MORE than 200 solar panels will be placed on the roof of a Penistone factory after the business received support from a council grant.

Erodatools has gained grant support to help install 240 panels on the roof of the factory it has owned for 52 years.

It’s believed that the panels will slash the business’ annual electricity bill by £17,000 and reduce carbon emissions by more than 14 tonnes in the process.

Erodatools’ investment in solar power has been backed by a Low Carbon Grant delivered by the council through Net Zero Barnsley and supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Erodatools’ works manager Caroline Healey said: “As the business has grown, the amount of electricity we use has grown too and recent price hikes and shocks to the market have been challenging.

“The greatest proportion of our electrical consumption goes into our EDM and machining and we’ve known for a while that we have to do something to make us more resilient.

“But our investment in solar panels would have been significantly delayed until we could raise the funds if not for the support we’ve received to cover the initial outlay.

“The Low Carbon Grant essentially means that the photovoltaic system will pay for itself within four rather than five years.

“It’s great to have it up on the roof and working; helping us to reduce our dependence on the energy grid and reduce our carbon footprint.”