Stewart Tower Dairy countered skyrocketing electricity bills by installing an NPS 100-21 turbine. The project now generates 160,000 kWh annually, providing £38,350 in combined savings and income while powering their “Green” artisan gelato brand.
The Challenge
Stewart Tower Dairy, which produces high-quality milk for award-winning gelato, was hit by rapidly escalating overheads:
- Rising Operational Costs: Monthly electricity bills jumped from over £1,300 in 2010 to approximately £2,000 by late 2012.
- Maintenance Concerns: With an engineering background, owner Neil Butler wanted to avoid traditional gearboxes, which are known failure points that increase operating costs.
- Sustainability Needs: As a supplier to retailers like Sainsbury’s, the business needed to reduce its carbon footprint to stay competitive.
Our Solution
The dairy chose the NPS 100-21 (37-metre tower) for its superior technical reliability:
- Patented PMDD Technology: The Permanent Magnetic Direct Drive eliminates the gearbox, significantly reducing the risk of breakdown.
- Low Maintenance: While nearby gearbox turbines require servicing every 3 months, the NPS 100 only requires maintenance once a year.
- High Energy Production: The turbine is designed to maximize the UK Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) benefits by ensuring high annual output.
- Proven Reliability: The model was selected based on its “tried and tested” reputation.
Results
One year after its January 2013 startup, the financial and brand results were transformative:
- Significant Financial Gain: In 2013, the turbine generated £30,550 in extra income and £7,800 in energy savings (total benefit: £38,350).
- Energy Independence: The NPS 100 is expected to generate 60% of the farm’s total electricity needs.
- Fixed Costs for 20+ Years: Power expenditure is now stabilized against the volatile and escalating costs of the energy market.
- Marketing Advantage: The ability to market “Green” electricity has become a key differentiator for their gelato on the high street.