Wind Energy

Largest Solar Power Bridge Works Start

Solarcentury, a solar energy company specialized in solar panels and photovoltaic systems, is one step closer to finish the construction of London’s largest solar roof. Network Rail has announced the start of work on Blackfriars Station. It is being built on a bridge across the River Thames and will be the world’s largest solar energy bridge as there will be 4,400 photovoltaic panels on it. The Victorian Bridge was built in 1886 and will form the basis of the new station which Network Rail is upgrading. It will allow for more passengers passing through it as well as improved rail services.

There will be a new roof which will house the solar panels and they will be the biggest solar array in London. They will be fitted by Solarcentury, which will be using Sanyo panels. The chief executive of Solarcentury, Derry Newman said that the company is pleased to be working on the project and that it was great to use this iconic roof to generate electricity. It has been predicted that they will generate 900,000kWh of electricity each year which will make up half of the energy needed by the station and will reduce their CO2 emissions as well.

They will also be incorporating other energy saving features such as rain harvesting and sun pipes to create more natural lighting. The works are part of a bigger scheme to get longer trains running between Bedford and Brighton and it should allow 24 trains to run each hour so providing more seats for commuters travelling to and from London and surrounding areas. The station will not only be better able to cope with the increase in traffic, it will be more sustainable as well.