Angus MacKinnon Ltd: Driving Down Energy Costs Through Solar Investment
At A Glance
Company: Angus MacKinnon Ltd
Location: East Staffordshire
Activity: A car dealership and car repair specialist
Support: Free Energy Assessment, and Low Carbon Grant
Recommendation: Installation of 74.76 Solar PV Array
Staffordshire Supplier: Solar Star Power Ltd
Project Cost: £42,740
Grant: £21,370
Savings – £ / yr: 12,320
Savings – kWh / yr: 42,505
Savings – CO2 tonnes / yr: 9.56
Payback Period (without Grant): 3.5
Overview
Angus MacKinnon Ltd, a long established car dealership and car repair specialist in East Staffordshire, sought support to reduce rising energy costs and strengthen their environmental performance. Through the BEAS programme, the company received a free Energy Assessment followed by a 50% Low Carbon Grant, enabling the installation of a 74.46 kWp Solar PV system that would otherwise have been financially out of reach.
“I’ve found the Energy Assessment program extremely helpful for our business and would most certainly recommend and Energy Assessment to another business.”
Energy Savings & Environmental Benefits
The newly installed Solar PV System is forecast to save 42,505 kWh of electricity each year, significantly reducing the site’s reliance on grid electricity. This clean energy approach is expected to cut over 9.56 tonnes of CO₂ annually, improving the company’s environmental performance and demonstrating their own sustainability commitments.
Financially, the system provides an estimated £12,320 in annual energy cost savings, helping the business manage electricity bills that can reach up to £3,000 per month in winter due to rising unit rates.
Financial Impact
The Energy Assessment identified Solar PV as the most impactful cost saving measure, but the project would not have been feasible without grant support. The 50% BEAS Grant reduced the capital cost sufficiently to bring the payback period down to just a few years, overcoming barriers posed by a building lease with only 8.5 years remaining.
“Without the Grant, we would not have been able to implement the Energy Assessment recommendations. It really wouldn’t have been financially viable for us.”
Experience with the BEAS Programme
“The Grant Application process has been excellent…communications from Lisa, our Environmental Projects Officer, have been very helpful.”
Growing Staffordshire’s Economy
Supporting Angus MacKinnon Ltd with their solar project to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions has been fantastic, with the additional benefit to the Staffordshire Economy because they selected a local supplier from our Green Suppliers Directory – Solar Star Power Ltd.
“We, at Solar Star Power Ltd, were pleased to support the project for Angus MacKinnon Ltd and found the overall experience to be very positive. The project had a tight timeframe, but communication throughout the process was clear and well organised, which made coordination straightforward. From our perspective, the collaboration went smoothly and allowed the installation to be completed efficiently while maintaining the required standards.” – Solar Star Power Ltd
Looking Ahead
Although early in the system’s operation, the company is optimistic about the long-term benefits:
“On the forecasted prediction and with applying this 50% grant, we’re hoping to see a payback within a couple of years.”
Beyond financial savings, the project strengthens the business’s ability to remain resilient, competitive, and aligned with environmental expectations within the insurance-backed body shop sector.
“As a Bodyshop working for major insurance companies, they are keen to demonstrate a green journey, therefore projects like these will provide a future lifeline for the business and cement the employment of 16 employees.”
Find out more
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