RENEWABLE ENERGY
Rooftop solar at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
THE SOLAR ADVANTAGE
The benefits of solar power have resulted in its adoption in a wide range of areas - from reducing energy costs for wine
distributors to powering stadiums, and from generating electricity for manufacturing to providing energy for commercial shipping
S
olar power adoption has grown rapidly worldwide. As energy costs rise and people look
for ways to reduce carbon emissions and use clean energy, generating electricity yourself is becoming more attractive to both businesses and consumers. In fact installing solar panels can significantly
lower energy bills while producing little to no emissions. They give greater energy security, can operate with minimal maintenance for years, and can even provide electricity in isolated places. Added to this, the combination of solar panels with battery storage is making solar power even more reliable.
SAFE SOLAR FOR A WINE DISTRIBUTOR In one recent example, Liberty Wines has cut its electricity costs by £86,480 in just ten months following the installation of a DC-optimised rooftop solar system. Designed and installed by Insight Energy using SolarEdge inverter technology, the system powers the company’s Basingstoke warehouse and its electric vehicle (EV) fleet. Initially, Liberty Wines thought installing solar on the warehouse would not be possible after its insurer raised safety concerns about the large volumes of flammable alcohol stored on site. To overcome this challenge, Insight Energy designed the system using SolarEdge DC-optimised inverter technology. The solution includes a suite of built-in safety features which are designed to provide optimal protection without the need for additional hardware - including Sense Connect arc- fault detection and prevention technology, and SafeDC, which is designed to automatically reduces panel voltage to touch-safe levels to provide safe roof access for maintenance teams and firefighters. The solar installation includes a 521kWp solar array comprising 1,005 panels, which are upgraded to smart panels with SolarEdge Power Optimisers, and four 90kW SolarEdge Synergy inverters. Since it was commissioned, the system has generated 376MWh of clean electricity, offsetting 63% of the warehouse’s energy use. The system is managed through the SolarEdge ONE for C&I energy optimisation platform, which intelligently coordinates energy generation and consumption
across the warehouse building and EV chargers based on solar production, operational priorities and user preferences.
STADIUM BENEFITS FROM SOLAR POWER In another application, the world’s largest photovoltaic system installed on a stadium roof is transforming SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, the home of German Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund. Developed by Borussia Dortmund’s energy partner RWE, the rooftop solar array was designed not only to maximise renewable energy production, but also to preserve the appearance of SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Borussia Dortmund and RWE selected JA (formerly JA Solar) as the solar technology partner for the project. The installation comprises 11,132 JA JAM54D41/LB n-type bifacial modules, with outputs of up to 450 W per module. These modules are designed to deliver higher efficiency and lower long-term performance degradation compared to conventional modules, while their double-glass construction enhances durability, helping to ensure operational stability for the 30-year lifespan of the array. The bifacial design further increases energy yield by capturing sunlight on both the front and rear surfaces of the modules. A full-black module design was chosen to ensure the installation integrates seamlessly into the stadium roofscape, preserving its visual identity while reflecting Borussia Dortmund’s black-and-yellow branding. The system is on track to generate more than 4 GWh of renewable electricity per year – equivalent to the energy required to power the stadium floodlights for approximately 1,000 matchdays – while also avoiding around 1,700
tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Alastair Mounsey, vice president Europe at JA, said: “The solar system is already making a significant contribution to Borussia Dortmund’s sustainability goals, supplying clean, renewable electricity to support matchday operations and other events. More broadly, it also demonstrates how solar technology can be integrated into major infrastructure – from stadiums to cities – in a way that makes the clean energy transition visible and tangible.”
Liberty Wines has cut its electricity costs by £86,480 in just ten months thanks to a rooftop solar system
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ENERGY SECURITY Wattstor is delivering a major on-site solar and battery storage project to LSN Diffusion, a specialist manufacturer of metal powders and one of Wales’ biggest exporters. The manufacturer will also benefit from Wattstor’s renewable energy tariff, Price Protect, which will give it increased long-term certainty with its energy costs. As part of the venture, Wattstor will finance and install 1.3MW of solar generation across the LSN rooftop at the company’s base in Cilyrychen,
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2026
Llandybie, alongside a 5MWh battery energy storage system. Once operational, the system will generate around 25% of the company’s electricity demand on-site, with scope for future expansion. It will also help LSN Diffusion cut exposure to volatile energy costs while unlocking new commercial opportunities. Kevin Ball, chief commercial officer at Wattstor, said: “Manufacturers are having to manage two pressures at once: volatile energy costs and rising expectations from customers on sustainability. Projects like this show that those challenges can be addressed together. Through our investment in on-site generation and storage, LSN Diffusion is not only reducing its exposure to the grid but also strengthening its position in competitive export markets. We believe this model will become increasingly important for industrial businesses looking to stay resilient and win new business.”
MARINE SOLAR POWER Solar technology is thought to be too fragile to withstand the demanding conditions at sea. However, tests carried out by the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have demonstrated that MarineSolar Energy Solutions’ walkable solar tiles can withstand loads exceeding one ton, providing compelling evidence that solar technology can meet the practical demands of commercial shipping. The tests, conducted as MarineSolar prepares for its first NanoDeck installation later this year, assessed the structural performance of the tiles under both static and dynamic loading conditions. The results demonstrated that NanoDeck can
withstand loads exceeding one ton – equivalent to 15 people standing on a single 216mm x 216mm tile. Importantly, the findings closely matched MarineSolar’s engineering calculations, with less than 1% variation between predicted and measured performance. NanoDeck is an advanced modular solar energy
platform engineered specifically for harsh marine environments. The system enables vessels to harness solar energy at sea, supplying renewable electricity to onboard systems including navigation, engine operations, accommodation, and cargo handling – reducing fuel consumption, lowering emissions, and supporting compliance with evolving environmental regulations. Joep Groot, COO at MarineSolar Energy Solutions, said: “One of the questions we are asked most frequently is whether solar technology is robust enough for the realities of life at sea. These results provide a clear answer, demonstrating that durability should no longer be seen as a barrier to adopting solar technology in shipping.”
SolarEdge JA
Wattstor
www.solaredge.com/uk/
www.jasolar.com/html/en/
www.wattstor.com
MarineSolar Energy Solutions
https://marinesolar.energy www.essmag.co.uk
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