Turnkey wind energy for Stobart, guaranteed for twenty years
Control over energy, returns and continuity with Rengineers.
Stobart, an animal feed company in the Lake District, consumes around 2.5 million kWh a year. On-site energy generation has therefore played a key role for decades, now with turnkey wind energy from Rengineers.
When an existing wind turbine breaks down, Peter Stobart looks for a solution that goes beyond simply replacing it with a new one. He wants a single provider to manage the entire process and remain involved once the turbine is up and running.
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Energy is a significant cost
The family-run business Stobart was founded in 1966. What began as an animal feed business run by Peter’s father has grown into a company that grinds and presses around 22,000 tonnes of feed annually for livestock farmers in the region. That production process requires a great deal of electricity. “When everything is running at full capacity, we have a peak power demand of 1.2 megawatts. On an annual basis, we consume 2.5 million kWh.”
With volumes of this magnitude, changes in energy prices have a direct impact on the company’s operations. Under a previous energy contract, the company paid 28 pence per kilowatt-hour. That figure now stands at around 12 pence, but Peter knows that such a rate can never be taken for granted. Generating its own energy has therefore been part of the company’s strategy for many years.
Wind energy as part of business operations
Stobart has been investing in wind energy since the early 1990s. The first turbine was a 200 kW unit, followed by a second installation. However, that turbine eventually failed to withstand the harsh climate of the Lake District.
“It was blown over during a storm. The blades came off, the mast snapped. It’s very windy here.” As well as wind power, there are solar panels on all the company’s roofs. The company uses as much of the electricity generated during working hours as possible itself. Any surplus is fed back into the grid. “We take every kilowatt-hour we can get.”
A single contractor to manage the entire project
Stobart then began looking for a replacement. Through energy consultant Amber Energy, Peter came into contact with Rengineers. The requirements were clear: due to a restriction imposed by the electricity grid, the turbine could supply a maximum of 400 kW, and the new installation had to fit within the existing planning framework.
But above all, Peter wanted the process to be fully managed. “We simply wanted it to happen. A turnkey project. That’s what Rengineers delivered.” Rengineers takes care of the entire process from start to finish. For Peter, that meant a single point of contact. “Everything from a single source. We didn’t want to have to figure out how to raise a sail. We wanted someone to say: ‘We’ll sort it out; you just enjoy the wind.’”
Experience you notice on site
For Peter, the main difference lies in the way the team works on site. “These people knew exactly what they were doing, from the foundations right through to handover.”
The Garant Contract proves its worth
Following handover, Rengineers remains involved through the Garant Contract. And that contract has now truly proved its worth at Stobart. If the turbine is out of operation for longer than the agreed 48 hours, the company receives compensation.
“We were refunded once because the turbine was out of action for longer than the agreed 48 hours. We’d never experienced that with previous turbines. The thing would sometimes be out of action for weeks on end, and you’d simply miss out on your income.” For a business with high energy requirements, that certainty makes a real difference.
Looking twenty years ahead
According to Peter, the investment in the turbine amounts to around half a million pounds. The estimated payback period is around three years. But for Stobart, the calculation doesn’t stop there. “The payback period is a milestone, not an end goal. We’re looking at twenty years.” That is precisely why Rengineers’ long-term commitment is so important. It’s not just about installing a turbine, but about its performance throughout its entire lifespan.
“What I really appreciate is that Rengineers doesn’t disappear once the project is completed. You remain involved for the entire lifespan of the turbine – twenty years. That means peace of mind for two decades.” For Stobart, having its own wind energy means control over more than just the energy bill. It provides the company with a reliable source of its own energy, a partner that takes the entire project off its hands, and business certainty for the years to come.