A COMMERCIAL CASE STUDY
Helping a Warwick recruitment business reduce energy costs and strengthen its sustainability credentials
Apex Recruitment, a specialist Automotive, Engineering and Manufacturing recruitment business based at Tournament Fields in Warwick, wanted to take greater control of its energy costs while making better use of the available roof space at its office.
With rising electricity prices, increasing sustainability expectations from customers and a government grant helping to make the investment more accessible, Apex Recruitment chose to invest in a combined solar PV and battery storage system.
Stratford Energy Solutions designed and installed a 21.6kWp commercial solar PV system, alongside a Tesla Powerwall 3 battery, helping the business generate, store and use more of its own electricity.
The challenge
Like many office-based businesses, Apex Recruitment has a relatively consistent daytime electricity demand from lighting, IT equipment and the day-to-day operation of its workplace.
The business operates from a two-storey office, with meeting and breakout spaces downstairs and an open-plan office upstairs. Its typical working hours also align well with solar generation, creating a strong opportunity to use electricity as it is generated on site.
The decision to invest was driven by three key factors:
- Rising energy costs and a desire for greater control over future expenditure
- Available roof space that could be turned into a productive business asset
- Sustainability and ESG considerations, with customers increasingly expecting suppliers to demonstrate environmental progress
The availability of government grant funding, which contributed towards equipment costs, provided an additional incentive to move forward with the project.
Apex Recruitment initially expected a solar project to have a payback period of more than ten years. However, after exploring the benefits of combining solar PV with battery storage, the projected return became significantly more attractive.
The solar and battery solution
Following a detailed assessment of the site and its energy requirements, Stratford Energy Solutions installed an integrated solar PV and battery storage system comprising:
- 48 × SunPower Performance 7 450W solar panels
- 21.6kWp total system capacity
- SolarEdge SE20K inverter
- SolarEdge S440 optimisers
- Tesla Powerwall 3 battery storage with Gateway 2
- Emlite generation meter
The system is expected to provide approximately 24,000kWh of usable solar production annually.
The combination of solar PV and battery storage was particularly important for Apex Recruitment. Surplus solar energy can be stored for use when generation is lower, helping the business maximise the value of the electricity it produces on site.
The system also takes account of the site’s existing EV charging, allowing stored and generated energy to support the business’s wider electrification requirements.
Why Apex Recruitment chose Stratford Energy Solutions
Apex Recruitment carried out a competitive tender process, with price being only one part of the decision.
Stratford Energy Solutions was not the lowest-cost option, but the business had received a strong recommendation from its neighbours, VDL Steelweld, following a successful installation at their nearby premises. Having already seen Stratford Energy Solutions’ work first-hand, the positive experience of a neighbouring business helped give Apex Recruitment additional confidence in its decision. You can read more about our work with VDL Steelweld in our VDL Steelweld commercial case study.
Apex Recruitment also valued Stratford Energy Solutions’ approach to project planning, processes, risk management and operational delivery. A more favourable lead time helped the business move forward while grant funding was still available.
This demonstrates an important point for commercial energy projects: choosing the right installation partner is about more than the initial price. Confidence in the design, planning and delivery of the project can be just as important to a business making a long-term investment.
Customer testimonial
“Stratford Energy were very responsive as we embarked on the tender process of our solar and battery project. As we neared the decision-making stage, a large amount of time was spent with us to impart the knowledge we needed, to ensure the choice was an informed one. Whilst not the cheapest in the market, the value for money in terms of equipment, installation efficiency and outcome was exceptional – all delivered with a cheery disposition and willingness to achieve a great result. The impact has been substantial, both in terms of monetary savings and carbon footprint reduction, assisting in our sustainability strategy for the business. A superb job well done!” – Richard Marchington, Apex Recruitment
Installation with minimal disruption
The installation was completed in approximately two days, while Apex Recruitment remained operational.
As with many live commercial sites, there were practical considerations to manage during the project, including access equipment and the installation of the inverter and communications equipment.
Once the site’s existing electrical infrastructure had been assessed, the technical requirements were resolved and the system was successfully integrated into the building’s day-to-day operations.
Early results: “The impact has been incredible”
Although it is still early days, Apex Recruitment has already seen encouraging results from its investment.
During the stronger solar months between May and August, the business has been saving roughly £200–£300 per month on average.
Richard Marchington of Apex Recruitment described the early impact as “incredible”, explaining that on sunny days the business uses very little electricity from the grid, while surplus energy can be stored in the battery or exported once storage is full.
The battery is also providing additional flexibility. For example, an employee’s electric vehicle can be charged in the morning using stored energy before solar generation increases as the day progresses.
Project results
Key figures
- 21.6kWp commercial solar PV system
- 48 solar panels
- 24,000kWh estimated annual usable solar production
- Tesla Powerwall 3 battery storage
- Approximately £200–£300 average monthly savings during May–August
- £334.47 recorded monthly bill savings
- 3,000kg of CO₂ emissions saved to date
- Environmental impact equivalent to 207 trees planted
- 7-year projected payback period
- £225,135 projected net lifetime savings
While longer-term data will provide a fuller picture of performance, the early results have already given Apex Recruitment confidence in its decision.
The business now has greater visibility over how much energy it generates and uses, helping to reduce reliance on electricity purchased from the grid.
Turning office roof space into a valuable business asset
The Apex Recruitment project is a strong example of how solar PV and battery storage can benefit businesses that may not consider themselves traditionally energy-intensive.
Professional and office-based businesses often have:
- Suitable roof space
- Consistent daytime electricity demand
- Rising energy costs
- Increasing sustainability expectations from customers and stakeholders
For these organisations, solar can turn an underutilised building asset into a source of long-term value.
Battery storage can increase that value further by allowing businesses to store surplus energy and use it when it is needed, rather than relying solely on electricity being consumed at the point of generation.
The project is particularly relevant for recruitment agencies, consultancies, financial and legal firms, IT businesses and other professional service organisations operating from commercial estates.
Apex Recruitment demonstrates that a well-designed solar and battery system is not reserved for factories, warehouses or large industrial sites. Businesses with typical commercial electricity demands can also take meaningful steps towards reducing energy costs, improving control over future expenditure and strengthening their sustainability credentials.
Is your business interested in commercial solar?
Whether you operate from an office, commercial unit, warehouse or larger industrial site, Stratford Energy Solutions can design a renewable energy system around your business’s specific energy requirements and objectives.
From solar PV and battery storage to EV charging and ongoing monitoring, our commercial team can help you make better use of your energy and your existing building assets.
