Lombard Shipping, a leading domestic and international logistics provider, is set to reduce electricity costs at its flagship Ipswich hub by 50% through the deployment of an integrated clean energy ecosystem combining rooftop solar, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure.
The newly installed SolarEdge system is expected to generate approximately 118 MWh of electricity annually, delivering lifetime savings of around £1 million over 20 years, with a projected payback period of 5.3 years. The Ipswich site, strategically located near the Port of Felixstowe, is the company’s largest facility and houses its headquarters.
As part of its ongoing decarbonisation strategy, Lombard Shipping has recently added two electric HGVs to its fleet. While these vehicles reduce transport emissions, they also increased the site’s energy demand, prompting the company to implement a strategic energy management solution.
Peter Fraser, Director at Lombard Shipping, said: “Rising energy demand across our operations made it essential for us to take a strategic approach to managing our power use. With our EV chargers consuming around 7 MWh each month, we needed a solution to maximise clean energy generation and ensure it is used efficiently. This system delivers exactly that.”
The installation, managed by Insight Energy, comprises a complete SolarEdge ecosystem, including DC-optimised solar inverters, a 102.4 kWh commercial battery, and six EV chargers. The system is controlled via the SolarEdge ONE for C&I platform and the on-site SolarEdge ONE Controller, allowing intelligent coordination of solar generation, energy storage, and EV charging. This integrated approach is projected to enable Lombard Shipping to use approximately 83% of the solar energy it produces.
The rooftop array consists of 226 solar panels fitted with SolarEdge Power Optimizers, which maximise generation by allowing each panel pair to operate independently, reducing losses from shading, soiling, and module mismatch. Two 50 kW DC-optimised Synergy inverters support system oversizing of up to 175% to capture greater energy during peak production periods.
Excess energy is stored in the SolarEdge commercial battery for peak demand periods or high grid prices, with dynamic algorithms optimising energy use based on real-time data and user preferences. The system is also designed for scalability, enabling future expansion of storage capacity as operations grow. Robust safety features and cybersecurity protections are embedded throughout the platform.
Solar energy is also directed to the company’s six EV chargers, which intelligently coordinate fleet charging using solar forecasts, real-time electricity prices, and user-defined schedules. Priority vehicles, including electric HGVs, can access grid energy when needed, while non-priority vehicles are charged primarily with surplus solar energy.
Kristian Day, Managing Director at Insight Energy, said: “By leveraging SolarEdge’s unified technology platform, we have delivered a smart, scalable clean energy solution that allows Lombard Shipping to use almost all energy generated on site, enabling rapid return on investment and maximising both financial and environmental benefits.”
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