AC design and installation for a major solar power project for S & A Produce

Overview

Project: AC design and installation for a major solar power project for S & A Produce

Location: Herefordshire

Project timeline: Eight weeks

The brief:

CES provided the alternating current (AC) side design and installation of a major solar power project for S & A Produce, one of the UK’s largest independent soft fruit growers.

The project, delivered in partnership with another contractor, centred on a 500kW AC Solar PV installation designed to power essential agricultural operations including pumping equipment and accommodation for seasonal workers at one of Europe’s largest strawberry growing facilities.

The challenge:

The project presented technical complexities due to:

• Multiple power distribution points scattered across a large agricultural site
• The need to integrate with existing farming operations
• Requirements for sophisticated grid control systems
• The necessity to maintain consistent power supply for critical agricultural processes

The solution:

CES delivered a comprehensive AC-side installation that included:

• Design and implementation of power distribution systems across multiple locations
• Creation of specialised integration panels for network operator control
• Installation of sophisticated switching systems allowing remote power management
• Integration with grid infrastructure to enable system control under specific conditions

Key project highlights:

• Advanced grid integration: Custom-designed control systems enabling network operators to manage power flow based on grid conditions
• Distributed power delivery: Successfully supplying power to multiple operational areas
• Agricultural sustainability: Supporting large-scale fruit production with renewable energy
• Future-ready infrastructure: Implementation of systems that anticipate increasing grid constraints

Why this project stands out:

This installation demonstrates CES’s capability to handle complex agricultural power projects requiring specialist technical knowledge.