The new site has been described by Aldi as Britain’s largest supermarket warehouse, following an investment of more than £500 million. At 1.3 million sq ft, the distribution centre is made up of five linked buildings and, once fully operational, will serve nearly 350 stores across the UK.
As part of the site’s low-carbon infrastructure, we installed an 8.06MWp rooftop solar PV system comprising 18,976 Trina 425W panels, making it one of the largest single rooftop solar PV installations in the UK. The system is forecast to generate 6,773,600 kWh of renewable electricity each year, saving approximately 1,402,474 kg of CO₂ annually.
Aldi’s public announcement states that Bardon is the lowest carbon density warehouse across the Aldi South Group, where the rooftop solar panels, at times, will be able to generate all the electricity required by the site.
Supporting Renewable Energy at Scale
Warehouses of this size have significant operational energy requirements, particularly where automation, refrigeration, chilled storage and frozen chambers are involved.
By installing a large rooftop solar PV array, we have helped Aldi make productive use of the building’s roof space, reduce reliance on grid electricity and lower the carbon intensity of site operations.
For us, the project demonstrates the role that commercial rooftop solar can play in helping major UK businesses decarbonise high-demand operational assets.
A Technically Complex Solar PV Project
Alongside the challenge due to the size of the array, the project involved advanced electrical design and control considerations to support a large automated facility with a constrained grid connection.
The system was developed to work with the site’s wider power infrastructure, including limited grid supply and diesel generator support, while maintaining stability, operational continuity and equipment protection. This required detailed modelling, control system development and performance planning to ensure the solar PV system could integrate safely and effectively with the wider site infrastructure.
Helping Businesses Turn Roof Space into Long-Term Energy Value
With 18,976 panels installed, the Aldi Bardon system is expected to generate more than 6.7 million kWh of clean electricity per year. This level of on-site generation can make a meaningful contribution to reducing operational carbon emissions, supporting Aldi’s wider efficiency and sustainability objectives.
The project adds to our growing portfolio of large-scale solar installations across the UK, including major rooftop, ground mount and integrated renewable energy projects for businesses seeking to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy performance and future-proof their energy infrastructure.
Powering the Future of Commercial Renewable Energy
As UK businesses continue to face pressure to reduce emissions, manage energy costs and improve resilience, large-scale rooftop solar remains one of the most effective ways to unlock renewable energy generation on-site.
The Aldi Bardon project highlights the scale of what can be achieved when renewable energy is integrated into major commercial infrastructure from the outset. By delivering an 8.06MWp rooftop solar PV system on one of the UK’s most advanced distribution centres, we have helped create a renewable energy asset capable of supporting lower-carbon logistics operations for years to come.
To find out how we can support your business with commercial solar PV, battery storage, EV charging, HV/LV infrastructure and smart grid solutions, get in touch with our team.