Solar panel project is UK’s biggest
YORKSHIRE’S bid to bring the Green Investment Bank to the region has been boosted by the launch of the UK’s largest solar panel system at a city centre car park, the team behind the project have claimed.
Town Centre Securities, Rex Procter & Partners and GMI Renewable Energy Group have teamed up to install the solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of Clarence Dock Car Park, next to the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds.
The system will supply around 15% of the car park’s electricity and return more than 10% on the investment cost. It will also save 55,000 kg in CO2 emissions a year.
Launching the scheme at the site yesterday, Ben Ziff, managing director of Town Centre Car Parks (TCCP), said the group planned to introduce further PV systems at a number of its other assets.
Mr Ziff said: “The addition of the solar system on our car park links in perfectly with our approach of striving for new innovative ways to improve our business within a sustainable environment. Renewable energy schemes are very much part of our business model at TCS and TCCP.
“This scheme is definitely something to be proud of as it is the UK’s largest city centre system and we are working closely with the team to look at other future opportunities.”
Mr Ziff added: “We have recently set up two new businesses, TCS Renewable Energy and TCS Solar, and these will be used to identify assets where TCS PLC wants to invest in renewable energy on existing real estate and car park assets already owned by the firm.”
The renewable energy system at Clarence Dock will generate around 2.45m Kwh of electricity over the 25-year feed-in-tariff period and a total income of £1.25m will be generated from the feed in tariff, saving around £250,000 in electricity purchase costs, based on current energy prices.
Jarrod Best, managing director of Leeds-based GMI Construction and GMI Renewable Energy, said: “The system at Clarence Dock is a fantastic example of how solar pv systems can bring benefits to organisations on many fronts.
“This scheme goes beyond what most people would have done. This project is trying to put Leeds on the map for the Green Investment Bank and hopefully it will help with the bid.”
Stuart Kirk, director of building services at Leeds, Bradford and London-based Rex Procter & Partners, added: “This solar array is a prime example of how we have linked our knowledge of building services technical solutions with the financial opportunities available within the UK Government’s carbon reduction commitment.
“We are proud to have project managed this scheme, working with a client who is focused on carbon reduction and a contractor dedicated to delivering the best possible solution.”
GMI Renewable Energy is part of the Leeds-based GMI family of companies.
The Green Investment Bank will be launched next year and will have £3bn to invest in initiatives that support the UK’s move to a greener economy.
