Chris Smith studied the stars, spent ten years in finance, and now keeps the renewable energy running at Greencroft.
The Greencroft Estate in Annfield Plain is home to Greencroft Bottling and Lanchester Wines, sister businesses within the family-owned The Lanchester Group. Each is amongst the leading businesses in its sector and, combined, they are one of the biggest employers in our area. Consett Magazine has been given exclusive access to meet the people behind the scenes who keep these businesses running.
When Chris Smith joined Lanchester Wines in June 2023 as Energy and Renewables Manager, he became the first person to take on the role. Just over three years later, he is helping shape some of the company’s most ambitious sustainability projects while ensuring the site’s renewable energy systems continue to perform at their best.
Originally from Grange Villa, near Beamish, Chris’s route into renewable energy was not straightforward. After studying Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, he faced a choice familiar to many science graduates.
I enjoyed astrophysics, but the traditional route was a PhD and a career in research. That would have meant several more years of study, and by then I’d met my wife and we were starting to think about family life. I wanted something a bit more practical.
Chris Smith, Energy and Renewables Manager
Chris spent a decade at Deloitte in Newcastle, building a successful career in finance. But the pull of science and engineering never quite disappeared. “I always liked the problem-solving side of physics,” he says. “You hear about famous physicists whose discoveries become useful long after they’re gone, but I wanted to work on problems that can make a difference now.”
That desire led him back into education, studying for a Master’s degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies at Northumbria University while continuing to work part-time. “There was actually quite a bit of crossover from astrophysics,” says Chris. “Electricity, magnetism, mechanics and nuclear energy all have foundations in physics, so I was able to build on what I’d learned earlier in my career.”
As part of his Master’s programme, he completed a research project with Lanchester Wines on storing excess renewable energy generated on site. “At the same time, I spotted a Utilities Assistant role being advertised, applied, and started working at Lanchester Wines part-time while finishing my degree.” He completed the degree with distinction and moved into the business full-time.
Ask Chris what a typical day looks like and he will quickly tell you there is not one. “One day I’m looking at energy bills, meter readings, carbon reporting and tracking consumption data. The next day I could be investigating a fault on a wind turbine, modelling HVAC installations, or working with our geothermal heat pump systems. That’s what keeps it interesting.”
Since joining, he has worked on the final stages of the Greencroft Two development, the installation of rooftop solar arrays and the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the site.
His current focus is on battery energy storage systems and the installation of two 500kW truck chargers to support the future transition to electric freight transport. “The battery storage project keeps evolving because the technology is developing so quickly,” he says. “What makes sense from a technical and financial perspective today might look completely different in a year, or even a month’s time.”
We’re fortunate to have so many renewable energy assets on site already. My job is finding ways to make them work harder, be more efficient and create the greatest possible benefit for the business and the environment.
Chris Smith
For more information on Lanchester Wines and Greencroft Bottling, visit lanchesterwines.co.uk and greencroftbottling.com.
In association with Lanchester Wines
