Hendy Group has had solar photovoltaic panels installed to its van and truck dealership in Chandlers Ford and is considering adding them to its other car dealerships.

Its first 200 solar panels were fitted free of charge on the roof of the showroom by Renewable Energy Investments (REI).

Under the initiative, Hendy Group will purchase clean, green electricity from REI at a heavily discounted rate before taking ownership of the system entirely in 20 years.

John Hendy, systems and resources director at the Hendy Group, said: "As a company we have been keen to adopt innovative technology over the years. We are also focused on being environmentally friendly so the time seemed right to take advantage of REI's solar power purchase scheme.

"It is still early days but we are very pleased and are looking to introduce it at our other sites."

The solar PV system at Hendy's van and truck workshop on the Chandler's Ford Industrial Estate is one of a large number of systems being rolled-out nationwide by REI  under its new Solar Power Purchase Scheme.

After 20 years, the Hendy Group will take ownership of the system with free solar energy for the remaining life of the equipment - typically another 15 years, said REI.

The Hendy Group is based in Chandler's Ford but has dealerships at locations across the south, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh, Chichester, Winchester and Exeter.