How Food and Drink Manufacturers Can Benefit from Solar Energy

The production of food and beverages must be considered alongside the planet on which its processes take place and the people it caters to. For example, as our population continues to increase, our food and beverage production will have to adapt to meet this new need.

Another important influence on the industry is climate change. Of course, no industry is entirely insulated from ongoing global warming, but agriculture – a crucial element of food and drink manufacturing – will be especially affected by anticipated floods, droughts, and natural disasters.

With this in mind, many commercial organisations are now trying to make a positive change by improving the sustainability of their systems. One straightforward way to do this is to embrace solar energy over fossil fuels.

Read on to find out how food and drink manufacturers can especially benefit from this clean and renewable resource.

What is solar energy?

Solar power refers to the process of converting energy from the sun into thermal or electrical energy.

Because it comes from the sun, it’s an abundant resource. In embracing this kind of energy over that of polluting fossil fuels, we can limit emissions and reduce our reliance on unsustainable energy sources.

Solar power can be harnessed using commercial photovoltaic systems such as those installed by Mypower – the UK’s leading solar panel company.

5 benefits of solar energy for food and drink manufacturers:

It reduces costs, thereby increasing profitability

Of course, the purchase and installation of business solar panels costs money. As a food and beverage manufacturer, you’ll have to invest in this technology to benefit from it.

However, the potential for long-term savings is massive. You’ll see an immediate reduction in your electricity costs. Over time, these savings will pay off your initial investment. Everything saved after that becomes pure profit.

The food and beverage manufacturing industry is known for its tight profit margins. Energy is an inevitable and usually substantial expense in this line of work, but solar energy is far more cost-effective. Especially when using solar PV monitoring technology.

You can attract customers with your environmental commitment

Ethical consumerism is on the rise. These days, it’s not enough for a food and beverage business to focus on profits above the planet and people. Increasingly, it’s expected that a company will also embrace social responsibility and do its part for the environment.

Once you’ve installed your solar panels, you can communicate this development to potential customers. Those with an eco-aware approach will be impressed by your commitment to solar power. It could attract a brand-new customer base to your company.

Solar energy could be just the magic that your marketing materials need!

It maximises the potential of your assets by monetising your premises

If you already own your premises, then why not leverage this asset further? You can make your property work for you by installing industrial solar panels on your rooftop.

Food and beverage manufacturing businesses tend to already have the perfect space available for these panels since they often occupy large buildings.

Your roof space isn’t doing anything else, so it’s simply good business sense to use every asset in your company’s possession to its maximum potential.

You’re able to add another revenue stream

Once you’ve installed solar panels, your food and beverage manufacturing business will experience the immediate benefit of reduced electricity bills. But there is another way to make money from your investment.

When you feed back any surplus solar energy that you generate back into the grid, you receive an additional source of income. The current Feed-In Tariff is 4.5p per kWh of solar energy that you contribute.

Diversifying revenue streams is generally considered a good idea: it helps to stabilise your business and make it more marketable when the time comes to sell it.

You’ll enjoy efficient and effective energy to fuel your operations

Since the government has a goal of net-zero emissions by the year 2050, all businesses are experiencing increasing pressure to offset the energy that they use. Using solar-powered systems is one way for you to achieve this, and it may mean that you can access and enjoy government incentives.

By reducing your dependence on the grid, you’re also less likely to experience annoying blackouts that interrupt your operations.

The National Grid has mentioned that energy sanctions may be required in the future, but you can avoid these and continue with your food and beverage manufacturing business as usual by generating your own energy using a solar panel.