Power company harnesses the sun’s energy
Solar panels on the roofs of UK Power Networks site in Bury St Edmunds. Photo: UK Power Networks.
A power company is harnessing the power of the sun’s rays to supply a third of the electricity on its west Suffolk site.
UK Power Networks is celebrating the installation of around 650 solar panels at its site in Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds, which employs more than 400 people who work in its offices, depot and training centre.
Meter points have been installed across the site and the panels are generating 344kW of energy.
On top of this the green energy system saves 78 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The panels took longer than anticipated to install after contractors had to stop working on one roof due to nesting gulls.
Gavin Roberts, the electricity distributor’s principal consultant – solar assets, said: “The building at Bury was perfect for a solar installation with the large south facing roof space that provided the ideal area.
“The system now provides clean low carbon power directly to support our operations from Bury St Edmunds.”
UK Power Networks owns and runs the cables and substations which deliver electricity from the national grid to 8.5 million homes and businesses across the East, London and the South East of England, serving approximately 20 million people.