The challenge
Irvin-GQ is a defence and aerospace manufacturer supplying parachute and aerial-delivery systems into Ministry of Defence and NATO programmes. The facility runs a continuous daytime production load with precision sewing, testing rigs and compressed-air plant operating across two shifts. Two immediate constraints sat on top of the standard commercial rooftop brief. First, the buildings carry a large south-facing main roof and a secondary lower-pitch bay with different structural profiles, which meant a single blanket panel layout would not work. Second, the customer had a board-level deadline aligned to financial year-end and a Scope 3 reporting commitment cascading from their MoD customer base, so the project could not slip.
Our solution
FLD ran a full structural feasibility survey on both roof bays before finalising the layout. The main production hall roof was designed at the highest panel density it could carry, with the secondary bay taking the balance of the 180 kWp specification. Panel routing avoided existing plant penetrations, roof walkways and maintenance access points. We submitted a G99 Type A application to NGED in parallel with procurement, compressing the overall lead time. Installation was phased across the two roofs so that production was never stopped. In the plant room, twin Solis 5G Series commercial three-phase inverters were installed with dedicated 415V distribution and circuit protection, a full cable-management run, and remote monitoring commissioned for live generation data. A single NICEIC Approved Contractor sign-off covered the complete installation.
The result
G99 approval landed in nine weeks. Installation was completed on schedule with zero production stoppages across either shift. Year-one generation is tracking within 1.8% of the PVGIS model. The client subsequently commissioned FLD to scope battery storage addition to capture afternoon surplus against overnight site load, and is progressing with the Scope 3 reporting integration into their MoD supply-chain disclosures.
FLD delivered a difficult twin-roof installation to the financial-year deadline without stopping production for a single shift. The commissioning documentation was audit-ready from day one.
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