Supermarket giant Sainbury’s has lodged a planning application to fit solar panels to help power its Irvine premises.

The proposals are now under consideration by the North Ayrshire Council planning department.

With significant energy demand in the building, Sainsbury’s approached E.ON UK Heat Ltd to design and install a roof-mounted solar array at the building in Ayr Road.

All electricity generated on-site will supply operations within the supermarket building, providing the business with renewable, low-carbon energy.

The solar panels will be maintained by E.ON to ensure maximum efficiency.

Sainsbury’s is one of the UK’s largest chains of supermarkets, with more than 600 sites.

The company has made a commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2035.

The addition of the solar panels is said to offer an excellent opportunity for green energy generation for on-site operations, and at the same time, helps reduce carbon emissions; offsetting reliance on grid-supplied energy.

According to documents lodged with the council, construction of the array will take around two weeks if permission is granted - and the panels will then be in operation for 35 years.

A planning statement by consultants COGEO says: "The array presented will fulfil just over 50 per cent of the electrical demand for this Sainsbury’s site.

"Calculations show that the proposed array would result in a 188,326kg per year saving of emissions.

"Construction will not affect the operation of the supermarket, or cause disruption or safety concerns to staff or visitors to the site."

A decision is expected from council planning officials by October 17. 

To view all the background papers on the plans, and to submit a comment, click here.