Walkers owner PepsiCo UK is making a multimillion-pound investment in a solar power project at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester.

Working with energy infrastructure specialist Ineco Energy, the £3.6m project will see solar panels installed across 30,000 square metres of roof space – equivalent to about four football pitches. Once complete, the panels are expected to generate 100 per cent of the energy needed to power the logistics centre over the course of a year.

The 3.56 MWp solar power system is expected to generate about 2.84 GWh of renewable electricity each year – enough to power approximately 1,000 UK homes for a year. Any surplus electricity will go towards powering the Walkers crisps manufacturing plant, one of the world’s largest crisp factories, located just next door to the distribution centre.

Andy Smethurst, UK warehousing and logistics director at PepsiCo, said: “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, right here in the East Midlands. 

“It’s a major milestone for PepsiCo UK and shows how we’re continuing to find new ways to power our sites and operate more sustainably.”

The solar project is the latest in a series of sustainability investments across PepsiCo’s UK sites. In recent years, PepsiCo has switched to electric ovens at its site in Leicester, installed more efficient machinery on its manufacturing line in Coventry, and invested in more efficient fryers at its Brigg site, the home of Pipers crisps. Together, these three initiatives have reduced PepsiCo’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 2,400 tonnes a year.

The £3.6m solar panel installation follows a £14m investment to upgrade the distribution centre in 2021. The distribution centre employs 240 people and distributes products made at the company’s six factories across the country. 

Construction of the solar power system is already underway, with installation expected to be completed by September 2026.

Climate minister Katie White said: “We welcome PepsiCo’s decision to embrace our rooftop solar revolution in powering their Walkers crisps distribution centre in Leicester – adding extra crunch to our clean energy mission. 

“It’s a great example of how businesses in Britain can cut emissions, lower bills and strengthen our energy security.”

Angus Rose, director at Ineco Energy, added: “Ineco is incredibly proud to be delivering this flagship solar project for PepsiCo. Once operational, it will be one of the largest rooftop systems of its kind in the UK food manufacturing sector, generating the same amount of electricity that the SRDC uses in a full year. 

“This project has required a collaborative and highly technical approach, and we’re delighted to now be moving into the construction phase. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the PepsiCo team.”