Case Study - Richard Western Trailers Ltd
302 kWp Solar PV and 200 kWh Battery Storage Installation
Location: Framlingham, Suffolk
Sector: Manufacturing
System: 302 kWp Solar PV with 200 kWh Battery Storage
Continuing a successful partnership
When Richard Western Trailers decided to invest in a new roof for one of its manufacturing buildings, it made sense to look at expanding its renewable energy generation at the same time.
Having already installed a 150 kWp rooftop solar system for the company around five years ago, East Green Energy was asked back to deliver the next phase of the site's energy strategy. The result is a new 302 kWp solar installation, made up of 665 solar panels, together with a 200 kWh battery storage system, which will provide the business with even greater control over how and when it uses electricity.
The challenge
Richard Western Trailers manufactures agricultural trailers that are supplied throughout the UK and overseas. Manufacturing naturally comes with high electricity demand, so reducing energy costs while improving resilience has become an increasingly important part of the business's long-term planning.
The company wanted to make the most of the newly re-roofed building by installing a larger solar array capable of supplying more of the site's electricity, while also introducing battery storage to make better use of the energy being generated.
The solution
East Green Energy worked closely with the team to design and install a 302 kWp rooftop solar array using 665 high‑efficiency panels across the new roof. The system is expected to generate around 286.75 MWh of electricity each year, and, combined with the new 200 kWh battery, will supply approximately 40% of the site’s annual electricity demand. This significantly reduces reliance on imported power while cutting carbon emissions and giving the business far greater control over how its energy is used.
Alongside the solar installation is a 200 kWh battery energy storage system. Once commissioned, the battery will store surplus electricity generated during the day so it can be used later when production continues, demand increases or electricity prices are higher. This gives the business much greater flexibility and means more of the energy generated on site can be used rather than exported back to the grid.
Project highlights
Approximately 40% of the site's annual electricity demand met by solar and battery storage
302 kWp rooftop solar PV system
665 solar panels
200 kWh battery energy storage system
Estimated annual generation of 286.75 MWh
Around 55 tonnes of CO₂ saved every year
Looking ahead
Having already seen the benefits of the first solar installation, expanding the system was the obvious next move for Richard Western Trailers. The addition of battery storage will give the business much more flexibility, allowing it to store excess electricity generated during the day and use it when it's needed most.
It's also been great for us to return to site. We installed the original 150 kWp system around five years ago, so being asked back to deliver this latest phase is something we are really proud of. Building long-term relationships with our clients has always been important to us, and projects like this show what's possible when those relationships continue to grow.
