Sun factor great!

The firm's solar panel field covers a vast area of the roof

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HOLLINWOOD is being transformed into the green quarter of Oldham thanks to a second business harnessing the sun’s rays.

Businessman Frank Rothwell and son Luke have invested more than £1.35m installing 2,775 solar panels across his companies.

Thought to be the largest photovoltaic electricity generation plant in the North, a total of 2,174 solar panels have been placed on the roof of the Servicecare and Electrotec factories in Wickentree Lane, Hollinwood.

A further 601 solar panels have been installed on the Manchester Cabins Factory in Tweedale Way.

The power generated will be used to run the factories with any excess energy sold to the National Grid.

The two plants are expected save 227,913 kgs of CO2 per year being relased into the atmosphere.

Luke Rothwell, company director, said: “We were fortunate the local National Grid infrastructure could accommodate the power of such a large generating station which was due to Hollinwood having a legacy of heavy industry.

“The plant is powered by the sun, it still generates on cloudy days and the brighter the sun, the more it generates.”

The Chronicle reported last month on the five-storey Devon Mill, in Chapel Road, Hollinwood, which had installed 610 solar panels on its 40,000 sq ft roof.

Other environmentally-friendly schemes coming to Hollinwood include the Manchester Electric Car Company Pod Centre, to be based at the former Roxy Cinema site, where drivers can lease, hire and charge electric vehicles.

And Metrolink will be making its way to the district with a stop by Hollinwood Avenue.

Luke Rothwell said he was inspired to invest in the renewable energy after spotting solar energy panels while delivering cabins to a farm in Glastonbury.

He said: “The panels on our roof were installed in July so we will need a year to pass before we can assess the impact.