Draper Tools taps Southampton’s Absolar for major solar installation

Draper Tools, ranked 78th on The Business Magazine’s Solent 250 ranking, has unveiled a major solar installation at its North Baddesley warehouse near Southampton.
Caroline Nokes MP officially unveiled the site’s new live energy monitor last Friday 31 January, showing how the 900-plus roof-mounted panels are already generating 73 per cent of the facility’s power needs.
They’ve also prevented over 40 tonnes of carbon emissions to date.
Matt Sheen, CEO of Draper Tools, said: “This has been a significant investment for us as a business, but one that we hope represents our commitment to the future and to sustainable business practices.
“We might be over 100 years old, but we’re not standing still.
“We’re always looking to the future, adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of our customers.”
The project was undertaken by Southampton’s own Absolar, who designed and delivered from start to finish – placing 904 solar panels around the more than 700 skylights on the site’s roof.
With one of the largest roofs in the Test Valley, the system uses 12.5km of cables to get power into the building, and the installers clocked over four million steps throughout the installation.
Dr Phil Wu of Absolar added: “Draper Tools’ ambitious solar project is a perfect example of how businesses can lead the way in sustainability.
“By embracing solar power alongside their other sustainable commitments, they’re reducing carbon emissions, securing long-term energy savings, and setting a benchmark for other companies in the region.
“We’re proud to have partnered with Draper Tools to design, deliver and manage this high-impact installation, demonstrating the added value of AI-powered technology in helping energy users benefit from sustainable energy systems.”
Draper Tools recently moved all of its warehousing operations to the North Baddesley facility, allowing for the opening of a new self-storage business at the old warehouse in Chandler’s Ford.
The company employs more than 200 people across both sites.