A COMMERCIAL CASE STUDY
Helping a Redditch exhibition business reduce electricity costs and improve sustainability
Quattro Display designs and manufactures bespoke exhibition stands, operating as a one-stop shop from its Redditch premises. With project management, administration, design, manufacturing, graphics and transport all based on site, the business has significant daytime electricity requirements.
When the opportunity arose to secure a substantial council grant towards a solar installation, Quattro Display saw it as the right time to invest. With energy costs a key concern, the main objective was to reduce electricity bills while making a long-term investment in the business.
Stratford Energy Solutions designed and installed a 49.4kWp commercial solar PV system, helping Quattro Display generate more of its own electricity and reduce its reliance on grid-supplied power.
At a glance
Customer: Quattro Display
Industry: Events / Exhibition Design & Manufacturing
Location: Redditch, Worcestershire
Installation completed: February 2025
The system
- 110 × Trina Vertex S+ 450W solar panels
- 49.4kWp total system capacity
- SolarEdge SE50K inverter
- SolarEdge S1000 optimisers
- 40,240kWh annual usable solar production
The results
- £707.17 monthly bill saving
- £151,062 projected net lifetime saving
- 4.6-year projected payback
- 11,000kg CO₂ emissions saved to date
- Equivalent to 676 trees planted to date
The challenge
For Quattro Display, the decision to invest in solar was primarily driven by energy costs and the desire to reduce electricity bills.
Solar was already becoming a popular topic among businesses at the time, but a 40% council grant made the opportunity particularly compelling. Having secured the funding, Quattro Display did not want to miss the opportunity.
As Ashley Blizzard, Managing Director at Quattro Displays, explains:
“The main reason we installed 110 solar panels at Quattro was to reduce our electricity costs. Running a workshop uses a lot of power, and rising energy prices were putting pressure on the business. Generating electricity on site helps us use less from the grid and gives us more control over a significant overhead. It was a long-term investment in keeping Quattro’s running costs manageable, with the added benefit of reducing our environmental impact.”
The business also wanted to make sure it was investing in the right system rather than simply choosing the cheapest or largest option. Different system sizes and technologies were considered, with the expected payback and value of the available grant forming an important part of the decision-making process.
Designing the right solar solution
Quattro Display’s Redditch premises bring together a range of energy-intensive operations. The business designs and manufactures custom-built exhibition stands, with its workshop handling carpentry and decoration alongside a graphics department, while the transport team delivers completed stands to exhibition locations.
The office operates from 8:30am to 5:30pm, while the workshop starts earlier at 7:00am and operates until 5:30pm. There is also occasional weekend work, usually on Saturdays.
These operating patterns provided a strong opportunity to generate and use solar electricity during the working day.
The quotation process was thorough, with different panel technologies and inverter options considered before the final system was selected. Quattro Display looked at Jinko, SunPower and Trina panels, alongside SolarEdge and Sunsynk inverter options.
System sizing was another important consideration. Smaller and larger installations were compared to understand how the available grant could be used most effectively while delivering a strong long-term financial return. Inverter sizing and the DNO approval process were also considered as part of the planning.
The final solution comprised 110 Trina Vertex S+ 450W panels, delivering a total system capacity of 49.4kWp, paired with a SolarEdge SE50K inverter and S1000 optimisers. The system is expected to produce approximately 40,240kWh of usable solar electricity each year.
A smooth installation with minimal disruption
With a busy commercial operation taking place on site, minimising disruption during installation was important.
The installation was carefully timed to coincide with a quieter period. As the majority of the work was carried out on the roof, it had little impact on the day-to-day running of the business.
Even during busier periods, Quattro Display was able to work around the installation by making use of quieter areas of the site and periods when workshop staff were away on projects.
Ashley recalls that the installation went smoothly, with the Stratford Energy Solutions team on site for around three to four days and working efficiently throughout.
The results
The financial impact of the installation was evident relatively quickly.
Within around six months, Quattro Display had enough comparative usage data to see a considerable reduction in its electricity bills.
The project is currently delivering an estimated £707.17 monthly saving, with a projected net lifetime saving of £151,062 and a 4.6-year payback period.
The system has also saved an estimated 11,000kg of CO₂ emissions to date, equivalent to the environmental benefit of 676 trees planted.
For Quattro Display, the key outcome remains straightforward: lower electricity costs and a long-term reduction in the amount of power the business needs to purchase from the grid.
Why Quattro Display chose Stratford Energy Solutions
Price wasn’t the deciding factor for Quattro Display. Stratford Energy Solutions wasn’t the cheapest option, but the business felt the level of service, expertise and overall package offered greater value.
The information provided during the quotation process was particularly important, helping the business understand the different options available and giving them confidence that the proposed system was right for their requirements.
Ashley said:
“It’s not all about that, it’s the level of service, it’s the whole package really.”
He also highlighted the team involved in the installation, describing them as efficient and saying the job was completed smoothly.
Customer testimonial
“Working with Stratford Energy Solutions has been a very positive experience. Their team has been professional, knowledgeable, and responsive throughout, providing clear advice and delivering everything efficiently. We would be happy to recommend them to other businesses.”
Ashley Blizzard, Managing Director, Quattro Display
A commercial solar solution for businesses like Quattro Display
Quattro Display is a good example of how businesses operating from commercial and industrial premises can use available roof space to generate their own electricity and reduce operating costs.
For businesses with significant daytime electricity consumption, solar PV can provide an opportunity to:
- Generate more electricity on site
- Reduce reliance on grid-supplied power
- Reduce exposure to fluctuating electricity costs
- Make productive use of commercial roof space
- Support sustainability and ESG objectives
- Improve the long-term efficiency of their premises
The project demonstrates the importance of looking beyond the headline system size or installation price. By considering energy use, system sizing, available funding, technology and expected payback together, businesses can make a more informed decision about their solar investment.
Looking to reduce your business’s electricity costs?
If your business operates from a commercial or industrial premises with suitable roof space and significant daytime electricity consumption, solar PV could help reduce your electricity costs and improve the long-term efficiency of your building.
