Renewable energy firm is switched on to success
A leading designer and supplier of renewable energy solutions is looking forward to a bright future on Wearside.
Washington-based Advanced Renewable Power was founded by husbandand-wife Maria and Mark Dunville in 2011 and was an early adopter of solar energy and battery storage.
After started out from a small office in Newcastle – and surviving the Government stopping funding to subsidise businesses switching to renewable energy – the firm now employs 30 people and business is booming.
It has become the region’s leading designer and supplier of solar PV and battery storage systems.
Maria said: “We’ve had our peaks and troughs but are now at a point where our order book is filling up so quickly that we’ve got waiting lists to send our designers out to investigate sites.
"It’s astonishing to think where we are now when we look back to where we were seven years ago.”
The firm set a target of turning over £5m at the end of the last financial year – and exceeded that after just six months.
One such project AR Power is leading on is the development of a 1.3megwatt rooftop solar development for the Peterlee factory of international furniture drawer manufacturer, BHK UK, which when complete will become one of the largest of its kind in the region.
The company’s move to a new facility on Parsons Industrial Estate was supported by the Business Investment Team at Sunderland City Council.
Maria added: “We’ve just appointed a new management team and sales director and invested in new software which wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the move to our new site.”
Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “As a city which is being recognised for its efforts to tackle climate change, we couldn’t be happier to be home to businesses like AR Power.
“It has shown incredible resilience in the face of adversity they’ve faced and we’re delighted to have supported them on their business journeyandlookforwardtoseeing them go from strength-tostrength as they continue to grow.”