Solar savings cut 17% off company’s energy bills

The University of Central Lancashire’s Making Carbon Work project (MaCaW) and a £15,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are helping one of Lancashire’s most respected names in fresh food supply cut its energy costs and carbon.

For almost 50 years, B Cookson Limited has been a trusted name in fresh produce wholesaling. Originally operating from Preston’s Bow Lane Wholesale market, the company moved to purpose-built facilities in Fulwood, Preston in 2000.

The site is energy intensive. The large walk-in refrigerators that hold stock and keep products fresh are in operation 24/7. Multiple forklifts load and unload large HGVs and smaller vans. And a large office space is home to an admin and sales team that supports the business.

B Cookson Limited was no stranger to carbon reduction activities. “We already had around 40 solar panels in place and were using LED lighting,” explains Accounts Manager Nicola Morley. “We wanted to do more and find new/better ways of operating more energy efficiently, including installing more solar panels. When we started looking for someone to help us, the potential of a match funded grant from Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) convinced us to get in touch.”

Making carbon reduction simple

The MaCaW energy audit took place in summer 2019 and the report, produced in September the same year, confirmed the potential that increasing solar PV could have on the business. “Installing a 45 kWp solar PV system to generate electricity would save 15.83 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually, in addition to the savings delivered by the solar panels already in place,” explains Mark Nelson, MaCaW’s Business Engagement Officer.

Beyond solar, the MaCaW report identified further carbon reduction opportunities in behavioural change and renewing some of the LED lighting.

“There are limits to the behavioural changes we can make,” Nicola clarifies. “Our chillers need to stay on, of course. But one example of a change we did make was that when we close at the weekend we make sure the lights are off.”

At the end of 2019, B Cookson Limited was exploring grant options with MaCaW to help with the cost of installing additional solar panels. “We found the application process really easy,” says Nicola.

"UCLan have it well set up so they checked it and submitted it within a couple of weeks. Covid slowed the grant and installation process a little, but it was all very simple."

With support from MaCaW, B Cookson Limited’s application was approved for the maximum match funded grant of £15,000.

Going greener, saving money

Now, 175 solar panels cover roughly half of B Cookson’s roof space. Although yet to receive an energy bill since completion of the installation, Nicola is looking forward to significant savings. “The new panels should save about 17% off our bills,” she confirms.

“Our work with B Cookson is a great example of how a top-end grant can be invested in a large-scale solar PV project, delivering big savings in terms of cost and carbon,” says Mark. “It’s also a good demonstration of how we’ve been able to work successfully with clients and support grant applications during the COVID pandemic.”

“I’d definitely recommend MaCaW,” says Nicola. “Going greener is something we feel we should be doing as a business and if you can do that whilst saving money it’s all good. MaCaW made doing that easy.”

To explore how MaCaW could help support your carbon reduction activities, contact us.

MaCaW is a UCLan project, an industry and academic collaboration funded by the ERDF alongside UCLan, and supported by Boost; Lancashire’s business growth hub.

Enjoyed this? Read more from University of Lancashire

Latest news

1

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company Helen and Richard Chalu new

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company

16 Oct 2025

2

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide Daniel Long

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide

16 Oct 2025

3

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth Peter Heskine

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth

16 Oct 2025

4

Stockley's finds its sweet spot Stockley's front view

Stockley's finds its sweet spot

15 Oct 2025

5

Breck to start £15m Blackpool affordable homes and retail development Cropper Road, Blackpool

Breck to start £15m Blackpool affordable homes and retail development

14 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin