A family-run business and popular venue is making a significant investment into a new solar array in an ambitious bid to generate 100 per cent of the energy it uses.
Aston Marina has won planning permission for 724 solar panels to be installed on underutilised wasteland to the east of its greenfield site near Stone.
The 300kVA ground mounted solar array has been designed to generate a potential 280,000 KWH per annum – the optimal amount of electricity to be consumed by the business, with minimal excess to be sent back to the National Grid.
Work will start this month and is due to be completed by late Spring.
Marina Director Helen Clayton said: “We are delighted to have planning approved for our solar array application. This is a project that has taken over three years’ hard work by the management team and is core to our commitment of being as environmentally friendly as we can and to minimise the business’s carbon footprint in line with the local and national government Net Zero targets for 2050.
“We were overwhelmed by the level of support for the scheme when we went to public consultation and took on board concerns raised. This directly informed several design changes, including increased screening and adjustments to panel height and layout.”
Aston Marina is home to a narrowboat marina, an independent restaurant and events venue and has recently submitted plans for a new on-site hotel.
It says the scheme is essential for the long-term resilience of the business, which faces escalating costs due to rising energy prices, wage inflation, and broader economic challenges.
The site for the solar array, which occupies a natural basin, is unsuitable for agricultural purposes.
Further excavation and a comprehensive planting scheme of native trees and shrubs around the one-hectare site will result in a significant biodiversity net gain.
A spokesperson said: “This project is not only a step forward for Aston Marina but also a point of pride for Staffordshire. It serves as a model for how renewable energy infrastructure can coexist harmoniously with natural landscapes and wildlife
“By showcasing that sustainability and conservation are not mutually exclusive, this development highlights Staffordshire as a leader in innovative, environmentally responsible practices.”
The solar array is one of several steps the business is taking to minimise its environmental impact.
Other measures include the installation of both air and ground source heat pumps; an ongoing project to install 10 new EV charging points; the conversion of inefficient tube and filament type lighting around site to highly efficient LED alternatives; the installation of power factor correction equipment and smart monitoring technologies to reduce overall electric use and run the business as efficiently as possible; and the conversion of kitchens electric utilising state-of-the-art efficient induction cooking equipment.
