GW Martin

Key stats

• Sector: Manufacturing
• Total installation size: 240kWp
• Total annual generation: 224.7Mwh
• Total annual savings: £75,000
• Total annual CO2 reduction: 88 tonnes

The challenge: high and rising energy demand 

As a long-established, family-run precision manufacturing business, GW Martin faced a familiar challenge for many in the sector: high energy demand and rising costs.

Operating a fleet of CNC machines, the business relies on a consistent and energy-intensive production environment. While the company had grown and evolved since its founding in 1959, much of its infrastructure dated back decades.

For Managing Director Stuart Yalden, an investment in modernisation offered two new opportunities:

– Reducing operational energy costs 
– Improving the company’s environmental impact

Rather than jumping straight into renewable generation, the business took a step back and asked a more fundamental question: how could they use less energy in the first place? This led to a factory-wide modernisation programme. GW Martin upgraded electrical systems, replaced outdated plant and infrastructure, and switched from fluorescent lighting to LED – significantly reducing their overall consumption. 

But even with these improvements, their energy bill remained a major operational cost. The next step was clear: they needed to generate their own power.

The solution: a phased approach to commercial solar panels

GW Martin began exploring commercial solar panels in 2013, taking a cautious and commercially driven approach. The business started with a 50kW system from Good Energy, designed to test whether solar would deliver on its promises. It did. 

“The first 50 kilowatts of solar panels generated exactly what was promised in our proposal – pretty much to the kilowatt hour.” Stuart Yalden, Managing Director

That early success gave Stuart and the team confidence to scale its solar array with the help of Good Energy. Over time, GW Martin has installed solar in phases:
– 50kW installation in 2013
– 100kW installation in 2014 
– 90kW in 2024 following a roof replacement 

Today, the site has a total of 240kW of solar generation capacity. 

The impact: £75,000 saved every year

The benefits of solar panels for this manufacturer are far reaching: 

Lower costs and improved profitability: By generating a significant proportion of its own electricity, GW Martin has reduced its reliance on grid energy, saving around £75,000 a year in energy costs. “We’re more profitable thanks to our solar panels.” 

Greater energy resilience: With a consistent daytime load, the business is well suited to solar generation – allowing it to maximise on-site usage and reduce exposure to market volatility. 

A stronger commercial story: As sustainability becomes a growing priority across manufacturing supply chains, GW Martin’s investment is increasingly valuable in customer conversations. “Our solar panels are definitely opening doors to new customers. I really enjoy bringing clients into our factory and showing how our operations are powered by solar. It’s a really powerful differentiator for us.”  

Progress towards Net Zero electricity: Today, around 30% of GW Martin’s electricity is generated on-site, with the remaining 70% sourced by a 100% renewable electricity tariff – making the business’ electricity emissions zero carbon.  

Advice to other manufacturers

With rising energy costs and increasing pressure from customers around sustainability, Stuart’s message to other manufacturers is simple:c

“If you own the building, it’s a no-brainer. Just put solar panels on.”