Cold Storage Case Study
1 MWp Cold Storage Solar — Frozen Food Distribution UK
A 1 MWp rooftop solar install on a UK frozen food distribution centre. Annual saving £270k, payback 3.4 years, 245 tonnes CO2/yr displaced. 24/7 refrigeration enabled 95%+ self-consumption.
1 MWp
System size
950,000 kWh
Annual yield
£270,000
Annual saving
3.4 yr
Payback
Frozen food distribution centre — 350,000 ft² with continuous refrigeration load (3.2 GWh/year). 24/7 operation matched solar generation profile near-perfectly. Commercial tariff: 32p/kWh.
The Site
Frozen food distribution centre — 350,000 ft² with continuous refrigeration load (3.2 GWh/year). 24/7 operation matched solar generation profile near-perfectly. Commercial tariff: 32p/kWh.
What We Built
- Panels: 1,667 × JA Solar DeepBlue 4.0 Pro 600W
- Inverters: 10 × Huawei SUN2000-100KTL-M2
- Mounting: Ballasted at 10° tilt; no roof penetration
- Monitoring: Huawei FusionSolar + custom dashboard
- Grid connection: G99 with active export limitation
- Installation: 18 weeks, fully MCS certified
Approach
Site offered 6,000 m² of usable flat-roof area on insulated metal deck. Specified ballasted system at 10° tilt to avoid roof penetration. JA Solar DeepBlue 4.0 Pro 600W panels selected for highest output per panel given fixed roof space.
Outcome
Installed in 18 weeks. Self-consumption 96% (continuous cold-store load). Annual saving £270k. Operations director: 'It's just sitting there making electricity. Best capital decision we've made on this site.'
Key Numbers
- System size: 1 MWp
- Annual generation: 950,000 kWh
- Annual saving: £270,000
- Payback: 3.4 years
- CO2 displaced: 245 tonnes/yr
For other installations across this sector, see Solar for cold storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were these numbers calculated?
All numbers in this case study are taken from real installed-fleet performance — not modelled forecasts. Generation data is from the inverter monitoring system; savings are calculated against the customer's actual electricity tariff at the time of install.
Can you build a similar system for my business?
Yes — every case study profile is replicable on similarly-sized properties. Send us your half-hourly meter data and a roof sketch; we'll return a free desk feasibility within 5 working days.
Why use representative case studies?
Some customers prefer not to be named publicly for commercial reasons. Where the customer wishes to be named, we publish full attribution. Where confidentiality is preferred, we publish the project at the same scale and with the same financial structure as the original.
How does payback compare across our other installs?
Across our installed fleet of 350+ commercial systems, payback typically falls in the 3.5–5.5 year range. The 25-year cumulative saving runs 6–10× the original capital outlay.
Can I visit a similar live installation?
In many cases, yes — subject to host customer agreement. Reference visits are arranged where the host customer is willing and where commercial sensitivities don't prevent it.
Related Guides
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