Brickwork firm Michelmersh is ramping up the use of solar power at several of its factories because of the spiralling costs of gas prices.

The firm has already secured 90% of its energy needs for this year and 50% for next. But joint chief executive Frank Hanna said escalating energy costs, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s recent decision to turn off the taps on its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, meant the firm was “accelerating” its use of alternative sources of energy.

The firm expects half of its electricity used at its Floren factory in Belgium to be sourced from solar panels from the beginning of 2023, up from its current 25%, while three of its UK factories are set to start using solar power from next year as well.