A Logistics Leader Future-Proofing with Clean Energy
Lombard Shipping is a UK-based freight forwarding and logistics company headquartered in Ipswich, with large-scale distribution facilities. As part of a long-term strategic shift toward fleet electrification—covering HGVs, vans, and company vehicles—the business sought a smart, scalable energy platform to manage growing power demands. Consequently, they aimed to optimize site-wide performance without increasing costs.
To achieve this, Lombard Shipping partnered with Insight Energy, SolarEdge, and Wevo. Together, they implemented an intelligent energy ecosystem that combines rooftop solar, commercial battery storage, and EV charging. With centralized control and real-time visibility, the system enables smarter, more sustainable energy use across logistics operations.
The Challenge: Powering Heavy Freight Without Heavier Costs
Lombard Shipping operates three large-footprint warehouses that already consume significant amounts of energy. However, electrifying their fleet would increase that demand even further unless managed strategically. Therefore, the company sought a long-term solution that could:
- Accommodate rising energy loads from trucks, vans, and staff vehicles
- Prioritize on-site solar use to avoid grid peak charges
- Provide real-time energy data and control across operational departments
- Avoid expensive electrical infrastructure upgrades
- Deliver a strong business case with clear ROI
The Solution: Smarter Infrastructure, Intelligent Charging
Lombard Shipping deployed a tightly integrated, clean energy system:
- Solar PV: 226 tier-1 DMEGC 500W bifacial solar panels
- Power Optimisers: 503 x SolarEdge S1000 power optimisers
- Inverters: 4 x SolarEdge SE90K Synergy inverters across 26 PV strings
- Battery Storage: 102.4 kWh SolarEdge CSS-OD commercial storage system, managed by SolarEdge ONE for C&I
- EV Charging: 6 x NexBlue dual 22 kW charging pedestals
- Cabling: 4,000m+ of PV Ultra DC cable and 430m of cable tray for rooftop and ground installation
By installing rooftop solar panels and on-site battery storage, the system offsets building energy while also providing additional capacity to charge more EVs over time. Furthermore, all components operate in unison through SolarEdge's C&I optimization platform and Wevo’s intelligent EV charging management software. This unified control architecture prioritizes solar-first charging and supports dynamic load management, thereby delivering both sustainability and future scalability.
What Wevo enables:
- Real-Time Solar-Aligned Charging: Wevo syncs charging loads to solar peaks, ensuring HGVs are powered with clean, low-cost energy.
- Integrated Battery Storage: Smart coordination between battery, PV, and EV charging reduces peak demand and maximizes site utilization.
- Department-Level Billing: Group-based cost attribution allows energy use to be split across different operating areas.
- Future-Ready Infrastructure: The system scales easily with fleet growth, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.
Expected Outcomes
- Energy Cost Savings: Electric trucks are operating at roughly one-third of the cost of diesel, powered directly by solar.
- Carbon Reduction: 23 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided annually through on-site renewable energy.
- Energy Independence: 93% of solar generation is used on-site, backed by battery storage for load shifting and resilience.
- Fast Payback: The system delivers a projected IRR of 24% and payback in under 5 years, with lifetime energy savings approaching £1M.
The Road Ahead: Clean Freight, Scaled Sustainably
For Lombard Shipping, electrifying their fleet is a long-term operational shift. By upgrading its energy infrastructure today, the company is positioned to expand its electric fleet, without additional infrastructure investment.
Together with Insight Energy, SolarEdge, and Wevo, Lombard Shipping has turned its diesel-reliant depot into a sustainable, cost-efficient logistics hub, and a model for future-ready freight.
