News

Why global conflicts have sparked a major rise in solar power

BBC · last updated

Beneath him, the wine warehouse buzzes with activity.

Forklifts whirr along, pallets laden with red, white and fizz.

Automated conveyor belts shuttle boxes of wine along to a massive pallet wrapper, like a giant cling film dispenser twirling the pallets around ready for shipment.

It all uses a huge amount of electricity. The day I visited it was cloudy, but the 1,710 panels were still powering the whole site, and selling some to the national grid on top.

Loreta Landray, of Laithwaite’s Wine, said it was a “fantastic day” when the panels were switched on

Loreta Landray, health and safety manager at Laithwaite’s Wine, who run the warehouse, said it was “fabulous” when the panels were switched on.

“The cost increase in energy has been phenomenal for the last five years, and it will help massively for the business going forward, when it comes to paying for electricity,” she added.

While many families struggle to keep up with rising energy bills, fueled by the war in Iran, companies are now deciding to spend big money to keep their future bills under control.