Zen Invests in Solar Project

• Zen has commenced its investment into solar energy at its HQ office site in Rochdale
• Generating 188 MWh of energy, this reduces the company’s emissions by 36 tCO2e
• Forms part of Zen’s wider environmental commitments with more phases to come

Zen Internet has kick-started the first phase of its solar project as part of its ongoing drive towards beneficial environmental commitments. Zen has installed 675 solar panels to the roof of its Sandbrook Park office in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

In the year between June 2021 and May 2022, Zen’s headquarters consumed 5,685 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity. The new solar panels are expected to generate 188 MWh of electricity (3.3% of Zen’s total usage), reducing the company’s emissions by over 36 tCO2e and providing significant savings in energy costs.

Phase 2 of the solar project gets under way later this year and includes the proposed addition of 500 solar panels to the roof at Sandbrook Park. Phase 2 is expected to generate a further 142 MWh of electricity, representing another 2.5% of annual electricity consumption, reducing the company’s emissions by a further 27 tCO2e.

Perfect Sense Energy helped design and install the solar panels while Energise Consulting advises Zen on its overall environmental ambitions.

A force for good

The only Which? Recommended Provider for Broadband, Zen is a business committed, through its B Corporation certification and Carbon Neutral status, to having a positive impact on people and the planet.

In addition, Zen’s path to net zero means the telecoms company has committed to set near- and long-term company-wide emission reductions in line with science-based net-zero with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce:

• Absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by FY2028 from a FY2021 base year
• Absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 from a FY2021 base year
• Absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 90% by 2040 from a 2021 base year

The wider telecoms industry is slowly becoming more self-aware of its environmental impact. Zen’s pledge is a significant shift towards greater positive actions, more accountability and transparency, and acknowledgement of the responsibilities of businesses on the world around them.

Paul Stobart, CEO at Zen, comments: “One way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is to invest in solar, which is exactly what we are doing at Zen.

“We are proud to have completed Phase 1 of our solar project at our offices at Sandbrook Park in Rochdale. Returns to date have been exactly as expected.  At Zen, we believe with great passion, and in line with our B Corp credentials, that business can be a force for good for all stakeholders, including the planet; this project, managed internally by the Zen Environmental Steering Group, is wholly aligned to that purpose. We look forward to rolling out Phase 2 of the project later this year.”