on 13th July 2022
Design and installation of a state-of-the-art solar panel system at materials specialist Instarmac brought GWC Electrical and Adams Enclosures together to solve an electrical distribution and switchboard problem. Ultimately, minimising shutdown and downtime were key elements of this project.
As is often the case in technology, one challenge can give rise to one or more related challenges, and this was precisely the scenario faced by GWC Electrical, whose customer Instarmac was looking to install a solar system to contribute to its ambitious environmental goals for 2022/2023, namely to increase recycled content in its packaging and product content, reduce carbon footprint by a further five percent, and introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet. The installation of new state-of-the-art solar panels was to demonstrate the positive contributions it is making to meet the needs of the present, whilst limiting the impact they may have on future generations.
The solar panels project at Instarmac, consisting of 6x 100kW arrays, each capable of producing up to 200A, highlighted a need to extend the electrical distribution board, which was at full capacity. In turn, the switchboard was found to be obsolete, and in need of replacement. The two options were either to install a whole new board, meaning the existing one would be scrapped, or for someone to come up with a bespoke solution, which is where Adams Enclosures was able to offer its expertise. Thanks to years of experience supporting the UK’s control panel industry, coming up with a cost-effective, bespoke, and individual design that also complied with BS EN 61439-2 was ultimately no problem for the design team at Adams Enclosures.
As the new switchboard extension was designed and manufactured precisely by Adams Enclosures to customer specification, GWC Electrical was able to complete the installation smoothly at Instarmac in just one day, meaning minimal shut down and as little disruption to production as possible.
Commented Simon Banks, Technical Director, Adams Enclosures, “This was an interesting project for us and for our customer, that hinged upon careful forward planning, and underpinned by years of relevant experience. Satisfyingly, Instarmac and the company installing the solar energy system remarked on the quality of the build of the new extension panel by Adams Enclosures.’
Instarmac is a specialist focused on the research, development and production of innovative materials for use in highway maintenance, urban regeneration, tiling, commercial flooring and internal finishing sectors. The company is passionate about not just creating quality products, but doing so conscientiously and in a way that limits impact on the environment.
https://www.instarmac.co.uk/
https://www.gwcelectrical.co.uk/
