A beverage factory in Bridgwater is set to become home to the UK’s largest solar installation on a single continuous roof.
Refresco’s 8.5MWp system will use more than 18,000 solar modules and is expected to generate around 7.5GWh of renewable electricity each year. That would cover approximately 17% of the Somerset site’s annual power demand.
A wider four-site energy project
The Bridgwater array is the centrepiece of a 21.5MWp programme across four Refresco UK manufacturing facilities. The scheme is intended to reduce the company’s reliance on grid electricity, lower manufacturing emissions and improve the long-term resilience of its operations.
GB NRG is delivering the project after being selected through a procurement process involving 12 providers. Zestec Renewable Energy will fund and manage the infrastructure, with the electricity supplied through long-term Power Purchase Agreements backed by Octopus Energy Generation managed funds. This means Refresco can buy the power generated onsite without paying the upfront capital cost.
Work is already under way at the Bridgwater plant, which operates around the clock. Construction is being carried out alongside live production, with the project team focused on protecting the roof and maintaining uninterrupted manufacturing.
Why it matters for Britain
The project shows how large industrial roofs can generate useful renewable power without requiring new land. At Bridgwater, the array should supply a sizeable share of the factory’s electricity while helping cut emissions and reduce pressure on grid-supplied energy.
