
Silverline Office Equipment is a leading manufacturer and distributor of office furniture and equipment offering a diverse range of products including office desks, storage solutions, and collaborative workstations.
With a focus on minimising its environmental impact, the company implements energy-efficient manufacturing processes, sources sustainable materials, and promotes recycling initiatives.
Since February 2018, Silverline has forged a collaborative partnership with Advantage Utilities, enhancing its efforts to optimise operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The Challenge
The company was looking to reduce their energy consumption and enhance the efficiency of its infrastructure. With rising concerns about environmental sustainability and escalating energy costs, the team at Silverline recognised the urgency to optimise their operations to align with industry standards.
The Solution
Advantage Utilities embarked on a comprehensive audit of Silverline’s infrastructure to help address their concerns regarding increasing energy consumption and anticipated rising costs. focusing on renewable energy generation and other technologies.
1.1. Solar PV Installation:
In 2022, Silverline launched a strategic initiative to enhance their sustainability efforts by installing Solar PV panels across their site. This project aimed to maximise solar energy generation and effectively integrate renewable energy into their existing infrastructure.
A key part of this initiative was the commissioning of a 596 kWp solar array at Silverline's facility in November 2022. The project required a capital investment of £420,000 and yielded significant environmental and financial benefits:
Environmental Impact: The system provided a substantial carbon saving equivalent to 143,735 kgCO2e in its first year of operation.
Grid Reliance Reduction: Achieved ~30%, enhancing their energy independence.
Financial Viability: With a calculated payback period of 3 years based on prevailing electricity grid rates at the project's inception, the investment demonstrated robust financial returns alongside sustainability gains.
1.2. Voltage Optimisation:
In September 2022, Silverline implemented another strategic initiative by deploying voltage optimisation devices across their facility. This included installing 440kVa and 350kVa units designed to enhance and harmonise voltage levels and effectively reduce electrical demand.
The project involved a capital investment of £57,000, aimed at achieving significant operational efficiencies and sustainability benefits:
Annual Savings of 8%.
Carbon Reduction: Approximately 33,069 kgCO2e per year.
Energy Savings: Approximately 135,000 kWh annually, achieving a payback period of under 2 years.
The Financial Strategy and Savings
Alongside its sustainability initiatives, Silverline made wise financial decisions to control costs further. On May 16, 2022, the company evaluated a fixed 12-month contract for the period from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, which would have cost £644,667 (excluding VAT and CCL)—a 174.7% increase from the previous year.
However, on May 23, 2022, they opted for a flexible agreement within the Advantage Utilities basket, effective from October 1, 2022. This choice resulted in an energy expenditure of £212,914 (excluding VAT and CCL) for the year, saving 66.97% compared to the fixed rate, and yielding a total savings of £431,753 (ex VAT & CCL).
The Results
Energy Consumption Reduction:
The solar PV system, coupled with voltage optimisation devices, led to a decrease in grid-sourced energy by approximately 960,000 kWh/year. This represents a significant 58% reduction in energy spend and associated scope 2 emissions.
Financial and Environmental Benefits:
The combined benefits of energy savings and carbon reduction over the first year amounted to £240,000 and 172 tonnes COof e, respectively. Over the project’s 20-year lifetime, Silverline anticipates energy savings of £3,840,000 and carbon savings of 3,456 tonnes CO2e, contributing significantly to its sustainability goals.
Client testimonial
We are Silverline Office Equipment Ltd, an office furniture manufacturer based in Mildenhall, Suffolk. Our Chairman, Stan Ensinger, founded the company in 1967, initially as a subcontractor before launching our own steel office furniture range.
As the Commercial Director, one of my key responsibilities is managing our energy contracts, seeking ways to reduce consumption and secure cost-efficient energy supplies. The global energy price increases, driven by the Ukraine conflict, compelled us to explore alternative options for reducing our energy usage.
We turned to our account manager, Hannah Thomas-Banks, at Advantage Utilities, who provided invaluable support. Hannah recommended two major projects: Solar Panels and Voltage Optimisation. She facilitated connections with reputable companies and maintained constant communication to ensure smooth project management and execution from conception to completion.
Another crucial decision was renewing our energy contracts. Hannah advised us on whether to opt for a Fixed or a Flexible purchasing strategy. Based on her recommendation, we chose the Flex route, which proved to be the right choice given the subsequent volatility in energy prices.
Our partnership with Advantage Utilities spans since February 2018, during which we have developed a close working relationship with Hannah. Her responsiveness and the support from the Advantage team have been exceptional, guiding us through various inquiries and decisions.
Investing in solar energy was the right move for our high electricity usage. If your business has substantial electric consumption and the capacity for solar panel installation, I highly recommend it. Although we opted against storage batteries for the time being, selling unused electricity back to the grid is another service Advantage can organise for you.
A significant additional benefit is the positive impact on our Carbon Footprint, which is increasingly important to us. - Paul Ensinger, Commercial Director