East Sussex-based digital print company Elephant Print and Display, which installed 600 Solar PV panels over Christmas to power its operation, says it is saving 64,350kg in CO2 emissions, equivalent to 215 trees being planted and around 500,000 light bulbs powered for a day.
Managing director Jason Gadd, said: “We are really pleased that consent for this project was granted and it’s very exciting to think that our presses are now powered by solar energy. It will not only reduce our reliance on the grid but will also make a huge difference to our energy bills.”
The panels have been installed in a field behind Elephant’s Sussex base, and their configuration still allows for smaller livestock to graze and even take shelter underneath the solar panels.
Elephant worked on the project together with its landlord, Matthew Dean Lundin of Barcombe Business Units, with local company PDP Solar.
Elephant has two digital presses and two large-format printers along with associated finishing equipment. The company is looking to expand further this year. Recent investment has seen upgrades to the finishing line and a new HP Indigo press has been ordered along with a white ink facility.