Conrad Energy and Belton Farm forge partnership to power sustainable cheese production
19th July 2024
Conrad Energy, a UK energy company that generates, buys, sells and manages energy, has announced the signing of a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Belton Farm.
Conrad Energy will develop, fund, build, own, maintain and operate a 1.5 MWp ground mount solar facility which will reduce Belton Farm’s carbon emissions by 552 tonnes of CO2 next year, the company confirmed.
A company’s spokesperson said: “Through three generations of one family, spanning over a hundred years, Belton Farm has been creating phenomenal cheeses using locally sourced ingredients.
“They have been consistently trailblazing with their commitment to sustainability and the environment.
“Belton Farm was one of the first cheesemakers to run a carbon footprint programme both at a business level and with their local farmers. Between 2009 and 2021, they saw a 48% reduction in their total emissions, despite cheese production increasing year on year.”
Green energy in use
Belton Farm added that through their partnership with Conrad Energy, they will be reducing their impact on the environment even more.
Having initially come to Conrad Energy to secure their green energy supply, discussions about Belton Farm’s efficiency and optimisation of their existing assets led to the design of a multi-solution energy package to meet the specific requirements of this award-winning cheesemaker.
Instead of a standard green energy product, which traditionally matches annual demand with the equivalent number of REGO certificates, Belton Farm is one of the first companies to benefit from Conrad Energy’s new Match+ product.
This provides 100% half-hourly matched green energy, the most accurate matching of green supply and demand in the UK market, the company confirmed.
“Conrad Energy’s market-leading customer portal, iON+ Connect, even has the ability to show the source of the matched energy in any given period.
“This provides Belton Farm with the highest possible level of transparency and reassurance that their demand is being accurately matched against green supply.
“Belton Farm fitted 135 kW roof top arrays in 3 phases since 2011, which has been generating more than 130,530 kWh of electricity and offsetting 28 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually,” the company’s spokesperson explained.
Shared vision for the energy landscape
In April, planning permission was granted for an additional on-site ground mount solar PV scheme, which will be developed by Conrad Energy.
The Shropshire planning committee agreed that “the proposal would provide significant environmental benefits through the generation of renewable energy for this local business.”
The new scheme will generate an additional 1.5 MW, and offset around 12,992 tonnes of carbon, moving Belton Farm closer to their goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.
Justin Beckett, managing director of Belton Farm, said: “Conrad Energy have worked closely with us to identify the best way of meeting our cost and sustainability objectives.
“Their Match+ green product gives us market-leading transparency on where our green energy is coming from. In addition, the new, solar scheme will be funded by Conrad Energy under a long-term PPA, allowing us to focus on what we do best – making award-winning cheese.”
He added that this agreement represents an extension of Belton Farm’s already impressive dedication to corporate social responsibility. As a family owned and run business, it forms part of the legacy they will leave for future generations.
Steven Hardman, Conrad Energy’s CEO, added: “It’s always a pleasure to work with businesses who share our vision for the energy landscape.
“As a business with a long history, Belton Farm are happy to make decisions for the long-term, and we are delighted to be part of their team of trusted advisors moving forward.”
Read more environmental news.
