North East solar specialist SCJ Renewables celebrate completion of major rooftop installation

The major project, which is not visible from ground level, has seen 1,518 solar panels installed across the roof of CMP Products, spanning an area roughly the size of a football pitch.

The system is capable of generating enough clean energy to power around 250 homes and converts sunlight into usable electricity through 8 x Solis 110KW inverters. 

CMP Products is a leading global manufacturer of cable glands, cable cleats, and associated accessories, providing safe and reliable electrical connectivity solutions for hazardous and industrial environments. Part of the British Engines Group, CMP serves a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, renewable energy, rail, and construction, with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and compliance with international standards. With a global footprint and a commitment to engineering excellence, CMP Products supports customers worldwide in ensuring the integrity, safety, and performance of critical electrical infrastructure.

(Image: Sean McIntyre and Chris Lyall, Directors of SCJ Renewables)

CMP Product’s decision to invest in the large-scale solar installation was driven by a combination of factors including their sustainability ambitions and commitment to operational resilience.

The project was engineered to the highest safety and grid compliance standards and includes eight rapid shutdown boxes that automatically isolate all solar DC strings on the roof in the case of an emergency, such as a fire alarm activation – a critical safety feature for a site of this scale.

The solar installation will help CMP Products reduce its reliance on grid electricity, cut carbon emissions and lower long-term energy costs. Any surplus green power generated beyond the company’s manufacturing requirements will be automatically exported to the National Grid, creating an additional revenue stream for the company while supporting households and businesses across the North East.

Sean McIntyre, managing director of SCJ Renewables, said: “This is a significant project, not just for CMP Products but for the wider North East renewable energy sector.

“There are not many rooftop solar installations of this size in the North East using rapid shutdown technology on this scale.

“As part of our turnkey service, we liaised with the Northern Powergrid to secure the appropriate export approvals required for CMP Products to export electricity at this scale.” he said.

Award-winning SCJ Renewables, which is one of the fastest growing commercial installers in the North of England, said that the works were an example of modern day, best practice.

Sean McIntyre continued, “In designing and specifying the performance and safety features of the CMP Products installation we didn’t just rely on off the shelf products, but we actively collaborated, and partnered, with acknowledged industry leaders like G59 Projects in designing and manufacturing bespoke solutions for CMP.”

G59 Projects supplies specialist electrical panels, switchgear and grid-compliance equipment for commercial renewable energy installations.

“CMP Products have a solar installation that ticks every box, both from a performance and safety perspective,” said McIntyre.

Commenting on the installation, Kevin Glenn project manager at CMP Products said, “For a major manufacturer like CMP Products, solar power offers a practical way to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability and generate additional value from unused roof space. It is exactly the kind of project more commercial and industrial businesses across the region should be considering.

“We are now able to generate around 794,000kWh of clean energy annually and expect the system to pay for itself within around four years. To give that some context, a solar installation on an average home in the North East generates just 3,000kWh of clean energy annually.

“Investing in large-scale solar is an important step in our long-term sustainability strategy, and in working with SCJ Renewables we’ve been able to deliver a major solar installation with minimal disruption to our operations,” said Kevin.

SCJ Renewables, based in Northumberland, designs, installs and maintains commercial solar PV and battery storage systems for businesses across the North East and beyond. The company provides a full turnkey service, from initial feasibility and design through to installation, grid liaison and ongoing maintenance.