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PepsiCo UK is investing £3.6 million to install a rooftop solar power system at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester, UK.

The project, delivered with energy infrastructure specialist Ineco Energy, will see solar panels installed across 30,000 square metres of roof space, roughly the size of four football pitches. Once completed, the system is expected to generate the equivalent of 100% of the electricity required to run the logistics centre annually.

The 3.56MWp solar installation is forecast to produce around 2.84GWh of renewable electricity each year, enough to power about 1,000 UK homes. Any surplus energy generated during the day will be used to support operations at the nearby Walkers crisps manufacturing plant.

The project forms part of a broader series of sustainability investments across PepsiCo’s UK operations.

Recent initiatives include switching to electric ovens at its Leicester site, installing more efficient manufacturing machinery in Coventry and upgrading fryers at its Brigg facility, home to Pipers crisps. Together, these upgrades have reduced the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by around 2,400 tonnes annually.

The solar installation follows a £14 million upgrade of the Leicester distribution centre in 2021. The facility employs around 240 people and distributes products produced at PepsiCo’s six UK factories.

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.”

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.”

Construction of the solar system is underway and is expected to be completed by September 2026.