TMD Friction accelerates towards 100% renewable energy target with major solar projects
Global brake friction manufacturer completes solar panel installations at two major production sites
1,468 solar panels installed at Hartlepool, UK facility, saving approximately 150 tonnes of CO₂ annually
3,236 panels installed at Caransebes, Romania facility, saving 470 tonnes of CO₂ per year
New projects part of wider Sustainability Roadmap 2040 targeting 100% renewable energy by 2030
TMD Friction has completed two solar panel installations in the United Kingdom and Romania, marking a significant step forward in the company’s Sustainability Roadmap 2040, which includes an ambitious target of powering all its facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Together, the two new installations will save a combined 620 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, adding to the manufacturer’s growing portfolio of renewable energy investments that already includes 1,101 solar panels at its Valencia facility, and a long-term partnership with green electricity provider Iberdrola across its German operations.
Increasing green energy in the UK plant
At its Hartlepool production facility in the UK, TMD Friction has installed 1,468 solar panels across 2,933m² of roof space. The self-funded project, delivered by supplier Geo-Green Power, is predicted to generate approximately 590,000 kWh of electricity annually, covering around 6% of the site’s total energy demand.
In addition to the energy savings, the installation will reduce the site’s carbon emissions by approximately 150 tonnes per year. A key feature of the project is the integration of SolarEdge monitoring software, which allows TMD Friction’s team to monitor the real-time performance of each individual panel, enabling proactive management and optimisation of energy output.
Andrew Turner, Vice President of PC Europe at TMD Friction, said: “These solar installations represent a meaningful and tangible commitment to our Sustainability Roadmap 2040. At Hartlepool, we’re not just generating cleaner energy, we’re embedding sustainability into the very fabric of our manufacturing operations. The ability to monitor each panel in real time means we can ensure we are getting the maximum benefit from the investment, and that is the kind of precision and accountability we bring to everything we do.”