Moulton Bulb: Knowing Their Onions...and Their Energy Strategy

The Challenge: More Late Nights Than a Harvest Season

Chris Woodrow, Director at Moulton Bulb Company Ltd, used to spend far too many late nights glued to energy market reports, trying to outmanoeuvre price spikes, worrying about sustainability targets and firefighting unexpected energy costs. Not to mention planning for the impact of a COVID lockdown on the business. 

Like any good leader, he wanted to future-proof the business, keep costs low and do the right thing for the planet. But the energy market? A minefield. One bad contract could eat into margins faster than an onion peeling machine. 

The big question: how could Moulton Bulb take control of their energy, secure savings and invest in sustainability, without adding more stress to already full plates?

Spreadsheet Sleepiness to Strategy Success

Chris and Moulton Bulb were clear on what success looks like when it comes to energy and sustainability.  

1. Energy security. Securing their longer term future and reducing their reliance on a volatile energy market was imperative.

2. Profitability. Ensuring profitability is maintained when energy represents a large portion of costs. 

3. Affordability in a competitive market. Implementing a commercially competitive energy strategy is central to maintaining affordability, quality and therefore a competitive advantage.

4. Energy efficiency. The best way to save on energy is to not to use it in the first place. So Chris and the team were keen to start with energy efficiency projects.

5. Doing the right thing for the planet is non-negotiable for Moulton Bulb, so finding a partner who could manage both their energy procurement and their sustainability strategy was key.

That's where True stepped in.

Choosing an energy and sustainability partner is a big decision that Chris and team didn’t take lightly. They were impressed with the knowledge, expertise and clear communication from our team at True. Not to mention our proven track record in boosting customer profitability and cutting carbon emissions. 

In October 2021, Moulton Bulb partnered with True and joined the Performance Fund. The Performance Fund is True’s flagship fund, open to all UK businesses for both gas and electricity. The fund groups its member’s consumption, allowing them to benefit from wholesale gas and electricity prices. It aims to outperform the rest of the market and secure energy below the market average price in all market conditions, saving members millions. Trading experts are dedicated to securing your energy at the optimum time, according to your budget and requirements. The Performance Fund gave Moulton Bulb total confidence in protecting them from market volatility, whilst balancing risk and reward. 

True also gave Chris expert advice on KVA (Kilovolt-Amperes), as well as the cost savings identified on TUoS  (Transmission Use of System).

The Results Speak for Themselves

And with that extra time not spent crunching numbers or second-guessing contracts, Moulton Bulb could get back to what they do best - packing onions, not reviewing spreadsheets.

New Projects, New Beginnings

With the team at True securing Moulton Bulb's grid energy at market-beating rates, Chris and the team could think about investing in energy efficiency and on-site generation.  

The energy efficiency projects they decided to go with included:  

• Replacing 828 fluorescent lights with LED and installing PIR sensors  

• Implementing variable speed drives 

• Installing EC fans 

• Using electronic expansion valves.

Once they had covered the basics on energy efficiency, it was time to look into onsite generation in order to ensure longer term energy security and budget control.  

Given their location and land available, Solar PV was the most effective onsite generation solution.   

Whilst deciding to go down the Solar PV path was a straight forward decision, choosing the right supplier and securing funding were certainly not.  

Comparing quotes from Solar PV suppliers is like comparing apples with oranges (or should we say onions with carrots), no two are ever the same. The True platform makes light work of it with a comparison tool enabling you to choose the best supplier for your sustainability project. 

Next came the challenge of securing funding from their bank.  

Using True’s platform, and with the support of the True Crew, Chris built a data-backed business case for solar, showing a clear and accurate Return on Investment which enabled them to secure bank loan approval for the project.  

The True Crew introduced Moulton Bulb to one of their vetted and approved Solar PV suppliers, NerG Ltd, who got their 1.44MWp Solar PV project live by October 2024.

Solar Highlight Results  

The Impact: More Sunshine, Less Stress

Now, their solar panels generate 23% of their annual energy needs. On their first full generation day alone, they produced 7.2 megawatts of power, covering 48% of their daily consumption. That's enough to power their grader throughout the day and night shift! 

What does that mean in real life? 

• Less stress over unpredictable energy costs 

• Fewer late nights worrying about protecting profits 

• More time spent focusing on business growth (or, you know, actually switching off once in a while).

What Success Feels Like  

For Chris and the Moulton Bulb team, success isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about running a smarter, more resilient business. One that’s sustainable, competitive and future-proofed against energy volatility. 

True helped Moulton Bulb take control, gain clarity and invest in the future, without the sleepless nights.  

And if you need proof that sustainability and savings can go hand in hand, just ask them. They know their onions. 

Want to see what our team can do for your business? Book in an intro call.