PepsiCo UK has committed £3.6 million to the installation of a massive rooftop solar power system at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester. Delivered in partnership with energy infrastructure specialist Ineco Energy, the project will cover 30,000 square meters of roof space, equivalent to four football pitches, marking a significant advancement in the company's regional sustainability strategy.
Once fully operational, the system is projected to generate 100% of the electricity required to power the logistics centre on an annual basis.
Technical Capacity and Operational Integration
The 3.56MWp installation is expected to produce approximately 2.84GWh of renewable electricity annually. This output is comparable to the energy consumption of 1,000 UK households.
A key feature of the project is its integration with nearby manufacturing assets. Any surplus energy generated at the SRDC during peak daylight hours will be diverted to support operations at the adjacent Walkers crisps factory, the largest of its kind globally. This cross-site energy sharing emphasises PepsiCo's efforts to create a localised, circular energy ecosystem in the East Midlands.
Decarbonization Across the UK Portfolio
The solar project is the latest in a series of targeted sustainability investments across PepsiCo’s UK manufacturing and logistics network:
Leicester Site: Transitioned to electric ovens to reduce reliance on natural gas.
Coventry Facility: Installed high-efficiency manufacturing machinery to lower energy intensity.
Brigg (Pipers Crisps): Upgraded frying systems to improve thermal efficiency.
According to company data, these cumulative technical upgrades have already reduced PepsiCo UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2,400 tonnes per year.
Strategic Infrastructure Growth
The solar initiative follows a £14 million modernisation of the SRDC completed in 2021. The facility, which employs 240 people, serves as the primary distribution nexus for products manufactured at PepsiCo’s six UK factories.
"Leicester is already home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories, and now we’re delivering one of the most complex solar power systems,"
said Andy Smethurst, UK Warehousing and Logistics Director at PepsiCo. He characterised the project as a major milestone in the company's transition to sustainable operations.
Angus Rose, Director at Ineco Energy, highlighted the technical complexity of the build, noting that once completed, it will be among the largest rooftop solar systems in the UK food manufacturing sector. Construction is currently underway, with full system activation expected by September 2026.
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