PepsiCo UK has announced a £3.6m investment in a new solar power project at its Southern Region Distribution Centre (SRDC) in Leicester.

The FMCG manufacturer is partnering with energy infrastructure specialists Ineco Energy to work on installing solar panels across 30,000 square metres of roof space.

The solar panels are expected to generate 100 per cent of the energy required to power the logistics centre over the course of a year, which lowers the demand on the national electricity grid.

According to the business, the 3.56 MWp solar power system will generate around 2.84 GWh of renewable electricity each year, and the surplus power will go towards the Walkers crisps manufacturing plant.

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Andy Smethurst, UK warehousing & logistics director at PepsiCo, said: “Leicester is already home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories, and now we’re delivering one of the most complex solar power systems right here in the East Midlands.

“It’s a major milestone for PepsiCo UK and shows how we’re continuing to find new ways to power our sites and operate more sustainably.”

The move is part of the brand’s push towards sustainability, with PepsiCo installing new electric ovens at its Walkers site last year in May.

PepsiCo expects the construction of the solar power system with installation to be completed by September 2026.