Unilever Port Sunlight

Igen was appointed to deliver a high-performance solar PV system for Unilever’s new £24 million, four-storey R&D facility extension at Port Sunlight. The installation was part of Unilever’s commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and reducing operational carbon emissions across its sites.

The Challenge

The project presented multiple challenges: the facility was a live R&D site, requiring close coordination with other trades to minimise disruption during construction. Health and safety, site housekeeping, and workmanship standards were subject to rigorous scrutiny, reflecting the high-profile nature of the client and the sensitivity of the facility.  The system also needed to integrate with the site’s on-site generator backup, ensuring the solar installation operated safely without interfering with emergency power systems. Efficient material handling to the roof and high-quality installation methods were essential to meet programme and safety requirements.

The Solution

Igen designed and installed a solar PV system using a ballast-mounted aluminium A-frame system, manufactured by German engineering specialists Schletter, ensuring durability and reliability.  To optimise logistics and safety, a contract lift was used to transport materials to the roof, avoiding unnecessary manual handling and speeding up installation.  A GSM-enabled meter with a dedicated SIM card was installed, enabling automated meter readings and removing the need for manual submissions every quarter. Inverter controls were programmed to disconnect the system automatically if the site’s on-site generator was operating, ensuring full compliance with Unilever’s operational and safety protocols.

The Results

• System type: Ballast-mounted aluminium A-frame

• Metering: GSM-enabled automatic readings

• Integration: Controls to safely disconnect during on-site generator operation

• Outcome: Seamless installation on a sensitive R&D site, providing reliable renewable energy and operational carbon reduction

The system now delivers on-site renewable energy while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and operational efficiency, in line with Unilever’s sustainability goals.

The Impact

This project highlights Igen’s capability to deliver complex solar installations on sensitive, high-profile commercial sites. By combining meticulous planning, high-quality engineering, and innovative metering and inverter controls, the installation contributes to Unilever’s broader sustainability objectives, reduces operational carbon, and demonstrates how renewable energy can be integrated safely and efficiently in a live R&D environment.