Rawside Furniture, the British commercial furniture manufacturer and certified B-Corp company, has invested in rooftop solar energy at its Hampshire manufacturing facility as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable and responsible manufacturing.
The company appointed Seed Renewables to design and install a rooftop solar PV system at its production facility near Winchester, enabling the business to generate clean renewable electricity directly on-site to support day-to-day manufacturing operations.
The project was designed and delivered by Seed Renewables, the commercial and industrial renewable energy specialist providing turnkey energy solutions across the UK. The bespoke rooftop solar PV system was tailored to the operational requirements of the manufacturing facility, helping maximise on-site renewable generation while integrating seamlessly into day-to-day operations.
Known for creating furniture for hospitality, workplace and commercial environments, Rawside has sustainability embedded throughout its business, from material sourcing and production processes through to long-term operational decision-making. The solar installation forms part of the company’s continued investment in reducing environmental impact while improving energy resilience and supporting the energy transition in British manufacturing.
Richard Gann, Co-Founder of Rawside Furniture, commented: “At Rawside, we care deeply about responsible manufacturing and creating products rooted in sustainability and innovative design. Seed Renewables has done a brilliant job integrating renewable energy into our UK operations, allowing us to further strengthen our sustainability commitments while helping power our factory with clean renewable energy.”
The installation comprises 191 solar panels and is expected to generate almost 100,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually — enough to avoid approximately 32.5 tonnes of carbon emissions each year while supporting on-site manufacturing activities.
Liz Close, Co-Founder of Rawside Furniture, added: “Seeing how much of our electricity can now be self-generated through on-site solar energy has really demonstrated the potential of solar for our manufacturing facility. The project has been a valuable invest ment in both sustainability and the long-term resilience of our business.”
Manufacturing facilities are particularly well suited to rooftop solar, as much of their energy demand occurs during daylight hours when solar generation is at its highest. Seed Renewables worked closely with Rawside throughout the project to ensure the instal lation was delivered safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to ongoing manufacturing operations.
Lee Heath, CEO of Seed Renewables, said: “Manufacturing businesses are well suited to rooftop solar, particularly where energy de mand aligns with daytime production. Projects like Rawside show how commercial solar can help businesses reduce grid reliance, lower carbon emissions and make better use of existing roof space.”
The project is another example of the growing role renewable energy is playing within UK manufacturing, as businesses seek to improve sustainability performance, manage energy costs and strengthen operational resilience. It also reflects Seed Renewables’ growing portfolio of manufacturing-sector projects supporting the transition to cleaner, more resilient energy systems.
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