However, like many commercial buildings, the warehouse’s metal-sheeted roof couldn't support the weight of conventional solar panels. Solivus addressed this issue with its ultra-lightweight solar technology, designed specifically for such structural limitations. Unlike traditional rigid panels, Solivus' solution requires no roof penetration and is tailored for corrugated roofs, making installation simpler and avoiding planning hurdles.

In partnership with Astute, Solivus delivered a full-service solution, managing everything from design and installation to financing and ongoing maintenance. The project saw over 360 solar panels installed, providing a total capacity of 154.8 KwP and a net capacity of 110KwP. The system is expected to supply 30% of Astute’s energy needs and generate significant savings in energy costs over its lifetime. It will also help reduce the company’s carbon footprint by over 20 tonnes annually, with a lifetime reduction of approximately 469 tonnes.

A key advantage of Solivus’ lightweight solar solution was its ease of installation, allowing Astute's warehouse to continue operations without disruption during the process. This efficient, non-intrusive installation represents a significant step toward Astute’s net-zero ambitions, cutting down reliance on fossil fuels and promoting long-term sustainability.

Mark Shanley, Sales and Marketing Director at Astute Electronics, comments: “Astute has a knack for working with cutting-edge products. We were impressed by Solivus and their innovative, lightweight systems, which can be fitted to the roof of our warehouse; space we previously thought was unusable. With Astute’s focus on energy independence and net zero focus, we’re looking forward to reaping both environmental and sustainability benefits over the next five years and beyond.”

Interestingly, this comes as a recent analysis estimates that unused rooftops on UK warehouses total 165 million m2, the equivalent of 30,834 football fields, with a potential solar capacity of around 25GWp.

Solivus CEO, Jo Parker-Swift says: “We are incredibly proud of this project. It will support Astute in not only saving significant amounts in energy bill reductions, but ensure energy availability and enhance carbon reduction efforts.

“Looking to the wider warehouse and distribution sector, our hope is that this project will also provide a tangible demonstration of the vast sustainability and cost-saving benefits to be had by embracing the clean energy transition in the commercial building market.

“There are over 420,000 warehouses in the UK2, meaning billions of square feet of rooftop space ideal for hosting panels. If fully utilised these spaces could not only produce much of the sector’s electricity use but create new revenue opportunities through trading. Amid the increasing viability of onsite renewable energy and the sheer scale of untapped rooftop space in the sector, there is a clear first-mover advantage for those that do.”

Chief Executive of the UK Warehousing Association, Clare Bottle says: “Since the publication of our landmark report in 2022, UKWA has been consistently campaigning for the sector to embrace rooftop solar power, so it is fantastic to see Astute Electronics leading the way with the completion of this significant solar power installation by Solivus.

“Warehouses account for a third of UK commercial roof space, yet currently only 5% of warehouses have solar panels on their rooftops. If more companies follow in these footsteps, there is an opportunity for the warehousing sector to reduce emissions by 2 million tonnes of CO2 per year, deliver annual savings on electricity costs of up to £3 billion, and contribute half of the solar power required by the whole of the UK to achieve net zero targets.”