Case Study
340.13kWp rooftop solar panel system for a large-scale fabrication company
Central Sparks supported the delivery of a large commercial rooftop solar PV system for a metal processing and fabrication company near Livingston, Scotland.
The client wanted to reduce operational energy costs and improve its sustainability profile. With electricity representing a major overhead, the business was looking for a practical way to generate renewable energy on-site and offset daytime electricity usage.
The completed system included 602 x 565W JA Solar modules and a total system size of 340.13kWp. The project was commissioned in December 2024 and completed over a three-week project duration.
Reducing energy costs for a high-demand industrial site
Large-scale metal processing and fabrication businesses can have significant electricity demand. For this Livingston-based company, energy was a major operational cost.
The client wanted to explore whether a rooftop solar PV system could help power the facility during daylight hours, reduce long-term electricity costs and support its sustainability objectives.
The project needed to:
The client needed a large-scale commercial solar PV system that could be delivered safely and efficiently without interrupting production.
Industrial-scale commercial solar PV system details
The completed Livingston commercial solar PV system included:
The system was designed around the client’s energy demand, roof suitability, grid restrictions and long-term commercial return.
Key performance figures
The Livingston commercial solar PV installation was projected to deliver:
The scale of the system made it a strong fit for a high-energy-use industrial site, helping the client reduce its reliance on grid electricity while supporting long-term sustainability objectives.
A high-capacity rooftop solar PV system
A full feasibility assessment was completed before the system was designed and installed.
This included:
Following this assessment, a 340.13kWp rooftop solar PV system was designed using high-efficiency monocrystalline panels and Solis string inverter technology.
The system was laid out across both south-facing and north-facing roof sections to make effective use of the available roof space and maximise suitable generation potential for the site.
Because of local grid restrictions, the system also required export limitation. This was managed through a G100-compliant export control system, with export limited to 200kWp in line with SPEN’s feasibility study.
As with many rooftop solar installations in Scotland, weather conditions affected some installation days. The project team managed this by adjusting crew allocation and planning work around suitable weather windows.
The local DNO required export limitation due to grid restrictions. This was resolved using a G100-compliant export control system, with export limited to 200kWp in accordance with SPEN’s feasibility study.
The installation was planned in phases to avoid disruption to production. No site shutdown was required, allowing the business to continue operating while the system was installed and commissioned.
A large commercial solar PV system delivered on time and within budget
The Livingston solar PV system was successfully commissioned on time and within budget.
Within the first four months, the system performed 4% above projections, giving the client a strong early indication of system performance. The client also reported a noticeable reduction in energy bills and planned to explore future expansion, potentially including battery storage as prices continue to decline.
The project gave the client a high-capacity renewable energy system designed to reduce operating costs, support sustainability goals and improve long-term energy resilience.
If your business operates from a factory, warehouse, fabrication facility or industrial unit, Central Sparks can help assess whether commercial solar PV is right for your site.
We can support your project from feasibility and planning through to installation, commissioning and handover.
