Mr Kipling Maker Switches On 2.2MW Solar Farm at Carlton Bakery
Premier Foods’ Carlton bakery in South Yorkshire – one of the region’s largest food production facilities and the home of Mr Kipling’s cakes – has switched on a major clean-energy upgrade, unveiling a brand-new 2.2MW solar energy farm following a £2.1 million investment in the site.
A flagship site, a flagship investment
Spread across 2.9 hectares of previously vacant land within the site, the installation comprises 3,500 solar panels.
Once fully operational in December 2025, the array is expected to supply nearly three quarters of the bakery’s electricity needs at peak production – powering everything from industrial mixers and packaging machinery to lighting and office equipment.
Powering production – and resilience
The solar project is forecast to cut the bakery’s carbon emissions by 468 tonnes per year while delivering significant savings in annual energy costs.
Premier Foods says generating more energy on site strengthens operational resilience and, when generation exceeds demand, the solar farm has the capability to export electricity back to the local grid.
Fifty years of baking, future-proofed
Carlton has been part of the Barnsley community for more than half a century and remains a major local employer, with up to 1,000 staff at peak production.
Premier Foods’ ESG director noted that when Carlton opened in the 1970s it was the largest purpose-built bakery in the world – and it remains the United Kingdom’s biggest bakery today.
This latest investment, they said, ensures the site plays a leading role in a more sustainable future.
A key step in the Enriching Life Plan
The move forms part of Premier Foods’ Enriching Life Plan, under which the company aims to cut direct (Scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040.
Since 2020/21, Premier Foods has already reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30%. The Carlton solar farm is a significant step forward, complementing other solar initiatives across the portfolio.
Solar beyond South Yorkshire
The company has invested in a £500k solar system at its Stoke bakery, which is now complete, and a further £500k project is underway in Ashford and due to be switched on shortly.
Together, these projects underline a group-wide strategy to decarbonise operations while reinforcing energy security.
Conclusion
With 3,500 panels delivering up to 2.2MW on a 2.9-hectare array, Premier Foods’ Carlton bakery is baking sustainability into its daily operations – cutting emissions by hundreds of tonnes each year, reducing energy costs, and strengthening resilience.
For a site that has shaped the UK’s bakery landscape for more than 50 years, the new solar farm is both a statement of intent and a practical step towards the company’s 2030 and 2040 climate goals – benefiting the local community, the business, and the environment alike.
News Credits: Mr Kipling factory invests £2.1M in solar farm
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