Mr Kipling will be making exceedingly green cakes following a major investment in solar energy by owner Premier Foods.
A 2.2MW solar farm at the company’s Carlton Bakery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, will supply up to 70% of the site’s electricity at peak. This will save 468 tonnes of CO₂ annually according to Premier.
Installed on vacant land at the Carlton Bakery site, the solar farm spans 2.9 hectares and features 3,500 panels. Once fully operational next month, when the sun is shining it will have the potential to supply nearly three quarters of the site’s electricity at peak production. If the farm produces more electricity than Premier needs, this can be exported into the local electricity grid.
Premier environmental, social, and governance director Nick Brown said the move would not only reduce the carbon footprint it would make operations more resilient.
“Our Carlton Bakery was the largest purpose-build bakery in the world when it opened in the 1970s, and remains the biggest bakery in the UK,” he added. “This investment ensures it’s part of a more sustainable future.”
The Carlton Bakery farm is part of a wider programme of solar investment across Premier Foods’ manufacturing sites, including a £500k system at its Stoke bakery which has been completed and a £500k project under way in Ashford.
Both projects support Premier’s Enriching Life Plan, under which it is aiming to cut its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040. Since 2020/21, it has reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30%. The company said the Carlton solar farm is a significant step towards further progress.
“We’re proud Carlton is playing a part in making food manufacturing more sustainable,” said Carlton Bakery manufacturing director and factory general manager Steve Morton.
“The whole team is excited to see the solar panels go live. Carlton has been part of the community for over 50 years, and over that time the site has changed a great deal – this is the next really exciting step in its story.”
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