Powered By The Sun
Our UK headquarters has taken a major step towards renewable energy by commissioning a new solar farm. Generating over 5,000 MWh of electricity each year, the solar farm produces enough power to power a Ford E-Transit for 14 million miles – or circle the Earth more than 500 times.
The Dunton Campus, now features a 5.2 MWp solar PV array with 9,130 panels and 58,000 metres of cabling. This installation will meet approximately 10 per cent of Dunton’s total annual electricity demand of 55,000 MWh. Previously, this was fully sourced from certified renewable energy via the National Grid.
“Increasing our renewable energy capacity is as critical as the shift to electric mobility.”Kevin Clarkson, Program Coordinator at Ford Land
Ford is committed to sustainability, and the Dunton solar farm is a key component of the company’s global "Road to Better" initiative. This aims for carbon neutrality across European operations, including facilities, logistics, and direct suppliers, by 2035.
The solar farm was delivered by On-Site Energy (OSE), an independent energy solutions provider. Under the direction of Ford Land, OSE managed the design, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning of the project in nine weeks.
David Kipling, CEO of On-Site Energy, said: “To construct 5.2 MWp of solar panels within nine weeks in a standard solar farm is challenging, but completing it on such a customised site with complex logistics required significant collaboration with Ford. We are proud to complete our third energy project with Ford and look forward to continuing our partnership on sustainability.”
Kevin Clarkson, Program Coordinator at Ford Land, added: “Energy has always been a substantial part of our operating costs, and its importance has only increased in recent years. Increasing our renewable energy capacity is as critical as the shift to electric mobility. Ford Land’s vision is to establish large-scale renewable energy assets at all major European sites.”
Since its establishment in 1959, the Dunton Campus has been central to Ford’s European operations, housing key functions such as engineering, design, manufacturing, and product development. Recent investments, including £47 million in the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL) and the E:PRiME prototype build facility, underscore Dunton’s importance in advancing Ford’s electric vehicle strategy.
Ford’s adoption of solar power aligns with its global commitment to renewable energy. Dunton is the second UK site to integrate solar panels after Daventry, with Halewood set to follow in 2025. Other Ford facilities worldwide, such as the Ford Otosan Assembly Plant in Turkey and the Ford Research & Engineering Centre in Michigan, also harness solar power for production.
[*] Based on figures from Ofgem, medium sized UK home using an average of 3,300 kWh per annum https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/average-gas-and-electricity-usage
