The One Stop Supermarket in Leigh, Greater Manchester is a One Stop franchise owned by local couple Umesh and Jyotsana Gola.
In 2024, after noticing that their energy costs were steadily rising in recent years and increasingly eating into profits, the Golas decided to explore installing solar on the roof of their store. They contacted commercial solar experts TJS Solar to prepare a solar proposal for the store based on its location and existing energy bills.
Being open seven days a week from 6am to 10pm, with round the clock refrigeration required, One Stop’s high and consistent energy usage made it an ideal candidate for solar.
Project snapshot
Channel Partner: TJS Solar
Industry: Food & beverage retail
Equipment:
90 x DMEGC panels
2 x Sigenergy inverters
System Size: 41.4kW of solar & 32.24kWh storage
Term: 84 months
The TJS team proposed a system consisting of 90 DEMGC panels and two Sigenergy inverters. With this setup, the store would be able to self-generate roughly 40% of its total energy needs from solar, significantly reducing its reliance on grid electricity and slashing its annual energy spend. As an added benefit, the system is estimated to avoid around 9 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.
The Golas were predictably excited.
Even more so when TJS Solar suggested using a £0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan to finance the project. This would allow them to make the considerable clean energy investment without using up their own capital stores, and instead pay for the system over time via manageable monthly installments.
The win
The installation was completed in 2025.
Today, not only is One Stop enjoying significantly reduced energy bills (extra rewarding given current global fuel prices!), but thanks to a Smart Ease Payment Plan, the store is also in a cash flow positive position, with their energy bill savings exceeding their monthly repayments.
One Stop’s experience shows how even small, independent businesses can take control of their energy future. With the right technology and the right finance model, meaningful savings and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Start a conversation with Smart Ease and find out how our Payment Plans can help you generate solar savings