Solar-hybrid renewable energy system installed at UK Electronics manufacturing site

UK Electronics has announced a significant on-site investment in a solar-hybrid renewable energy system, reinforcing its commitment to resilient, low-carbon electronic manufacturing in the UK. The project centres on the installation of an intelligent, commercial-scale solar and battery solution designed to cut energy costs, stabilise supply, and support long-term sustainability across the company’s electronic assembly operations.

For customers sourcing from a UK manufacturer, energy resilience and environmental responsibility increasingly matter. Rising grid volatility, carbon reporting requirements, and pressure on supply chains mean manufacturers must do more than simply “go green”. They need energy systems that actively support production reliability. This new solar-hybrid renewable energy system has been designed with that exact requirement in mind.

Why energy strategy now matters in electronic manufacturing

Energy-intensive processes such as pcb assembly, testing, and continuous electronic manufacturing place consistent demand on power infrastructure. At the same time, grid prices remain unpredictable and outages pose real operational risk.

For a British manufacturer operating at scale, energy decisions directly affect:

• Production continuity
• Operating margins
• ESG performance
• Long-term competitiveness

Rather than relying solely on external supply, UK Electronics has chosen to invest in on-site generation paired with intelligent energy management – an approach that supports both operational stability and customer confidence.

A commercial-scale solar-hybrid renewable energy system

At the heart of the project is a 120kW intelligent solar-hybrid renewable energy system, combining high-efficiency solar generation, battery storage, and advanced energy management software. The system is designed to generate and store a substantial proportion of the site’s electricity demand, reducing dependency on the grid while maintaining full operational control.

Key elements of the installation include:

• Over 300 commercial-grade photovoltaic panels delivering more than 130kWp capacity
• A hybrid battery power hub providing 120kW of usable storage
• Intelligent optimisation software that learns usage patterns and forecasts demand
• Full compliance with UK electrical and safety standards

The system is being deployed in phases, allowing immediate off-grid benefits while preparing for future grid export once Distribution Network Operator approval is complete.

Roof-mounted solar panels forming part of a commercial-scale solar-hybrid renewable energy system designed for industrial manufacturing use.

Intelligent energy management, not just solar panels

What sets this project apart is not simply the scale of solar generation, but the intelligence layered on top of it. The system integrates predictive analytics that continuously analyse:

• Historical energy usage
• Weather forecasts
• Tariff structures
• Load patterns across the working week

This allows energy to be generated, stored, and consumed at the most cost-effective moments. During periods of low demand – such as weekends or overnight – batteries are charged and held ready for high-load production starts. During summer months, surplus generation is stored rather than exported at unfavourable rates, maximising on-site value.

The platform underpinning this optimisation is provided by Energiebee, delivering real-time monitoring, automated control, and detailed reporting for ongoing performance assessment.

Designed around real production patterns

Unlike residential or small commercial solar systems, this installation has been designed specifically for industrial use. UK Electronics operates predictable yet demanding load cycles typical of electronic assembly environments, including:

• Early-week production ramp-ups
• Continuous daytime processing
• Critical equipment that cannot tolerate interruption
• The hybrid configuration allows the system to behave differently across seasons:

Summer operation

Excess solar generation during long daylight hours is stored and reused overnight or early morning, reducing grid draw at peak tariff times.

Winter operation

The system dynamically balances stored energy, live generation, and grid supply based on sunlight availability and pricing, ensuring cost control without compromising output.

This level of control would not be achievable with standalone solar alone.

Tangible cost and carbon reductions

Based on historic consumption data, the system is projected to deliver meaningful, measurable benefits.

• Approximately 30% reduction in annual electricity costs
• Around £25,000 per year in energy savings at current prices
• On-site generation covering up to 60% of total consumption
• Up to 80% effective coverage when energy shifting is applied

From an environmental standpoint, the system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 18 tonnes of CO₂ annually from electricity usage alone. When compared to natural gas equivalents, this rises to around 40 tonnes.

For customers working with a UK manufacturer, this directly supports cleaner supply chains and Scope 3 reporting objectives.

Built-in resilience for critical manufacturing operations

Energy security is just as important as cost reduction. The battery-backed system provides protection against short-term outages and grid instability, offering uninterruptible support for essential loads.

This resilience is particularly relevant in electronic manufacturing, where unexpected power loss can result in:

• Production downtime
• Equipment recalibration
• Component scrap
• Missed delivery deadlines

By maintaining continuity through stored energy, UK Electronics strengthens its operational reliability – a key consideration for customers in regulated or time-sensitive sectors.

Future-ready and scalable by design

The solar-hybrid renewable energy system has been designed with expansion and regulatory change in mind. Modular hardware allows capacity to be increased as demand grows, while software-led optimisation means improvements can be deployed without physical disruption.

Once grid export approval is finalised, the system will also be capable of exporting excess energy, opening the door to participation in future flexibility or demand-response programmes as the UK grid evolves.

This positions UK Electronics not only as a responsible British manufacturer today, but as a forward-looking partner prepared for the next decade of industrial energy change.

What this means for UK Electronics customers

For customers sourcing electronic assembly and pcb assembly services, this investment delivers clear, practical advantages:

• Improved production resilience
• Reduced exposure to energy-related disruption
• Stronger sustainability credentials within the supply chain
• Alignment with net-zero and ESG requirements

Rather than being a marketing gesture, the solar-hybrid renewable energy system is embedded into daily operations, supporting consistent delivery and long-term stability.

On-site solar generation helping UK Electronics deliver more resilient and sustainable electronic manufacturing for its customers.

Strengthening manufacturing resilience through solar-hybrid renewable energy

This investment marks an important step in how UK Electronics approaches infrastructure, sustainability, and customer confidence. By deploying an intelligent solar-hybrid renewable energy system on site, the business is reducing risk, controlling cost, and reinforcing its position as a dependable UK manufacturer in an increasingly demanding electronics market.

As energy pressures continue to shape industrial decision-making, systems that combine renewable generation with intelligent control will become standard. UK Electronics’ early adoption demonstrates a clear focus on resilience, responsibility, and readiness for the future of electronic manufacturing.