Solley’s produce Kent’s first solar powered ice cream

New solar panels installed at Solley’s Ice Cream in Deal with a £10,000 green energy grant from Dover District Council mean that the business has enough power to run all of its freezers from the sun.

Solley’s Kentish Ice Cream is the South East’s largest independent producer of real dairy ice cream. The family run business has been making ice cream for over three decades.

85 new panels have been added to Solley’s existing 115 panels, and create enough energy to power the business and sell spare capacity back to the National Grid, halving the business’ electricity bill in the process!

Dover District Council aims to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030 at the latest and aspires for the whole district to be carbon neutral by 2050. The Council promotes a wide range of funding opportunities to help residents and businesses become more energy efficient.

Small businesses (up to 50 employees) in the Dover district can apply for a green energy grant for up to 50% of their costs, up to £10,000. The aim of the grant is to help small businesses save carbon and become more energy efficient.

Managing Director of Solley’s Kentish Ice Cream, Keith Morrison, said: “The financial help from DDC has made a huge difference to the affordability of the solar technology, and helped us to reduce our business impact upon the environment both now and in the future. We now have Kent’s first Solar powered ice cream, and we owe a huge thank you to the council for their support in making these savings.”

Cllr Chris Vinson, DDC Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “We are pleased to be able to support this well-established local business. These solar panels will help Solley’s Kentish Ice Cream to reduce their carbon footprint and will help to control their future energy bills by switching to renewable energy. This supports the council’s aim for the district to work towards net zero.”