One of the UK’s largest office supplies and services company, Commercial, is celebrating the completion of what it claims is the biggest roof-top and corporate solar panel installation in Gloucestershire.

At its head office in Cheltenham the array of nearly 200 panels are expected to generate up to 34MWh of electricity per year, more than the amount used by 10 average houses and enough to meet a significant proportion of the energy needs of Commercial’s data centre.

Simone Hindmarch-Bye, co-founding director at Commercial Group said the company was determined to go ahead with the project despite uncertainty surrounding the government’s feed-in tariffs.

“In addition to the direct environmental benefits of using renewable energy we have also viewed this venture as a long-term investment that will support the continuing growth of the company, as well as our community here in Cheltenham,” she said.

The company said it has already achieved a 75% reduction in its carbon emissions, and the new solar installation is expected to contribute to a further 10% annual carbon reduction.

The installation, carried out by Shackleton & Wintle Ltd, took five days and is being officially marked by an event at Commercial Group’s head office on 19 March featuring founder director of Forum for the Future, Jonathon Porritt.