We have worked with Norbar Torque Tools Ltd to install just over 1MW of rooftop solar PV at their site in Banbury.

This makes it Low Carbon Hub’s largest community-owned rooftop solar PV array.

This project provides clean, green electricity for Norbar and their tenants, cuts carbon emissions and benefits the wider community because all of our profits are used to fund further carbon-cutting activities that support the local community.

We have worked with Norbar since 2015 when we completed our first installation. An extension followed in 2022 and again in 2024, bringing the total installed capacity to an impressive 1MW.

The original solar array

On Friday 27 March 2015, Catherine Rohll switched on Norbar’s first solar PV installation, saying, “we are delighted to be working with Low Carbon Hub to increase renewable energy production in Oxfordshire. This is a scheme which benefits Norbar, the local community and the environment and we hope that other businesses in Banbury will be inspired to follow suit and start installing solar panels on their roofs.”

The solar panels were funded through our oversubscribed 2014 community share offer, giving staff and local residents the opportunity to own the installation. The funds from the electricity generated give a financial return to those who invested in the panels, as well as enabling future community-benefit projects.

The first extension

Exactly seven years after their first installation with Low Carbon Hub, we were pleased to work with Norbar again in 2022, trebling its size from 250 kWp to 778 kWp and making it our second largest community-owned solar rooftop PV array.

As of 2022, the Norbar solar PV installations generate 644,170 kWh per annum, the equivalent of the electricity needed to power over 170 homes (at the time). It also generates an income of up to £14,000 per year to support the development of further community-owned renewable energy projects. In addition, it saves over 200 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Rooftop solar for me just seems to be a no-brainer – there’s nothing to lose. There’s no visual impact, there’s nothing for anyone to object to, and it produces lower cost power in an environmentally friendly way, so with environmental concerns being ever increasing on the corporate agendas, there’s just nothing not to like about it.

Catherine Rohll, Legal Counsel and Company Secretary at Norbar Torque Tools Ltd

The second extension

In July 2024 Low Carbon Hub again worked with Norbar to install a third solar PV array on the roof on one of their tenants in their Banbury building (HBPO UK Limited).

The new 310 kW array will generate a further 294 MW of clean electricity annually – 40% of which will be used on site.

Not only is this saving the business money on its energy bills, the project is now set to generate an impressive £150,000 in community benefit funding in its lifetime.

Norbar are delighted to have our solar array extended and producing more renewable green energy. Since our founding Norbar have been invested in supporting our local community and now in the current day our wider community with reducing carbon emissions. The partnership between Norbar and the Low Carbon Hub has been a great way for the business to support the great work Low Carbon Hub do for our local community whilst also benefiting the business from reduced renewable energy use. We would encourage other local business to benefit through the same scheme.

Kane Smith, Marketing Manager, Norbar Torque Tools Ltd

Watch this short video where our Business Development Manager, James Ochiltree, explains about what makes this installation so exciting:

We are delighted to be working with the Low Carbon Hub to increase renewable energy production in Oxfordshire. This is a scheme which benefits Norbar, the local community and the environment and we hope that other businesses in Banbury will be inspired to follow suit and start installing solar panels on their roofs.

CATHERINE ROHILL

Commercial Director, Norbar

Could your business save money on energy and cut carbon emissions?

If you work in a business in Oxfordshire, and you’re interested in finding out more about how you could work with us to install a solar array on your building, please get in touch.