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Solar so good for city firm

A Newry company has received a boost as Armagh based food producer Linwoods has invested in 200 roof top solar panels. As part of a significant £2m development of its Armagh site. Linwoods has appointed Newry based Kingspan Energy to install a new 50kW solar PV system which will create savings of £355,000 for the company over the next 25 years. Mel Courtney General Manager at Kingspan Energy said: “Solar PV energy is a growing resource in Northern Ireland’s renewable energy sector. It is helping companies like Linwoods make significant long term savings in its energy bills and operate in a much more environmentally friendly way generating electricity in different energy conditions and climates including overcast days as well as sunny ones.

Linwoods PV system offers a financial return of almost £15k annually and £355,000 over the 25 years generating 872,000Wh of green electricity as well as offsetting 453 tonnes of CO2. A PV system works by converting daylight into electricity. It is the only cost effective and widely used renewable technology that guarantees the onsite production of green electricity and it can be fitted on a new building or as part of a refurbishment project.

John Woods Managing Director of Linwoods added: “Our business is strongly focused on innovation, development and growth. Therefore it is important that we look to all aspects of continuous improvement. Solar PV installation not only generates a financial return in reducing our energy costs but is an excellent way of reducing CO2 emissions.” Established 50 years ago the family run company has grown into a multi-million pound manufacturing and distribution business with an extensive and developing international customer base.

Linwoods has recently invested in a new state of the art technology, re-designed packaging and an extended product range for the bakery division reinforcing the company’s commitment to meeting consumers’ changing needs and keeping the family owned business ahead in the dairy, bakery and health food sectors.

Newry Democrat

26th January  2016