How big is the solar system installed at Addison Precision?
Alliant Energy installed a 71.98kWp solar PV system using 164 panels paired with a Growatt inverter. The installation took 2 weeks from arrival on site to commissioning.
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Manufacturing
Addison Precision
71.98kWp system saving £5,453 a year for Addison Precision.
Project overview
We worked with the Addison Group to further enhance their CSR strategy. We installed an additional 71.98 kWp on a state-of-the-art wall installation and filled out the remainder of their roof. The additional solar power generated by our new solar wall takes our combined kilowatt output to over 700kw/hr. This investment, along with other initiatives undertaken to improve electricity efficiency, has resulted in our production and office facilities being completely self-sufficient in all bought-in electricity between the months of May through September, harnessing the power from the sun’s rays with our solar panels. Looking ahead, we are exploring a wind power generation scheme to be mounted on our buildings. This initiative aims to supplement the energy needs during the winter months, when solar power generation is lower. Our ultimate goal is to achieve Net Zero status for our buildings year-round, a significant step towards reducing our carbon emissions.
The challenge
Like most manufacturing operations, Addison Precision faced a structural exposure to wholesale electricity prices — a cost line that doubled for many UK businesses between 2021 and 2023 and shows no sign of returning to pre-crisis levels. With significant daytime load and suitable roof space, on-site generation was the obvious lever, but the project needed to stand on its own commercial merits: predictable payback, manufacturer-backed warranties, and zero operational disruption during install.
The solution Alliant Energy designed
Following a structural roof survey and DNO capacity check, Alliant Energy specified a 71.98kWp array using 164 high-efficiency mono-PERC panels, paired with a Growatt hybrid inverter. The Growatt platform was chosen for its export-management capability and remote firmware updates, allowing the array to be tuned over its life without site visits. Surplus generation is exported to the grid under a Smart Export Guarantee tariff, providing a secondary revenue stream alongside the primary saving on imported electricity.
Install & commissioning
The full installation completed in 2 weeks, scheduled around the customer's operating hours to avoid downtime. Work was carried out by Alliant Energy's directly employed MCS-registered engineers — no subcontracted labour. The system was commissioned to G99 requirements, registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and handed over with monitoring access, electrical certification, and structural sign-off documents on the day of completion.
Financial outcome
In its first full year of operation the system is on track to save Addison Precision approximately £5,453 on electricity costs, with a payback term of 7.4 Years and a projected total ROI of 338%. Over the 25-year warranted life of the panels, the cumulative saving is forecast at £226,615 — a figure that improves materially if grid prices continue their long-term upward trend, and that benefits from the UK's 100% full-expensing capital allowance for qualifying solar assets.
Environmental impact
The installation displaces roughly 24.4 Tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year compared with grid-sourced electricity. Over the system's 25-year design life that is the equivalent of removing more than Addison Precision's entire annual Scope 2 footprint several times over — a material data point for ESG, B-Corp and net-zero reporting frameworks.
Why it matters for the manufacturing sector
Manufacturing businesses typically run daytime electrical loads — refrigeration, machinery, IT, lighting, compressors — that overlap closely with solar generation. That overlap is what drives strong economics: every unit generated and consumed on-site replaces a unit that would otherwise be bought from the grid at full commercial rates. The Addison Precision project demonstrates how the model scales for this kind of operation.
System
71.98kWp
Panels
164
Inverter
Growatt
Install
2 Weeks
Project FAQ
How much does Addison Precision save each year?
Addison Precision saves approximately £5,453 per year on electricity, with projected lifetime savings of £226,615 over the system's 25-year guaranteed performance period. The payback term is 7.4 Years, delivering a total ROI of 338%.
Was the project funded or paid for upfront?
This project was paid for directly by the customer. Under the UK's full-expensing capital allowance, the entire cost can be deducted from corporation tax in year one — improving the effective payback meaningfully for profitable companies.
What's the environmental impact?
The system avoids around 24.4 Tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year compared with grid-sourced electricity. Over a 25-year design life that's a material contribution toward Scope 2 reduction and any ESG or net-zero reporting commitments the business holds.
Could a similar system work for my business?
Probably — the same hardware platform (panels, hybrid inverter, optional battery) scales from roughly 10kW up to 1MW+. The deciding factors are roof area, daytime electricity use, current unit rate, and grid-connection capacity. Alliant Energy carries out a free desktop feasibility study and follow-up site survey before quoting.
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