Romsey business powers ahead with solar innovation thanks to grant
A long-established Romsey business is investing in the future of energy management after receiving support from Test Valley Borough Council to install solar panels at its premises.
BPC Energy Ltd received a £3,900 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) solar grant towards the installation of a 48-panel solar PV array at its Romsey site. The system is generating enough electricity to supply the company's site and is currently exporting surplus to the grid.
However, BPC is now taking its investment a step further by creating an integrated solar, battery and energy management system. The company is installing significant battery storage capacity alongside an intelligent multi-power management station that will optimise how it uses and stores energy generated by the solar array. Once complete, the system will allow BPC to store energy and export it back to the grid during periods of high local or national demand.
BPC - British Power Conversion - has operated in Romsey for 30 years. The company designs and supplies systems that deliver uninterrupted power to organisations across a range of sectors, including healthcare and defence. Its solutions support major venues and facilities across the UK, including the Velodrome at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and Everton FC's new Hill Dickinson stadium in Liverpool. The company carries out research and development at its Romsey headquarters and operates a testing facility where customers can see its products and solutions in action. It also plans to create a dedicated training facility at the site.
Councillor Alison Johnston, portfolio holder for climate emergency and countryside, said: "It's fantastic to see a long-standing Romsey company at the forefront of technology to generate and manage power. BPC has built an impressive reputation over the last 30 years, providing critical power solutions to customers across the country while continuing to innovate from its base here in Test Valley.
"Projects like this show how local businesses can embrace new technologies to reduce emissions, improve energy resilience and create opportunities for future growth. It's particularly encouraging to see BPC investing in an integrated system that could help shape how businesses generate, store and manage energy in the years ahead."
Malcolm Henley, Managing Director at BPC Energy Ltd, said: "Our plan is to build an integrated system which uses the solar power to both power our facility and charge batteries for storage. We'll then use a multi-power management station to optimise the usage of the solar and battery power.
"It was great to receive a grant that contributed towards the costs of this, and I'd like to thank the council for providing it. The project helps us demonstrate the capabilities of our own technology while supporting our commitment to innovation and sustainability."
Solar business grants are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.
