Overview

Sonifex is a leading audio technology manufacturer for TV, radio and telecoms. Over 90% of British radio broadcast studios have used some form of Sonifex equipment, and the company exports half of its products worldwide.

But behind the scenes, their growing output was pushing electricity consumption beyond safe fuse limits – forcing them to consider costly cabling upgrades from the substation.

Instead, they looked for a smarter, cleaner solution. After reviewing three contractors, Sonifex chose Plug me in for our professional approach and proven track record in commercial solar installations.

Head of Purchasing at Sonifex, Richard Amey, explains:

“Our consumption was continually exceeding the fuse ratings on our three-phase supply, and new cabling from the substation would’ve been very expensive. We made the decision to have solar PV installed, and of the three contractors we approached, we found Plug me in to be the most professional.”

Installation Details

After conducting a full site survey, we installed a 70 kWp solar PV system to the rooftops of the main office and the production unit, which is expected to generate 74,219 kWh every year and save 14.3 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The projected 20-year savings are £386,472 – costs that can be redirected into other aspects of the site.

The new system is comprised of 168 solar panels, but due to space limitations a revised layout was arranged during the install.

Commenting on the end-to-end journey, Richard said:

“Plug me in gave a professional presentation and all aspects of the process were well-explained to us. The installation itself was quick and clean and we’re happy with the new system.”

Financial and Environmental Impact

Since going live, Sonifex has slashed its grid reliance, with solar covering the vast majority of its electricity needs. Factoring in the surplus energy they’ve sold back to the grid, the company has paid virtually nothing for electricity this year.

On top of that, the system will cut 14.3 tonnes of CO₂ every year – over the system’s lifetime, this is equivalent to removing 60 petrol-powered cars off the road.

Plug me in are proud to have supported Sonifex with smart, progressive technology that brings all the benefits of solar power as well as significant savings.

Looking Ahead

With their solar PV system performing exactly as planned – and already making a measurable impact on costs and carbon output – Sonifex is now exploring further opportunities to enhance their site’s efficiency.

Future upgrades could include smart energy management tools and additional clean energy technologies to further reduce reliance on the grid.

By avoiding expensive infrastructure upgrades and choosing renewable generation instead, Sonifex has not only solved an immediate operational challenge but also positioned themselves for a more sustainable, cost-efficient future.