Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric has announced that it will invest £42 million in the construction of a ‘highly sustainable’ manufacturing facility in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
Developed by Caddick Developments, the c. 117,000ft² site is almost triple the size of Schneider Electric’s existing Scarborough facility and, the company says, is ‘a blueprint for sustainable design and operations in the manufacturing industry’.
The facility is expected to be net zero in Scope 1 and 2 emissions when it opens in early 2025. Targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, 30% of the facility’s energy will be produced by a ‘state-of-the art’ solar energy system, with solar panels covering 50% of the roof, to ensure the building harnesses solar energy efficiently.
Furthermore, an ‘intelligent’ building management system, based on Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform, is set to ‘ensure energy-efficient operations including light sensors, automated heating and cooling’. The facility will also will feature one of the first fully-electric paint lines in Europe, to ‘support decarbonised operations’.
The decision to invest in the new site is reportedly driven by ‘the increased demand for electrical equipment to drive the UK’s move to cleaner energy including renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and intelligent, energy-efficient buildings’.
Kelly Becker, president at Schneider Electric for the UK & Ireland, Belgium & Netherlands, commented: “Sustainability is at the core of our purpose, culture and business. We’re proud to be investing in and developing innovative solutions which will deliver immediate and lasting decarbonisation in the UK, while bolstering the creation of local, green jobs in Yorkshire.
“The region has long been part of our operational presence in the UK, and we’re excited to expand this as part of our commitment to investing in the UK’s green economy. The new facility in Scarborough represents a pillar of innovation in net zero, and one which will be an industry benchmark for the transition to sustainable, energy-efficient buildings.”
Schneider Electric currently employs 450 people in Scarborough, a long-established manufacturing base for the company. This site, it says, will create more than 200 jobs in the area.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “York and North Yorkshire has a well-established and thriving manufacturing sector, which is home to an abundance of leading and specialist companies. So, it is fantastic to see Schneider make this huge investment in their future in Scarborough.
“This new manufacturing facility will drive new, quality jobs in Scarborough and help us go beyond net zero to become England’s first carbon-negative region. Leaders like Schneider attract other manufacturers, and we welcome investment as we look to become a production and advanced engineering hub of excellence.”
Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, added: “This is a marvellous example of how sustainable manufacturing can be achieved, creating many highly skilled jobs in the process.
“Green technologies are going to be the solution to many of the challenges that we face and Schneider should be applauded for pioneering this facility. It is an exemplar model for other manufacturers to follow when they build new facilities.”
