Essential Oil Company Secures Energy Future
Kobashi Essential Oils, which supplies to the general public, therapists, clinics and hospitals worldwide, believes that long-term energy security through cleaner renewable energy is crucial to the future of not only their business, but also to everyone. So much so, that owners Scott and Lynda Ballard are working towards complete self-sustainability at their farm and warehouse based in Dunsford on the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park.
SunGift, the number one recommended installer in the UK, designed and installed a bespoke 61 kW ground mounted solar PV system to complement their 10kW and 4kW solar PV supplied by SunGift in 2011.
The ground-mounted solar PV is an addition to the impressive array of energy-saving measures and renewable energy technologies that Kobashi Essential Oils has already installed, such as solar thermal, thick insulation, LED lighting and energy efficient heating. Scott Ballard said: "The building was modified to withstand hot summers and arctic winters."
The Ballard's efforts are now generating so much energy renewably that in addition to using the energy they generate on site the PV has exported 81,301kWh back to the grid (that's the equivalent electricity used by 24.63 homes in a year).
"Since around 2000, I have been interested in renewable energy options," said Scott Ballard. "Growing up in America in the 1970s witnessing the fights at the pumps when the fuel ran out and living in air polluted cities LA and NYC taught me that relying on fossil fuels was not an option. Lynda and I believe wherever and whenever we can, we should create our own sustainable cleaner energy."
SunGift, being experts in integrated renewable energy systems, ensured that the new PV array perfectly complemented the other renewable energy technologies at Kobashi. Trina Solar Honey modules alongside Sputnik Engineering SolarMax Inverters were put forward for the Ballards' consideration. These reliable modules give a quick payback period and an extremely high return on investment - an exceptional 17.4% per year.
