Blackbrooks, Sedlescombe, East Sussex

Blackbrooks, a family-run garden centre that has been part of the Sussex community since 1982 has won awards for innovative thinking. They have now invested in a cutting edge solar system and the 287 Trina solar PV panel array at the 10-acre garden centre in Sedlescombe generates 121,97 kilowatts (kWh) of free clean electricity at peak.

This new system will save Blackbrooks around £45,000 in utility bills and at current energy prices, projections show that the entire system should pay for itself within 2 years and 6 months.

A comprehensive plan ensured that the garden centre remained open for business while the OHM Energy Solutions team worked for three weeks behind the scenes to install the system.

System Details

• 287 x 425W Trina solar panels.
• Max power = 121,97kWh.
• Estimated Co2 saving of 1,288 tonnes over 20 years.
• With current electricity rates usually between 30-50p per kWh, the system will pay for itself within two years and six months.