Blackfriar's Solar Bridge Reaches Halfway Mark
Work to construct the largest solar panel
array in London reached half way today as the 2,200th solar panel was installed
on the roof of Blackfriars station in central London. Network Rail is
rebuilding the station on top of Blackfriars rail bridge to provide more space
for passengers and longer, more frequent trains. The new station roof above the
Victorian bridge will be home to 4,400 solar panels, which will generate up to
50% of the station's energy needs.
The project has been a logistical challenge
as the trains have continued to run despite the heavy equipment and work going
on around one of the busier London stations. With so much activity and safety
at a paramount even a dropped bolt by a worker can lead to unexpected
disruption. If a bolt falls near the tracks then the workers need permission
form the railway to go down and retrieve the single bolt necessitating in train
delays at times to ensure safety is maintained for passengers and workers at
the site.
The solar panels, manufactured by Panasonic,
designed and installed by Solarcentury, covers an area of 6,000 m2, making
Blackfriars the largest solar bridge in the world. The panels are expected to
generate 900,000 kWh of electricity every year, saving over 500 tonnes of CO2
annually.
Network Rail senior programme manager for
Blackfriars, Paul Byrne, said: "We've rebuilt Blackfriars on a 125 year old
rail bridge, creating a 21st century, solar-powered station on Victorian
foundations. Blackfriars' iconic location spanning the River Thames makes it a
showcase for the potential of solar power, and an important benchmark for
Network Rail as we look to make best use of sustainable technology on the rail
network.
"Blackfriars will become fully operational
for passengers this month, with two new entrances, four new platforms and a new
London Underground station in use. We'll complete work on the bridge, including
the installation of solar panels, later in the 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 half way there."
Shigeki Komatsu, director, Panasonic Eco
Solution Energy Management (Europe Solar Business Division) said: "Our HIT
solar panels will soon help provide clean, emission free energy to an important
London transport hub. Whilst commuters at Blackfriars station might not notice
the solar panels, the solar will play an important role in their travel
experience every day. We hope this will have a real impact on the way people
see green energy, proving it as reliable, unobtrusive and the energy of today."
Bakia Mbianyor, First Capital Connect's
Sustainability Manager, said: "In terms of CO2 emissions, rail travel is
already the most sustainable form of mass transport with 0.1Kg of CO2 per
passenger mile. The solar panels at Blackfriars will now allow us to reduce our
carbon footprint still further, at one of our most important stations in central
London."
Over the past four years, Blackfriars station
has been rebuilt on top of a Victorian rail bridge. The bridge was stripped to
its foundations and reconstructed wider and stronger to house platforms, a
250m-long roof and the world's largest bridge-based solar array. The work forms
part of a wider upgrade of the Thameslink route, running from Bedford to
Brighton through central London. First Capital Connect customers on this route
will benefit from longer trains and more frequent services, with a metro-style
train every 2.5 minutes through central London during peak times.
