3PL Case Study
1.2 MWp Warehouse Solar — UK 3PL Operator
A UK 3PL logistics operator commissioned 1.2 MWp on a 450,000 ft² distribution warehouse. Annual saving £335k. Solar paired with battery + EV truck charging for fleet electrification.
1.2 MWp
System size
1.14M kWh
Annual yield
£335,000
Annual saving
4.1 yr
Payback
UK 3PL operator running a 450,000 ft² ambient distribution warehouse in the North West. 24/7 operations with high conveyor and refrigeration load. Beginning EV truck transition: 6 × 44-tonne electric trucks ordered for 2026 delivery.
The Site
UK 3PL operator running a 450,000 ft² ambient distribution warehouse in the North West. 24/7 operations with high conveyor and refrigeration load. Beginning EV truck transition: 6 × 44-tonne electric trucks ordered for 2026 delivery.
What We Built
- Panels: 2,000 × JA Solar DeepBlue 4.0 Pro 600W
- Inverters: 12 × Huawei SUN2000-100KTL-M2
- Battery: 800 kWh BESS (BYD)
- EV chargers: 6 × Kempower 350kW DC ultra-rapid
- Smart control: Site-wide load management with DUoS optimisation
- Schedule: 22 weeks; warehouse operations uninterrupted
Approach
Combined rooftop solar (1.2 MWp), 800 kWh battery storage, and 6 × 350kW DC ultra-rapid chargers for HGV fleet. Solar feeds the daytime warehouse load; battery shifts surplus to overnight HGV charging. Smart load management keeps grid import below DUoS red-band hours.
Outcome
Installed in 22 weeks. Year-1 saving £335k (ahead of £290k forecast — high self-consumption from continuous warehouse load). HGV charging 70% supplied from on-site solar + battery. Fleet manager: 'We've turned the warehouse roof into a private HGV refuelling station.'
Key Numbers
- System size: 1.2 MWp
- Annual generation: 1,140,000 kWh
- Annual saving: £335,000
- Payback: 4.1 years
- CO2 displaced: 260 tonnes/yr
For other installations across this sector, see Solar for warehouses.
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.
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