Powering BLOQS – Britain’s largest open access workshop for professional makers
Project: Commercial, Community
Location: London
Sector: Manufacturing
Service: Solar PV
Date: 2023
Client
Bloqs is the UK’s very first open access factory, providing pay-as-you-go access to the best industry-grade machinery, plus a range of brilliant resources to help professional makers to grow their business and make a living from making.
Challenge
Bloqs have a significant energy demand due to their machinery and the scale of their operations, leading to substantial energy costs amidst the ongoing energy crisis. The team at Bloqs is keen to reduce both their energy costs and carbon emissions.
Solution
Consultation and design
Following an initial consultation, Ecogen Energy conducted a comprehensive survey to identify suitable rooftops and create detailed designs. This process allowed for the exploration of the optimal system size to meet the energy demands of the building, as well as financial modelling to identify the most efficient solution.
The electrical design also included G99 connection to the grid, ensuring that the system meets all necessary regulatory requirements.
As the building is owned by the London Borough of Enfield, a detailed landlord’s pack was produced and approved prior to the start of any work. This ensured that all parties were fully informed and in agreement on the project’s scope and requirements, paving the way for a successful and streamlined installation process.
Installation
Ecogen Energy installed the system over 1.5 weeks:
- 244 JA solar panels
- Solar edge inverter
Results
Bloqs is a not-for-private-profit social enterprise. This means they do not distribute profits to anyone at all, instead, keeping prices affordable so their members can make a profit and grow.
As a result of their investment in solar, Bloqs expects to see significant savings on their electricity bills. These savings will be reinvested in upgrading machinery, improving services, diversifying their capacity, and working towards a more sustainable future for all makers.
Estimated bill savings:
- Average monthly bill savings – £3750
- Bill offset: 28.85%
- Lifetime bill saving – £1,125, 000
Financial analysis:
- Return Of Investment (ROI): 657.43%
- Payback period: approx 3 years
This marks the first step for Bloqs in transitioning to solar energy, with plans to expand the system in the future to generate even more renewable energy.
112
kW
244
solar panels
£1,125,000
Estimated lifetime bill savings
800
Equivalent trees planted
“Working with Ecogen Energy has been superlative. From concept design, through procurement, to installation, and out the other end with commissioning, they've been supportive, helpful, knowledgeable, and pragmatic. Their installation crew were easy to work with on our site and couldn't have made it simpler. We're very grateful to have found such good people to work with and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Ecogen Energy as a first rate outfit.”- Al Parra, Cofounding Director, Bloqs