London’s solar bridge reaches halfway point
The largest solarPV array in London has passed the halfway stage with the installation of 2200 panels on the roof of Blackfriars Station in central London. Network Rail is rebuilding the station on Blackfriars rail bridge to provide more space for passengers and longer, more frequent trains. When complete, the 6000 m2 array will generate up to half the station’s energy needs.
The panels were made by Panasonic, and the system was designed and is being installed by Solarcentury working with Balfour Beatty and Balfour Beatty Engineering Services.
The installation is expected to generate 900 MWh of electricity a year, saving over 500 t of CO2 a year.
Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury, said, ‘Blackfriars will be one of the world’s great solar-power installations. Architecturally challenging, the project demonstrates just what is possible with this versatile technology in dense urban areas. We’ve been working amongst one of the most complex build programmes in the country — at height, over water and live train lines. It’s a great feeling to be halfway there.’
