An innovative multi-billion-dollar turnover engineering business, also Tewkesbury's biggest private employer, has revealed it is about to become even more powerful.

Already involved in sector's as diverse as defence, aerospace, film, motorsport, medical, motorsport, space, wind energy, surveillance, the US-owned firm Moog has had ambitious plans approved which will see it embrace green energy.

It has decided to invest some of its $2.5 billion (US - 2017) turnover in 1,235 solar panels for the roof of its Tewkesbury factory.

Planners at Tewkesbury Borough Council have given the go-ahead for the ambitious near-blanket coverage of its roof-space on its premises at Northway Trading Estate, Ashchurch.

Moog's application, which stood unopposed, was for: "The installation of a roof mounted solar PV generator consisting of a total of 1,235 No. Hanwha Q-Cells 320Wp solar panels totalling 401.38kWp on the roof of the Moog Controls Limited factory."

Northway Parish Council raised no objection.

According to the planning documents the work will be carried out by Bristol-based Solar Sense UK.

Moog first came to these shores shortly after helping George Dowty begin the manufacture of Moog Servo Valves in Cheltenham in 1958.

The American firm then set up its own base in the county in 1968, moving to Tewkesbury in 1979.

Moog was unavailable for comment.

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