CA Group unveils new energy efficient manufacturing facilities

CA Group has unveiled one of the most energy efficient manufacturing facilities in the North East at its Evenwood headquarters.

The building features a combination of solar technologies and CA Group’s own Twin-Therm roof and wall system, to generate savings of up to 55% on the combined heating and electricity requirements when compared with its base build performance.

CA Group installed a 220,740 kWp PV system, comprising 849 PV modules on the roof of its profiling mill. This was combined with the existing SolarWall Transpired Solar Collector system to generate an estimated 183,000 kWh of energy per annum, offsetting the company’s annual electricity demand for the facility by more than 40%.

The return on investment (ROI) on the technology is expected by 2022 and will see CA Group generating on-site electricity beyond 2040.

Twin-Therm system

CA Group furthered its green credentials with the installation of its Twin-Therm roof and wall system, which delivers a fully-walkable, non-fragile roof assembly, inclusive of in-plane GRP roof lights to maximise the amount of natural daylight into the building. 

The Twin-Therm roof virtually eliminates the risk of leaks, due to the lack of direct fixings from outside to inside. When installed as per CA Group recommendations, the addition of a roof mounted PV system does not compromise the roof system guarantee or Confidex coating guarantee for the pre-coated steel roof sheets.

Andrew Brewster, Project Development Manager for CA Group, commented: “As one of the largest employers in the area, we are acutely aware of our potential to impact on the local environment and community and we want to ensure this is kept to a minimum. 

Investing in the next generation of green electricity and reducing our operational energy consumption, and the resulting CO₂ emissions, is just one example of our commitment to doing so.

Our manufacturing facility offers an excellent example of the savings that can be achieved through a combination of solar technology and the latest innovations in roofing and cladding installation. There is a perception that PVs are ineffective so far north, which tends to put a lot of people off installing them. 

However, as you can see from the figures, providing the emphasis is placed on ensuring the correct system design, they are a highly effective technology and can play an integral role in the fight to reduce CO2 emissions.”