Zurich’s solar array at the Isle of Man Business Park has slashed the company’s carbon emissions by 970 tonnes while powering half of the firm's headquarters.

In 2022, the solar array on the roof of the car park next to Zurich House, went live.

Since then, it has been providing around half of the annual electricity needs for the insurer and investment provider’s island base and generating power for Electric Vehicle chargers.

The battery storage now in place means that on long sunny days when the array generates more power than can be used immediately, that excess energy is stored for future use. It is another step towards Zurich Isle of Man’s goal to be self-sufficient for all its electricity needs by 2030.

Jason Buckley, facilities manager at Zurich House, said: ‘Battery storage was the next logical step to make even more efficient use of the solar power we are generating, and it complements not only our solar array but also other measures we have taken to reduce energy usage.’

The latest data shows that Zurich in the Isle of Man has achieved substantial reductions in its carbon footprint through the increased use of solar energy and wider energy efficiency initiatives. Key achievements to date include:

- Since the solar array at Zurich House became operational in July 2022, it has supplied 49% of the building’s electricity consumption.

- As a direct result, the electricity imported from the Isle of Man grid is steadily decreasing, reflecting Zurich’s growing reliance on self-generated renewable power.

- Since the solar installation was switched on in 2022, Zurich on the Isle of Man has avoided more than 970 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

- The subsequent installation of the battery wall has provided additional optimisation of energy use, and accounts for 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide of the above 970 tonnes figure.

- Electric vehicle (EV) usage among Zurich Isle of Man employees has increased by 74% over the last 18 months, supporting the transition to low‑carbon commuting.

- EV charging points are available in the Zurich House car park. When supply and demand allows, these chargers are powered by the on‑site solar array, and are free for employees to use, further encouraging sustainable transport choices.

When it opened in 2018, Zurich House was already one of the island's most energy-efficient buildings due to its BREEAM certification, the world's longest-established science-based sustainability assessment and certification method for buildings and infrastructure.

Since then, additional initiatives have been introduced, including smart technology that feeds data into a live dashboard to monitor and manage the office environment. This allows temperature, humidity, air quality and pressure to be customised alongside an existing ‘light harvesting’ system that optimises natural and artificial light.

Zurich’s employees can also use the company’s ‘Sustainability At Home Scheme’, which offers interest-free loans for home energy-efficiency improvements. These include loft insulation, double glazing, solar panels, battery storage and smart meters.