en.Wedoany.com Reported - PepsiCo recently announced an investment of £3.6 million (approximately $4.8 million) to construct a solar panel power generation facility at its Southern Distribution Centre in Leicester, UK, to deepen its participation in the UK's clean energy transition. This initiative will enable the centre to produce its own renewable electricity, enhancing energy efficiency and operational resilience.

UK Climate Minister Katie White stated: "We welcome PepsiCo's decision to embrace our rooftop solar revolution, powering its Walkers crisps distribution centre in Leicester – this adds extra fizz to our clean energy mission." She also noted: "This is a fantastic example of how UK businesses can cut emissions, reduce bills and strengthen our energy security."

The solar project will cover 30,000 square metres of rooftop space, equivalent to four football pitches, and will become one of the more technically advanced rooftop systems in the UK's food logistics sector. The project is being implemented by the energy infrastructure specialist company Ineco Energy. Once operational, the solar array is expected to generate approximately 2.84 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, meeting the logistics centre's entire annual electricity needs – equivalent to the energy use of about 1,000 households – significantly reducing reliance on the national grid. Surplus energy will be used to power the adjacent Walkers crisps manufacturing plant, further integrating renewable energy supply.

Andy Smethurst, PepsiCo UK's Director of Warehousing and Logistics, said: "Leicester is already home to one of the world's largest crisp factories, and now we're deploying one of the more sophisticated solar systems in the East Midlands region." He added: "This is a significant milestone for PepsiCo UK, showcasing how we are constantly looking for new ways to power our sites and operate more sustainably."

This £3.6 million solar project follows a £14 million upgrade to the Leicester Distribution Centre in 2021, which was one of the larger logistics investments in PepsiCo UK's history. The site plays a key role in the company's UK supply chain, distributing snack and beverage products from six domestic factories.

The solar plan builds upon a series of energy optimisation projects by PepsiCo. The company recently introduced electric ovens at its Leicester plant, installed high-efficiency machinery in Coventry, and invested in high-efficiency fryers at its Brigg site, efforts that collectively reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2,400 tonnes per year. The latest project aims to further reduce emissions and progress towards environmental targets.

Angus Ross, Director at Ineco Energy, said: "Ineco is extremely proud to be delivering this flagship solar project for PepsiCo." He explained: "Once operational, it will be one of the larger rooftop systems of its kind in UK food manufacturing, generating an amount of energy equivalent to the Southern Distribution Centre's annual electricity consumption." He also mentioned: "This project required a collaborative and highly technical approach, and we're delighted to now be in the construction phase. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the PepsiCo team."

Construction of the site's solar system is underway, with installation expected to be completed by September 2026, marking another important step in PepsiCo's clean energy transition in the UK.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com