The Manufacturing Technology Centre has invested £1.3m in what it describes as the UK’s largest solar thermal installation, partnering with British renewable heat specialist Naked Energy at its Ansty Park campus in Coventry. The scheme will place 1,965 VirtuHOT collectors across 1,277m² of roof space, providing up to 786kW of heat. It is expected to reduce MTC’s emissions by 37 tCO2e a year, a figure equated to the annual carbon absorption of around 1,400 mature trees. The project gives UK manufacturers a prominent working example of solar thermal technology supporting both heating and cooling at industrial scale.

Renewable Heat At Scale

The collectors will supply thermal energy to an absorption chiller for summer space cooling in MTC’s manufacturing research facility. Across the year, the system will also provide space heating and hot water for general use, supported by an 8,000-litre water storage tank.

For industrial sites, the distinction matters. A substantial share of energy demand is thermal rather than electrical, while heating accounts for around a third of UK greenhouse gas emissions. By producing heat on site, the MTC installation is intended to reduce exposure to volatile energy markets as well as cut operational emissions.

Naked Energy’s Virtu product range is designed for commercial applications, with the company stating that its solar thermal technology can save up to 10 times as much carbon as standard solar PV panels. The Coventry deployment places that proposition in a manufacturing setting where the performance of renewable heat can be observed at considerable scale.

Christophe Williams, co-founder and CEO at Naked Energy, said:

“It’s fantastic to partner with MTC and support them on their journey to net zero.

Christophe Williams, co-founder and CEO at Naked Energy, said:

“The installation tells a clear story about where British manufacturing is heading. On the demand side, MTC, an organisation shaping the future of UK industry, has chosen to put renewable heat at the heart of its site. On the supply side, it’s British-engineered technology, designed and built in the UK, that is delivering it at record scale.

A Manufacturing Demonstrator

MTC employs more than 900 people across Coventry, Liverpool and Oxfordshire. As part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, established by Innovate UK, it develops production methods and supports manufacturers in adopting new technology.

That position gives the installation relevance beyond the campus itself. The site brings together applied manufacturing research and industrial partners, creating an opportunity to demonstrate how renewable heat can fit into the energy infrastructure of a major technical facility.

For UK industry, energy costs remain a material concern. The release notes that the UK has the highest industrial electricity prices in the G7, contributing to interest in technologies that reduce dependence on purchased energy and gas-fired heating. MTC’s investment makes solar thermal a visible part of the conversation around lower-carbon industrial operations.

Joe Darlington, Chief Innovation Solutions Officer at MTC, said:

“The UK has a real opportunity to turn the transition to cleaner energy into industrial growth. That means developing British technology, demonstrating it at scale and giving manufacturers the confidence to invest. At MTC, our role is to turn innovation into practical solutions for industry. By making this investment, we are reducing our emissions while demonstrating how British technology can help manufacturers become more sustainable and resilient.”

Installation Expertise

The system was delivered and installed by SHEco Group, an engineering specialist operating in industrial and commercial decarbonisation. Its work includes the design and installation of renewable energy systems incorporating technologies such as heat pumps, solar PV and solar thermal.

The partnership brings together collector technology, a live manufacturing research setting and installation expertise. This combination is especially relevant to organisations considering on-site renewable heat, where technical integration with existing operations, cooling requirements and thermal storage all shape the viability of a project.

Adam Clark, Commercial Director at SHEco Group, said:

“We’re proud to be bringing the UK’s largest solar thermal installation to life at the MTC. As a West Midlands engineering business, it’s especially rewarding to deliver a project of this scale close to home.

Adam Clark, Commercial Director at SHEco Group, said:

“Many of our customers are asking how they can reduce their reliance on gas, and this project gives them a real-world example of what’s possible. Our partnership with Naked Energy combines British-designed technology with practical turnkey installation expertise, and the MTC scheme shows what that can achieve at scale.”

Building Confidence In Solar Thermal

The MTC installation arrives after Naked Energy received £8.875m of investment from Great British Energy and Barclays Climate Ventures. The investment marked Great British Energy’s first major solar investment, reinforcing the interest in technologies that address the heat side of business energy use.

For MTC, the project offers an immediate emissions reduction and a lower-carbon source of heating, hot water and cooling. For the manufacturers engaging with the centre, it provides a practical reference point for assessing solar thermal within their own estates.

Christophe Williams, co-founder and CEO at Naked Energy, said:

“Industry and business have long presented the hardest sectors to decarbonise, particularly when it comes to heating and cooling. This project shows what can be achieved when renewable solar heat is designed as part of a modern system, resulting in increased efficiency and lower emissions. The energy transition isn’t a distant ambition. It’s gaining real speed, and solar thermal is ready to play its role in it.”