Powering Progress: Investing in Solar as Part of TEC’s Sustainability Journey
Over the past number of years, sustainability has moved from being an abstract concept in industry to something far more practical. Customers expect it. Regulators require it. As leaders, we have a responsibility to act on it.
At TEC, our ambition is clear. We want to achieve the lowest CO₂ per metre of hose sold in our industry. That is not a slogan. It is a benchmark that forces us to examine how we operate, how we invest and how we continuously improve.
Turning Ambition into Action
Reaching that ambition does not happen through one initiative. It happens through consistent, measured decisions over time. One of those decisions was our investment in on-site solar energy.
As an industrial manufacturer and distributor, we operate energy-intensive machinery across our manufacturing and testing operations. As the business has grown, so too has our electricity demand. In 2025, we reached the maximum input capacity within our facility. That moment presented both a challenge and an opportunity.
At the same time, we had formalised our ESG framework, establishing a verified carbon baseline of 45.4 tCO₂e and setting a target of 10 percent annual emissions reduction. When you consider our energy intensity alongside our carbon ambition, it became clear that strengthening our energy infrastructure had to form part of the solution.
From Strategy to Investment
Following a structured evaluation process, we selected Bord Gáis Energy as our partner and, in October 2025, invested more than €40,000 in the installation of on-site PV solar panels.
Today, the system supports energy demand across our entire facility, including our most energy-intensive manufacturing and testing equipment. It is projected to deliver annual savings of approximately €7,500 while reducing our reliance on grid electricity.
Importantly, the solar installation is not a standalone gesture. It forms part of a broader sustainability programme which, together, is delivering an annual carbon reduction of 10 tonnes. That progress reflects improvements across energy use, operational efficiency and resource management. Solar is one part of a wider operational programme.
Alongside renewable energy investment, we have introduced formal energy and water tracking, strengthened waste management processes and installed a rainwater harvesting system to reduce freshwater consumption in our operations. We are also progressing towards ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification, embedding environmental accountability into the way we run the business.
Sustainability as Operational Discipline
For me, sustainability is not about optics. It is about operational discipline. It is about making decisions that strengthen resilience, reduce risk and improve long-term performance.
If we are serious about lowering our carbon intensity per metre of hose sold, sustainability must be embedded into daily operations. It must influence infrastructure decisions, supplier engagement, process design and investment planning.
The solar project reflects that mindset. It strengthens how we operate today while supporting where we intend to go next.
As with everything at TEC, progress comes from doing things properly. Taking the time to evaluate options. Choosing partners carefully. Investing where it matters. Continuously improving.
There is no single moment where a company becomes sustainable. There is only steady progress.
Our focus remains on building a resilient, technically progressive business that delivers quality, reliability and responsible growth for the long term.
Simon van Lonkhuyzen
Chief Executive Officer, TEC
