Birds Eye is set to introduce a fleet of solar panel-powered lorries designed to run their refrigeration units using renewable energy, marking a significant step in the company’s supply chain sustainability efforts. The vehicles are expected to operate primarily on routes between Birds Eye’s Lowestoft production facility and its distribution hub in Wisbech.

The initiative emerges from a partnership with European logistics firm DFDS and British sustainable refrigeration company Sunswap, whose roof-mounted solar panel systems are installed on the lorry trailers. According to Birds Eye, adopting this technology will eliminate around 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually from the company’s supply chain.

Sunswap’s system, first seen on UK roads in November last year, utilises trailer-top solar panels to supply between 65% to 100% of the electrical charge needed to power the refrigeration units, depending on sunlight conditions. This reduces dependency on traditional grid charging and diesel fuel. The company states the technology could cut operating costs by approximately 71% compared to refrigeration powered by diesel.

Shaun Smith, general manager of Birds Eye UK & Ireland, emphasised the company’s commitment to innovation, saying: “As the UK’s leader in quality frozen food, we have a responsibility to drive innovation throughout our supply chain.” Speaking to The Grocer, he added, “Sunswap’s proven electric technology enables us to maintain the highest standards of temperature-controlled transport while helping reduce our carbon emissions. It’s fitting that the technology we’re now using to support the running of these trailers uses the same sun that ripens our peas to perfection in the field, keeping our products frozen at their peak as they start their journey to millions of UK homes.”

Sunswap, founded in 2020, has established itself in the food logistics sector with partnerships including Samworth Brothers, Staples Vegetables, and Cranswick. They have also completed trials with Müller Milk & Ingredients and Tesco. The company recently announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Leatherhead, Surrey, which is expected to create 75 jobs and follows a successful £17.3 million Series B funding round.

Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap, expressed confidence in the system’s capabilities and durability, stating, “This collaboration with an industry food leader like Birds Eye confirms that our British-engineered and manufactured system not only matches the performance and reliability needed for temperature-critical food transport, but goes further by reducing direct emissions and helping cut operating costs.”

This deployment highlights an increasing trend towards integrating renewable energy solutions in commercial transportation, particularly in sectors where temperature control is critical. The solar panel-powered lorries represent a blend of environmental responsibility and operational efficiency for Birds Eye as the company moves towards greener logistics options.